Ex-Cell Manufacturing Engine Crane W1000

[Schurkey]

I'm trying to find contact information for Ex-Cell Manufacturing Company of Decatur AR.

I have a "2 Ton Engine Crane" model W1000. The hydraulic ram has become very good at pumping air into the cylinder. I think a simple O-ring on the pump plunger is at fault, but I can't find a suitable replacement. A generic O-ring cut the air pumping to about 1/4 of what it was...but still not good enough.

I have the owner's manual that lists a customer service number...but that number is now answered by Porter-Cable. They have no info on Ex-Cell or engine cranes. They've given me contact info for other businesses but those businesses don't have any relationship to Ex-Cell or to engine cranes.

I'm fairly sure that Ex-Cell is out-of-business, but if I'm wrong I'd like to get replacement safety decals, and a seal kit.

The W1000 is a FANTASTIC engine crane. Holy ****, will it lift. It makes the cheap cranes available all over look like trash. I know, I had to buy another crane for a different project (loading engines and tool boxes at one location, un-loading at another) and the "2-ton" engine crane I bought is a friggin' toy compared to the made in USA, sold at Sam's Club Ex-Cell. (Back when Sam's wasn't a waste of space.)




1973 Cadillac ElDorado partial frame, 500 cid engine, TH425 transaxle, tires, brakes, front suspension. Guesstimate = 1,300 lbs. hanging off the fully-extended boom. (Grossly overloaded!) This was the last item lifted during the move, it had to be unloaded with this same crane because my other "2-ton" crane would have ENTIRELY failed to lift this load.

 

[ipdaley]

I have that same hoist. Bought it new in 1993 at Sam’s Club. Just replaced the original ram with an air over hydraulic from Amazon. Around $80. You are correct. These are the best hoists I’ve ever used. I saw one at the swap meet at Super Chevy Show in Memphis a few weeks ago. Was missing the ram. Did not ask how much he wanted for it.

 

[Schurkey]

I have that same hoist. Bought it new in 1993 at Sam’s Club. Just replaced the original ram with an air over hydraulic from Amazon. Around $80. You are correct. These are the best hoists I’ve ever used. I saw one at the swap meet at Super Chevy Show in Memphis a few weeks ago. Was missing the ram. Did not ask how much he wanted for it.

What capacity ram did you use?

I have an 8-ton air-over-hydraulic on order, but it hasn't arrived yet--supposedly May 4--May 9. There's no "real" capacity marked on the existing ram--it says "2-ton" but that's the crane capacity, not the ram capacity. The ram would be much higher than "2-ton".

I'm not enthusiastic about a (suspected) Chinese ram...but given the lack of options it's what I can do, at least until I can get the original hydraulic unit fixed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UAOJX0O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ipdaley]

Similar to the one I purchased. Here’s a direct link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CPTBEZO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I did a lot of looking for I picked that one. I think all of them are made in China. It is the best thing I ever did. Air over hydraulic is fantastic.

 

[bluebolt]

I have used the 8 ton Harbor Freight air over hydraulic jack on my USA made engine crane and it works great. Best thing I ever did with it! Recently replaced the jack with a new one after about 10 years of service considering this normally sits outside in the rain I'm happy with that.

 

[Schurkey]

Quick update. The ram I bought does not fit. Somehow, I was stupid enough not to notice that it has a clevis bottom, and I need a flat bottom.

Either I put the new ram on my lil' crappy engine crane and buy another ram for the Big Guy, or I cut the clevis off, smooth-out the base with an angle-grinder, and drill a pair of bolt holes to make it fit the W1000.

I went back onto Amazon, and didn't see much for flat-bottom air-over-hydraulic 8 ton long rams.

Bummer.

 

[cdeer001]

https://m.northerntool.com/products/shop~tools~product_200311799_200311799?adv=false

 

[ipdaley]

That *****. I did notice the cylinders that had clevis bottoms and purchased one with a flat bottom.

 

[Schurkey]

Mister Ex-Cell is back in operating condition.

God bless abrasive discs. I have a circular saw with an abrasive disc, cut more than half-way through the clevis before the cut got too deep for the saw to continue. Finished it off with a saber saw and three blades, and the remains of a mostly-empty can of aerosol lube. Wasn't any fun. Felt very good when the clevis hit the floor.

Polished the bottom of the casting nice 'n' flat with an angle-grinder (the casting was bowed) and drilled a couple of holes. It all works, it all fits (barely--the base of the new ram is narrower, one bolt hole is more of a "notch" in the side of the casting)

I think I'm going to like air-over-hydraulic.

Haven't lifted anything but my spirits. Pulling an engine perhaps next week.

 

[sberry]

Shurkey, I have one about like that. It is heavier. I use mine quite a bit. Its portable, one man can operate, its steady. I have a forklift and A frame but I use the picker where I can.

 

[Bob-O]

Hey, I have the same Hoist and problem, just wanted to share a few ideas as I agree the Hoist is great! One, I just drained and flushed the cylinder and will update if it helps the issue. The other idea I have is years ago I purchased at Harbor Freight several 28" rams similar to the ram on our Hoist which I am going to try adapting to it if the flush and refill doesn't help. There is also a product called Trans-X for automatic transmissions which I used on a girlfriends car after she drove it w/o any transmission fluid. Drained, new filter, Mercron and Trans-X brought it back to life for years If any of the above works, I'll update as it is worth keeping tools and folks that work! A bientot, Moi

 

[Bob-O]

Fluid flush and change NG (didn't try TransX) but Harbor Freight almost identical bottle jack did the trick. HF unit has a smaller base so that the two bolt holes (as on the original Ex-Cell jack baseplate) cannot be drilled, but one hole can be, and you can see with that done (have to drill new hole in hoist base plate also in order to orient HF jack with pump handle facing sideways rather than rear or forward) but drilling two holes for an almost identical jack replacement is OK. Photos tell the tale, enjoy! It is a great unit and even if the HF jack is no comparison to the quality of the Ex-Cell, it was the best option for me. I don't know the model # of the HF jack as it was torn off as shown in pic, but assume if you find anything close to Ex-Cell height it will work as shown. I don't show it here (haven't done it yet but will also install small washer/spacers and larger one as needed over HF base to 'lock' it in place seeing as I couldn't get two bolts thru the base plate as in the original. Feeling with that done, it's almost good as new

 

[FJCruiser]

Do any of the owners of this awesome hoist know if the telescoping black boom is removable from the red arm for disassembly and transport? Thanks

 

[ipdaley]

Do any of the owners of this awesome hoist know if the telescoping black boom is removable from the red arm for disassembly and transport? Thanks

Yes. I break mine down for storage

 

[bryson]

Bringing this back from the dead to maybe help someone in the future. I have one of these hoists that leaked and didn't want to swap out my (supposed) good quality OEM cylinder for one of unknown quality that required mods to fit. I contacted hcrcnow.com and they actually list a rebuild kit for this cylinder. I ended up having to get a couple different o-rings from them because their kit had the wrong size (they were great to help, and got the correct parts sent out fast and free). They should have notes/updates now to their kit to hopefully get the correct parts out the 1st time. The parts from them seem like good quality, and their US based customer service was top-notch.

Lazzar's Floor Jack & Hydraulic Cylinder Repair Part Supplier : Sells Seal Kits for Floor Jacks : hcrcnow.com

Lazzar's HCRC is a leading supplier of repair parts and seal kits for floor jacks, air hydraulic pumps, hand pumps and rams. We also sell Metric and Standard Seals.

www.hcrcnow.com

 

[Schurkey]

I've become VERY used to the air-over-hydraulic ram. I squeeze the lever, the ram goes up. It's like magic.