Overhead I-beam trolley/hoist?

[fury9]

I have an I beam running across my garage. My house is a raised ranch and the I Beam is in the perfect spot to pull motors and things. Do any of you guys have a trolley on your I beams? I don't want to hear anything about talking to an engineer or that won't hold that blah blah blah. Pics would be great! I was thinking about getting this- http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-plain-trolley-40493.html Any help with pics of the trolley posted to this thread would be greatly appreciated in case somebody else comes across this thread and the link is in-op.

 

[koditten]

Yep. sure do. My beam and trolly was installed before any other tools come on board. Couldn't be without one.

I can't believe I don't have a single complete pic of my beam and trolly. I just went thru my whole library on this computer and all I had was a bunch of partials.

Take what you can get, I guess.

KO

 

[bgarrett]

koditten, I recommend a stop on your I beam

 

[1/2 Cup]

I have one similar to the one you are proposing to purchase ( 2t Dawn Australian unit) it the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Sorry no pics.

 

[kbs2244]

That and a chain fall will change your life.

 

[koditten]

There is a welded stop on the opposite side of the pic. I didn't think I would need one on each side. That was the second thing I did after the trolly was installed. Good eye.

KO

 

[OccupantRJ]

I beam and wide flange beam are different in that I beam has tapered flanges, and trolleys are designed to run on the tapered flange, and be self-centering. With that being said, you can still use a trolley on the wide flange beam, but the contact area of the trolley wheels will be greatly reduced. This also assumes that the trolley will adjust wide enough to fit the beam. My BIL has been using a trolley on a wide flange beam for years, working tractors and such, with no issues.

 

[Glenn M.]

I've got one, very handy when I need it.
Not to be an "engineer" or anything, but depending on the heighth, if you have a really heavy load to lift, put a adjustable beam post or a piece of 6x6 the correct length under it temporarily until you're done, then get it back to being a clear span...

 

[Milton Shaw]

With a trolly on there and a chain fall on there you cannot get closer than 3 foot to the ceiling so you don't have enough clearance to pull engine. A shorter height electric 500lb hoist may fit your needs better for engine pulls etc. Look at the installed height of trolly and hoist to see if you can use it.

 

[bob15]

What is your height, floor to bottom of the I-beam? What is the size of your beam? Putting a chain fall off the I-beam will use up a couple of feet which might not make it as practical as you want.

I do believe you can get a better, used USA or even japan made trolley on evil bay for a similar amount than that from HF.

the I-beam in the picture is 12ft from the floor.

bob

 

[Smiliesafari]

Yes, I have a beam and trolly. Have not been without it for over 40 years. Every time I've moved my shop I have taken it down and moved it to the new location. I own the shop I'm in now. Mine is welded to the steel trusses. My garage is two bays. The I beam runs from the door to the back of the shop in both bays. Originally the beam was 22 ft long. I've cut it in half so That I can have a beam in both bays. I use a 500lb electric hoist. It does everything I need it to do. Very handy tool.

 

[fury9]

Thanks for the replies guys, I didn't know a chain hoist takes up a couple feet, I might look into an electric hoist or something that takes up less vertical height. I have roughly 84 9nches to the bottom of the beam. The engine I plan to remove won't have the radiator or support in the way.

 

[tcianci]

I have 8' ceilings in my garage. When I installed my beam, I tucked it up between 2 ceiling joists. That gave me more room to work. BTW I have only 17 inches from the underside of the beam to the hook on the chain hoist, that includes the trolley too.

 

[crewone]

Have three of them getting ready to put up number four so I have two on each side of the garage.

 

[wssix99]

I don't want to hear anything about talking to an engineer or that won't hold that blah blah blah.

It will probably "hold" just fine. As you put a point load on it, it will bend and the walls above it will move. This can lead to wallboard or tile cracking, etc.

The closer you are to a column or beam support, the better off you'll be. If you need to lift in the middle of the beam, you may need an additional support column on the beam close to your load to keep it from bending too much.

 

[DekeT]

I don't want to hear anything about talking to an engineer or that won't hold that blah blah blah.

Gotta love that open minded attitude.

 

[JakeKohl]

I've got one and I am an engineer. I limit mine to 500lbs and it should be capable of twice that. I installed a beam specifically for this purpose and connected it to a reinforced floor structure. I have found more uses for it than I could have ever imagined.

DSC_3066 by -Team Seacats-

DSC_3079 by -Team Seacats-

DSC_3501 by -Team Seacats-
Also note that the lengths of the all-threads were stepped with the center-most shorter than the outermost. This helped to install the beam so, with help, we could install the outside pairs of all thread nuts and then work our way to the center. Once bolted to the ceiling, the allthread was cut to be nearly flush with the nuts. Otherwise, this would have been nearly impossible to get all of this to align while you hold a 100lb beam on your shoulders.


DSC_3566 by -Team Seacats-


DSC_3711 by -Team Seacats-

New work table for downstairs by -Team Seacats-

And yes, that lifting strap in the last picture is really bobo.

 

[metalmagpie]

There exi$t low profile trolleys. If you need the extra few inches you can always sling a chain tightly around your beam above where you want to lift, and attach your hoist there.

I have a 2 ton HF trolley. I'm very happy with it. After I figured out what was what I made proper spacers for each side and tossed the washers. Mine is outside in Seattle's rain and every couple of years I take it apart and paint it again. Really, that's exactly the kind of low-precision item HF is great for. I paid $65 for it.

metalmagpie