best way to "hold" an engine?

[gcbailey]

I'm getting ready to take the engine out of my 127 to paint it and the frame. What's the best way to hold/stabilize the engine while removing it? I was thinking about putting a car jack under it but I also need some way to "hold" the engine so I can take the metal off and paint it...

[Matt G.]

Got an extra small floor jack lying around that you never use?

If you (or anyone else) wants to make one, let me know so I come up with appropriate minimum sizes for the boom material, as it's very important that it isn't sized too small.

[bigdaddyjak]

the best way to hold/stabelize it would be 1 hand on the front and 1 on the back, thats how i do it, then put it on the bench and put a block of wood under it.

[gcbailey]

Originally Posted by Matt G.

Got an extra small floor jack lying around that you never use?

If you (or anyone else) wants to make one, let me know so I come up with appropriate minimum sizes for the boom material, as it's very important that it isn't sized too small.

Matt, I got one just like that that is too small to use on anything outside of GTs...

[superduty5.9]

You could anything you want. I even have a bad back and I was able to pick it up by hand. It's not as heavy as you would think! It is awkward though.

[bigdaddyjak]

Originally Posted by superduty5.9

You could anything you want. I even have a bad back and I was able to pick it up by hand. It's not as heavy as you would think! It is awkward though.

thats what i was getting at, a hand on the front pto, and 1 on the back pulley and i pick it out and put it in my kids wagon and take it where it needs to go, it is a bit awkward but its not heavy! I no what u mean about the back, 5.9 same boat here!

[TEET]

Gary, I picked up a cheap harbor freight chain fall, and pull my engines using that. I'm lucky enough that the previous owner of my house installed a 6 x 6 across the rafters in the garage from one wall to the other to lift his race car engines. I suppose a tree could work as well. I have a roll around lift table that I drop it on with wood blocks on it spaced apart to straddle the oil pan.

Before I picked up the chain fall, I just man handled them out swinging them up on my workbench...its doable, but easier with a little mechanical help.

Jeff (teet)

[gcbailey]

I guess really what I want is something that can handle the engine while I spray it. I didn't know if the oil pan on the 12hp kohlers were flat enough to sit up or not by themself. I'm capable of "handling" the engine. but I am getting to the age where I'm growing out of my young stupidity too... The days of "watch this boys!!!" are coming to a close the quicker that 30 gets here.

What Matt has would be perfect, I had something envisioned in my mind using a similar small jack and some type of cradle that the sit would just sit in and be happy for a while, jacking it up from the bottom like usual.

[TEET]

I think I know what you mean now Gary, I made up a "cradle" to hold my engines while they were out. It was just some scrap 2 x 6's and some threaded rod, so I could adjust the width to cradle the oil pan...

Jeff (teet)

[Diz Jr.]