Harbor Freight engine stand any good?

[gnx547]

Does anyone here have or used the Harbor Freight engine stand? Is it a good quality stand?

http://www.harborfreight.com/750-lb-capacity-engine-stand-32915.html

 

[nmk_61802]

No input on the quality of the stand, but consider spending $10 more and purchasing the 1000LB stand. Much more stable with 4 wheels.

 

[ryan t]

I had a toyota supra engine on that 750lb stand and I had to stack up cinderblocks and bricks and brace the other end of the motor to keep it still enough to work on. Just on the stand by itself the motor would sway when you touched it and the stand flexed a little bit more than I was comfortable with. Def. invest in the 1000lb unit.

 

[Orangestang]

I have a 4 wheel one, much more stable. It holds my BBF alot better. Don't go with the 3 wheel.

 

[MachYou]

I've had several of the 1000lb stands over the years for various builds (sbc/bbc and 4v dohc). The 750lb is very unstable when you have to move the motor due to the single front wheel.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-capacity-engine-stand-32916.html

 

[Oneguy]

I have the 1000 lb stand with a motorcycle engine on it now. I like it overall. It's a little tough to rotate the engine so In hindsight I should have greased that part. I would also recommend greasing the wheels to prevent them from squeaking when you move the engine.

 

[Y-Blockhead]

I agree with the other guys... Never buy a three wheeled engine stand, they tip too easily. I have one like this... 1000 lb. Engine Stand

 

[Shadowdog500]

Unless you are building 4 cylinder aluminum engines, I wouldn't recommend using one. I've seen people prop up 2x4s to hold the front of the engine from sagging on these, which I think is a joke. I had the 1,000 lb stand and gave it away to the scrap metal guy because I didn't trust it. I did have a 2,000lb stand similar to this one from HF but mine didn't have the folding legs. I really liked it. The wide legs make it extremely stable, and they make a drip pan that mounts between the legs to catch anything that spills out when tearing down an engine.

Chris

 

[Jack Olsen]

I've got one. If I was rebuilding a motor every six months, I'd probably want to get a better one. But for the amount of times I plan on doing this kind of work, it was the right tool at the right price.

 

[pipsters]

Motor Trend did a review of the 3 legged one IIRC. Maybe the 4 legged one as well. Anyway it exceeded the 2000# load they put on it from what I remember. In other words anything you put on it will be fine, it will hold it.

Here it is, it was Rot Hot Magazine
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_1112_budget_engine_stands/

People will say anything I believe a magazine result over a forum post any day.

 

[Maexle]

i got the the 1000 lbs (because of the 4 wheels not the load capacity as you can see) one and love it, sturdy and nice metal castors....

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Too bad the OP wasn't looking to buy one a couple of weeks ago, the 1000lb stand went on sale for the same $45.99 sale price. I picked one up since I'm finally rebuilding the 390 out of my Thunderbird. I replaced all the HF 4.8 grade bolts with 8.8, and all the HF 8.8 bolts with 10.9s, not taking any chances on cheap fasteners. Holds the engine fine, but has a hard time rotating just the bottom end (block, crank &pistons).

 

[MachYou]

Too bad the OP wasn't looking to buy one a couple of weeks ago, the 1000lb stand went on sale for the same $45.99 sale price. I picked one up since I'm finally rebuilding the 390 out of my Thunderbird. I replaced all the HF 4.8 grade bolts with 8.8, and all the HF 8.8 bolts with 10.9s, not taking any chances on cheap fasteners. Holds the engine fine, but has a hard time rotating just the bottom end (block, crank &pistons).

In the new hot rod magazine the 1000lb stand is $45.99

 

[ihateminimumwage]

In the new hot rod magazine the 1000lb stand is $45.99

That's good the coupons are still out there. I saw it was that cheap on the website, and made sure to print it out before going down there so they'd match the price.

 

[goodysgotacuda]

I have their 1000lb 4 wheel stand. It's had a short block 360 V8 on it for over 5 years and it hasn't given me a reason to think it's going to fail any time soon.

 

[andywander]

I have the 1000lb stand, and it;s had a Farmall Cub 4-cylinder iron engine on it for about 4 years...one of these days I will work on that engine again.

No complaints about the stand.

 

[kythri]

The three-legged stand is undoubtedly the same exact stand sold by anyone and everyone (not just Harbor Freight).

I've got a 360 long block in my shop that was sitting on one of those, and the thing is bent/warped to the point that I no longer trust the stand (the stand was inherited with the engine).

At this point, the only engine stands I'll trust are the 2000lb U-leg style picture above (the red ones). The 4-wheel three-leg style is likely "better" than the 3-wheel style, but I'm still not comfortable with their stability.

It's a small price to pay for a significantly more burly and reliable stand.

 

[Alchymist]

The 1000 Lb stand I would rate "adequate", nothing to write home about. Got a 3 cyl Yanmar diesel on one, its OK. Keeps trying to pinch my hand on the sliding handle though, or gouging me with the stupid handle retainer. just haven't got around to doing anything about it. Big block V8, probably not so good.

 

[evintho]

I've got a couple of those 3 wheeled stands. Bought on new when I was young and dumb and bought the other one for $10 off CL. It'd been used once. Biggest motor I had on one was a small block Mopar. They work but they do have the tendancy to tip over. Really, the 4 wheeled stand is the only way too go. Go to CL in your area and type in 'engine stand'. You might be surprised what comes up!

 

[Danglerb]

Skip the T base, I use the H even though the A is a bit stronger, the H stores away smaller.

 

[pfarber]

I have the 1000lb one and used it to hold/rebuild my L134 Jeep motor. The only thing I didn't like was the rotisserie part... the motor was top heavy and even though I was 'ready' for it it still took me by surprise. I know people mod them to take a reduction crank.

My next motor is an early 50's 235 I6. That will get the 2000lber because after that is the massive GMC I6 270. Wheeling that around I never even want to consider the THOUGHT of it falling.

 

[ludakris04]

My biggest gripe are the rear wheels. They make it impossible to jockey into position without lifting up and dragging sideways. I have had a motor on it for almost 3 years and its still holding, but if I needed one, I would buy a better one.. oh, and I agree about the 4 wheel one, I have heard stories of the 3 wheelers...

 

[R W]

I built my own, strong enough to take a 4 cylinder Fordson diesel engine, utilized all the bolt holes & dowls on the back of the engine. Although probably an over kill a support was used at the at the fron't.

 

[lilscorpion]

My biggest gripe are the rear wheels. They make it impossible to jockey into position without lifting up and dragging sideways. I have had a motor on it for almost 3 years and its still holding, but if I needed one, I would buy a better one.. oh, and I agree about the 4 wheel one, I have heard stories of the 3 wheelers...

Yep, same here. For that reason I give them 1 star. Had a few over the years and they did the job. They're cheap...and they're cheap. Not sure it matters unless you use it every day in which case you'd buy a nice one.

 

[Murphy4570]

As stated, 3 legged engine stands are a joke.

Get the 4 wheel one. I have one, and it's currently holding a 351C 4V longblock. No issues at all.

 

[diggerrick]

I have the 3-legged one, and, yes, I'm one of the guys that put a notched 2x4 under the balancer with an engine on the stand. I've had a few small block Chevys on mine, but if I ever need another stand I'll buy the 4-legged one.

 

[mmack66]

As everyone has said, go with a 4-wheel model. I had a Land Cruiser 2F motor on one for quite a while with no issues, and that motor is a beast.

 

[ndnchf]

I have the 1000lb, 4 wheel version. I replaced all the hardware with good grade 8 stuff. But other than that its been fine. Here it is holding my 1924 Ford model T motor.

 

[shovel]

I had the 4 leg version. Rebuilt a Chevy small block that stayed on it several months. I think I only paid $45 dollars for it a few years ago. Sold it at a swap meet for $40 when I was through with it. If I ever need another, I'll buy again and sell it when i am through. Meanwhile, it is not in the way.

 

[IONH]

+1 for the 1000# stand. I would not get the 3 wheel'd one. I doubt it flexes like some have mentioned but it looks a motor not straight up or down may have problems similar to an old 3 wheeler when you hit the front brake going into a turn.

 

[kald]

I just picked up a 1000#er for $47.99 with a 20% coupon in addtion to the sale price at HF. The quality and design has improved since I bought on in high school in the 80's.

I'm still going to touch up a few welds although I hate to mess up the powder coat and the current welds look adequate. I may do a slack adjuster mod since I have on as well and will have about $75ish in a geared stand . I'll do a build thread if I add the slack adjuster.

 

[bobcatdan]

My two cents, buy one with a geared head. More coin, but there are cheap ones out there. I'm completely spoiled with my geared head one from cornwell. It is the samething sunnex sells. Rotating a 300 ford or 440 mopar with a simple turn of a crank is so nice.

 

[03protege]

I bought this one recently, going to breaking it in soon.

I read a lot of good reviews about the "Big Red by Torrin" brand which swayed me away from the HF.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/big-red-1250-lbs-engine-stand-0116720

 

[JMcFly]

I have a 600lb straight 6 hanging on my 1000 lb HF stand. Rotating it is probably not going to happen when I need to swap out the oil pans. But it's holding the engine where I can work on it.

 

[Falcon67]

Old thread, but an on-topic note. I have the 750 lb HF tool as a backup stand. I've had the 302 on it without any issues. I just hauled in a big old 1969 429 to the shop. As dressed, out of the barn, it should be in the 600~640 lb range.

I have the 429 on the stand and that stand nosed down with the weight so much I left it supported with the engine crane. I'm hunting a new stand right now. Most likely this one -

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200640940_200640940

The orange unit will go to the swap meet next year. So that's my review.

 

[Nineeightyone]

I've got the 750lb model, and it's fine for what I need -- there's a bit of room for improvement in the lower leg attachment, but all in all it's not bad. If you're into VW things, be prepared to only be able to use 3 of the attachment arms, as all four won't line up correctly (at least on the 2.0 8v).

 

[Danglerb]

I would make the jump to something with a gear drive. the 750 HF is non starter for me, the 1000 lb is $60 and had no issue with my 600 lb engine, but the gear drive is very appealing to me.

 

[kb1982]

I have the 1 ton model and its pretty stable. The only downsides are that it can be a bear to rotate an engine upside down, and the v on the legs make it difficult to transfer a motor from the cherry picker to the stand.

Sent from my LML713DL using Tapatalk

 

[Stooge]

Does anyone know of a 2k lb stand with a geared head? My 320 is probably only 850-900lbs but the length of a straight 8 hanging off creating a lot of leverage is what has me worried

next to a 327 sbc
2017-11-07_02-09-23 by Dan Haas, on Flickr

 

[MarineScott]

Guy at work had one, too light duty