jmarkwolf
Well-known member
I currently have a nice AC Delco 2 ton engine hoist. I don't do any engine work and just use it as a general purpose shop crane. It's well made from heavy thick wall rectangular tubing.
My only complaint is that it is not the folding variety. The legs have to be lifted vertically out of their "keepers", then slid horizontally into the "receivers" and pinned. I would guess each of the thick wall legs weigh 75lbs or more (and they're getting heavier every year!). Getting the angle of the dangle just right for the legs to slide into place is a struggle (almost a 2-man job).
Reversing the process for dismantling the hoist for stowage is a bit of a chore as well. I sometimes have second thoughts about using the hoist for this reason.
I'm thinking of selling the hoist and buying the HF 2 ton engine hoist. It has the same stated capacity, and has folding legs, so I would only have to lift one end of each of the legs while deploying it. It is not built as robust as my AC Delco and I understand it will not have the same "practical" capacity, but I've never had the need to lift anything heavier than my 1200lb lathe. I expect the HF 2 ton hoist should have no issue with that load.
The alternative is to modify the legs on my AC Delco hoist to fold, which would likely compromise the capacity and/or stability, and probably cost more to modify than the difference in cost between selling the AC Delco and buying the HF.
Trying to avoid buyers remorse. Any thoughts?
My only complaint is that it is not the folding variety. The legs have to be lifted vertically out of their "keepers", then slid horizontally into the "receivers" and pinned. I would guess each of the thick wall legs weigh 75lbs or more (and they're getting heavier every year!). Getting the angle of the dangle just right for the legs to slide into place is a struggle (almost a 2-man job).
Reversing the process for dismantling the hoist for stowage is a bit of a chore as well. I sometimes have second thoughts about using the hoist for this reason.
I'm thinking of selling the hoist and buying the HF 2 ton engine hoist. It has the same stated capacity, and has folding legs, so I would only have to lift one end of each of the legs while deploying it. It is not built as robust as my AC Delco and I understand it will not have the same "practical" capacity, but I've never had the need to lift anything heavier than my 1200lb lathe. I expect the HF 2 ton hoist should have no issue with that load.
The alternative is to modify the legs on my AC Delco hoist to fold, which would likely compromise the capacity and/or stability, and probably cost more to modify than the difference in cost between selling the AC Delco and buying the HF.
Trying to avoid buyers remorse. Any thoughts?
