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Engine stand

Sumboodie

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Looking for an engine stand that can handle a ~1000lb straight 6 diesel.

Many I'm seeing are "rated" for that, but reviews show them folded up from 500-700lbs.
 
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will335i

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If you are working on a diesel I would recommend getting a stand rated for 2,000lb. You will be right at the limit of a 1,000lb stand with the static weight of the motor. Once you start wrenching on it on the stand and applying force to bolts it's not going to be happy.
 
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Sumboodie

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OTC makes a big engine stand and as far as I know they are the only ones. Also, not cheap new I would look for a used one.
Yeah, I'd weld something up before spending $500+ on one.
It's for 1 project.
 

iajonesy

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If you look at a used one check it over very carefully as even the slightest crack can spell trouble. You're right, a new one is very pricey, but if you plan to do more than one diesel I'd think new over used.


Mike
 

Jagmandave

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Can you use the 1000lb one with a brace under the front of the engine? Once you get the head off it's much lighter! We did all our engine stands like this at school......just built a short length of square or rectangular tubing that bolted onto and supported the front of the engine..
 

will335i

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Just one option for a 2,000lb stand. Summit Racing has a few too in the $2-300 range. Wouldn't be surprised if a lot of them are the same just rebranded.
 
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Sumboodie

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Can you use the 1000lb one with a brace under the front of the engine? Once you get the head off it's much lighter! We did all our engine stands like this at school......just built a short length of square or rectangular tubing that bolted onto and supported the front of the engine..
 
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Sumboodie

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Just one option for a 2,000lb stand. Summit Racing has a few too in the $2-300 range. Wouldn't be surprised if a lot of them are the same just rebranded.
That's one that showed photos of it folded up from an engine.

I mean maybe they had a Cummins 855 and 3 or 4 600lb Walmart girls loaded on it or something.
 

NakeDiesel

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I just use my folding engine stand rated at 1k or so to rebuild my race trucks cummins engine. Would love to have an OTC especially when I start rebuilding my 4010's engine but a heavy built wooden table will have to for it.

28857818347_b94ea46341_c.jpg
 
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Sumboodie

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If you look at a used one check it over very carefully as even the slightest crack can spell trouble. You're right, a new one is very pricey, but if you plan to do more than one diesel I'd think new over used.


Mike
It's for 1 project, 2 Unimog engines, making 1 good one. Om352 and an OM352A (turdbo)

Could probably do it on the ground, but then I'd need to add dirt, a man dress and safety flip flops.

Seriously though, just thinking it'll be easier to work on, especially the bottom ends.
 

Mgdoug3

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I built my own heavy duty engine stand. I had a fully dressed JD 7.6L engine on it and it worked perfect. I made it big enough it could swing a 619.
 

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FMB4

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Two things in my mind; go at least 50-75 % over on the weight capacity and find the stand with the longest extending legs.
 

joecon

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OTC stands are great but, the big ones hold the engine from the sides not the end. Look harder there are a lot of big stands out there, by the best one you can afford. Your life may depend on it, safety is important.
 

Mgdoug3

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I like having my side mount stand. Makes it easy to add the flywheel and install the clutch. Side mounts with a worm drive gear box makes spinning the engine easy with no chance of the engine free wheeling.
 

KenC

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That's one that showed photos of it folded up from an engine.

I mean maybe they had a Cummins 855 and 3 or 4 600lb Walmart girls loaded on it or something.
According to the Cummins site, an 855 weighs over 1400KG/3200 lbs. No wonder it folded a 2k stand! At the price of that one, I'd buy it for all my engines and never use the little guys again. Most don't exceed 600 lbs, but bigger is better, right?
 

vwpieces

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Sumboodie

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That summit stand is the one I have, it's held up to building my race trucks Cummins engine several times on it, rebuilding the trans 7 or 8 times.... along with other projects.

50320268463_e053732fb8_c.jpg
They want almost $300 for the shipping unfortunately.
 

bcschief

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Crescent City Florida
OTC stands are great but, the big ones hold the engine from the sides not the end. Look harder there are a lot of big stands out there, by the best one you can afford. Your life may depend on it, safety is important.
There is a reason for that think of the stress on the bolts if you rear mounted a large diesel engine by the bell housing mounting bolts.
 

no704

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Have a old china one that I added a bunch of gussets to when doing a bbc. Doesn’t fold up anymore.
 

finn

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I worked for a Diesel engine manufacturer in the Engine R&D Development lab for about 35 years. The prototype area had about fifteen tear down and assembly bays and not one single engine stand.

All work was done on work tables, probably about three feet high x four feet wide x five feet long, with two x six planks for the top.

The inline Diesel engines were too long to hang from the back of the crankcase, or even from the side without being unstable.

The mechanics used overhead cranes to position the engines.

Coming from an environment that was more used to small block Ford and Chevy v8s in a home garage, it took a while to get used to all of these experienced experimental mechanics working off these benches instead of an engine stand, but it worked and was much safer than a Chinese stand.
 
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Sumboodie

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I worked for a Diesel engine manufacturer in the Engine R&D Development lab for about 35 years. The prototype area had about fifteen tear down and assembly bays and not one single engine stand.

All work was done on work tables, probably about three feet high x four feet wide x five feet long, with two x six planks for the top.

The inline Diesel engines were too long to hang from the back of the crankcase, or even from the side without being unstable.

The mechanics used overhead cranes to position the engines.

Coming from an environment that was more used to small block Ford and Chevy v8s in a home garage, it took a while to get used to all of these experienced experimental mechanics working off these benches instead of an engine stand, but it worked and was much safer than a Chinese stand.
I need to pull 1 engine all the way down and rebuild.

Have done it on the ground before, or hanging off a sling, or on the forklift and it's a PITA compared to a stand.
 

finn

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I need to pull 1 engine all the way down and rebuild.

Have done it on the ground before, or hanging off a sling, or on the forklift and it's a PITA compared to a stand.
Try it on a table. Those guys in the lab were pros, many with forty years experience.

Never heard one single mechanic request a stand for those heavy engines. A stand adequate to hold even a mid range Diesel is pretty bulky and heavy, and the guys had to use the overhead hoist to handle the head and crankshaft anyway. The engine was normally set on the rear face for tear down. Nobody worked on the engine suspended from the sling.

They ran from 1200 lbs and up for the six cylinder versions in the five-thirteen liter models. We had some really large engines with 165 Cu in / cylinder at one time.
 
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Sumboodie

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Try it on a table. Those guys in the lab were pros, many with forty years experience.

Never heard one single mechanic request a stand for those heavy engines. A stand adequate to hold even a mid range Diesel is pretty bulky and heavy, and the guys had to use the overhead hoist to handle the head and crankshaft anyway. The engine was normally set on the rear face for tear down. Nobody worked on the engine suspended from the sling.

They ran from 1200 lbs and up for the six cylinder versions in the five-thirteen liter models. We had some really large engines with 165 Cu in / cylinder at one time.
Table... ground... same other than a higher risk of it falling. PITA.
 

finn

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Table... ground... same other than a higher risk of it falling. PITA.
Zero risk of falling from the tables they had in the Engine Lab. They were low and stout, and time proven. The building was a WWII defense plant, and the tables probably came with the building.

plus, an experimental mechanic with 40 years wouldn’t be able to bend long enough to do a 40 hour week assembling an engine on the ground.

Do what you want, but don’t post pictures asking what went wrong when that 1200 -1600 lb engine topples ove on your budget engine stand.
 

joecon

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I saw this one and thought it was the best of both worlds. I always wanted some where to put things down when I used a stand.

1641772468070.png
 
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Sumboodie

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Zero risk of falling from the tables they had in the Engine Lab. They were low and stout, and time proven. The building was a WWII defense plant, and the tables probably came with the building.

plus, an experimental mechanic with 40 years wouldn’t be able to bend long enough to do a 40 hour week assembling an engine on the ground.

Do what you want, but don’t post pictures asking what went wrong when that 1200 -1600 lb engine topples ove on your budget engine stand.

My engine gained 700lbs somehow?
 

Lucid Moments

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Gainesville, Ga

Just one option for a 2,000lb stand. Summit Racing has a few too in the $2-300 range. Wouldn't be surprised if a lot of them are the same just rebranded.
I have that stand and it works great for the 4 cylinder engines I normally work on. I suspect it would work pretty good for the BMW straight 6 I need to rebuild too. But if my 6.7 Cummins needed rebuilding I would be looking for something better.
 

Mgdoug3

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I have hung 2500 lb engines on my stand and it makes rebuilding them an easy task. I wouldn't want to work on an engine any other way. I do several inframes and a lot of times wish it was an out of frame job.
 
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Sumboodie

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I have that stand and it works great for the 4 cylinder engines I normally work on. I suspect it would work pretty good for the BMW straight 6 I need to rebuild too. But if my 6.7 Cummins needed rebuilding I would be looking for something better.

Would be nice if I could buy that one, but it's not available here.

For some reason. It's $80 stands, $200 stands, or $600+
 
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Sumboodie

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I have hung 2500 lb engines on my stand and it makes rebuilding them an easy task. I wouldn't want to work on an engine any other way. I do several inframes and a lot of times wish it was an out of frame job.
If it was shop equipment I planned on using often, I'd have no issue spend $600+, but it's likely a 1 time use.
 

Mgdoug3

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If it was shop equipment I planned on using often, I'd have no issue spend $600+, but it's likely a 1 time use.
I have around $350 in my set up. I had a final drive off a combine laying around, $300 in metal and $50 for a worm drive gearbox. I don't move the stand once an engine is mounted but empty I have two wheels on the front of the stand and floor jack to pick up the back and move around the shop.

I'm not saying you need a stand like mine. I just wanted to point out that a stand that's well built is safer and easier to rebuild a motor on.
 

evintho

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This is not new. The restoration community usees about as many pool noodles as kids do. I've got them in five different diameters. In fact Softsanders: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H2CF64/?tag=atomicindus08-20 took this principal and made a bunch of various versions. I've got them all.

They want almost $300 for the shipping unfortunately.
Amazon has several 2000 lbs. stands. Free shipping.
 

will335i

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IL
"In store only" too. Nearest Harbor Freight is a 3 day drive... each way.
That is one of the few things I don't miss about Alaska.

Maybe call around to some of the local shops and see if they will loan you a stand. If you know someone that can get you on post the, MWR shop might be a good option too. This is assuming you are near Anchorage or Fairbanks. Outside of that might be a struggle to find what you need.
 
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