MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - The weight of a 1500 engine (lift strength)

The kids were supposed to provide the funds for an engine crane this Christmas however it would seem that Santa could only manage a photo of the Grandkids (Seriously a lovely pressy), a steam train jig saw puzzle (I'm quite into that), a couple of copies of a welsh detective dark satire based in Aberystwyth (I like them, great), and a few quid towards the crane (Not enough).

So plan B is the chain hoist lift with the money towards an engine stand. The chain hoist exists, (a mates,) however the cross members or frame to attach it to do not.

I have various pieces of steel section and the welding kit.
Anyone any ideas on the weight of a 1500 engine with gearbox and ancillaries still on?
And anyone got any strength tables for steel sections or a reference web site I can look at?

Thanks in advance, Dave
Dave Squire 1500

you could always do what i did i bought an engine hoist on ebay used it and resold it for same as i paid for it so free 6 month rental
mark 1500 nearly on the road

Dave I use a 9 foot length of treated (orangey) 4" fence post across the garage between the walls (I am boasting here I have TWO posts across the garage about six feet apart, used the other to raise the back of the shell when I was lifting Lara-the-bodyshell off the ground when rebuilding her)

The fence post has lifted Ford 1300 engines, a Dolomite 1854 engine and Lara's 1293 still attached to its gearbox.(too many times)

I have used a dependable but now rather venerable Haltrac and a mighty chain hoist from the support of the beams. No visible sign of the post wilting yet under the strain.
Bill1

I dont think there 2 heavy according to some of the heman women haters club, here on the bbs

About 400 - 450 pounds usa

Id thank you could get away with a wooden 2x4 wooden A frame swing set.

Or the cieling rafters in your shop if the wieght where spread out

In the back road stix theres several large V8 motors hanging from tree branches


2 young beef cake guys could hoist with just some heavy rope a long bar between them

Ive got an engine hoist that works great...your welcome to use it free of charge as much as you want but it comes with your mandatory12 month commentment to keep it in YOUR garage/shop...just come pick it up....hahaha

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Thanks for the offer Prop. Apart from the pond in between and my only serviceable floating system being an International K1 from the 70s I would take you up on it!

That sounds a goer Bill I have some 6 x 2 (at least 4 lengths). The workshop / garage is actually a very light weight car port with a plastic sheet roof approx 8' across so I could bolt a 6 x 2 to a 4 x 2 rafter and reinforce the support posts. The floor is a good flat concrete slab I put in myself so no worries there.

Thanks for the practical advice; the work it out structural calculation online sites are a nightmare.

Cheers, Dave
Dave Squire 1500

Dave,

You could look at Beamboy.exe for Windows, it's pretty easy to use but it helps if you know what you're doing in the first place. I do have a Mech Eng degree so have done it the hard way with a calculator many times.
David Billington

Thanks Dave. That looks good. I only have a Physics A level so struggling with the more academic input definitions for the beam but apart from that it looks simples and informative.

If you could let me know what those are for apart from the physical dimensions it would be a great help. Like you I do tend to go over things lots when something is likely to drop on me if I make a mistake and the more ways I have of modelling the outcomes the better for my peace of mind.

Either the 4" x 4" wood (£15) or the two lengths of 50 by 50 channel welded together that I have would look to do it fine. But I would like to check
Dave Squire 1500

Fairly obvious, but for lifting , it is mostly the depth (vertical dimension) of a wooden beam that gives it the strength, So a 6" X 2" would be substantially stronger for lifting off than a 4" X 4". You would just need to secure it in such a way that it cannot flip onto its side. The old "rule of thumb" way of specifying floor joists was to measure the span in feet, add 2 and then divide by two to get the joist depth in inches. (numerically) e.g. a 10 foot span would require a joist of 10+2 = 12/2 = 6" depth. A 14 foot span would be 14+2 = 16/2 = 8" depth, etc. This is assuming a 1 1/2" thick joist, although the thickness makes little difference.

A sturdy solution, if using timber, would be 2 7" X 1 1/4" nailed through side by side with 6" offcuts of the 7" beams used as spacers at 24" intervals. (nail, not bolted, which would introduce weaknesses)

Or go to a scrapyard and buy a second hand length of RSJ
Guy Weller

Thanks Guy.

The old man is long gone (the experienced carpenter from the depression and desert war years). I am sure that he would have said that, and then said, Its in TFH (his London Authorities building spec book from the 30's) which I am sure is here somewhere now I think of it.

I have the timber and it will be a great way to do it.
Dave Squire 1500

Engine about 130kg gearbox about 30kg. 160 total. That's two adults. Rig something up that looks strong enough to support two fat people (fat people is your safety factor! Ha ha!) then test it by getting you and a pal to hang off it first :-)

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Amen malcome

Thats the way a hillbilly does it, :-)

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

An improvement on Malcolm's version is to get two fat friends to hang off it, whilst you monitor the deflection, and take notes.
Guy Weller

When I had mine out, I would guess its about 200kg if that helps you
Christian Carter

Thanks everyone for your help with this and the pulley nut removal, much appreciated. I now have the info to carry it all out in spite of the archives!

Unfortunately we have both been unwell (Christmas OK but not well enough to be out and about) so radiator out and not much else. But I am now on the mend. Midge still in bits. Work starts today; so at my desk. However as missus unwell I have use of a modern for a day or two so hopefully better still by the weekend and the time to do it :-)

Thanks again. Dave
Dave Squire 1500

This thread was discussed between 29/12/2013 and 02/01/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now