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Light weight overhead-crane: hood lifter

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2018 4:38 pm
by WEW51L110
A couple months ago, in another thread, I posed the idea of building a light weight overhead crane to assist with lifting the hood of my L without having to conscript the assistance of anyone handy. Mostly, so I wouldn’t need to disturb the misses who’s not very mechanical and doesn’t like being asked to be an assistant.
My idea consists of using the spare parts from a garage door replacement that her cousin did a couple months ago. His house needed an upgraded door to meet current hurricane standards and therefor track, rollers, brackets, etc. were available free. I helped him do the replacement and paid for the parts in that manner. The only materials I’ve bought so far are four additional roller brackets (hinges) to have the number needed for how it’s turning out. I’ve welded the brackets so they are not hinges anymore. I’ve added additional supports using the angle iron from a spare bed frame we had. Paint that is showing up on the assemblies is what’s already surplus on my shelf. So Less than $20 actual money invested to date. The weather here in central sweatland has been in the almost unbearable range. Most days the “feels like” temperature is 3 digits. My philosophy is that retirement is meant to be enjoyed and not to be run as a marathon. So my progress has been deliberately slow for two reasons. 1. It’s HOT. 2. It gives me plenty of time to think through the next steps so there is minimal backtracking and rework.
Today I made it far enough to do some “mock-up” and testing of the design so far. The pictures will hopefully tell a lot about the direction this thing is going. The photos may not give an accurate sense of size. The distance from the three roller brackets on one end to the other three rollers is approximately 4.5ft. The distance side to side of the four roller bracket is 9.5” center of roller to center of roller.
It is my intention to mock this up one more time before I mount it to the trusses. I welded up some mounting brackets for the trusses today and will be painting them next. I’ll take more photos when I have the final mock up for the next installment.

Re: Light weight overhead-crane: hood lifter

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:32 pm
by nikkinutshop
Very clever, Bill. And all of this time I thought you were just a pretty face. You must be an engineer or something?

Re: Light weight overhead-crane: hood lifter

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2018 7:41 pm
by WEW51L110
Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I’ve been known to do some engineering. The guys I used to work with want me to come back and help them solve problems. I’m kinda getting used to no more spread sheets, no 5 year plans, no budget projections, no more project proposal meetings and no more weekly status meetings. I do miss the comraderie with the guys, so occasionally I go have lunch with them. My youngest son graduated in May from engineering school and if I get lonely for any of that regimen, I can talk to him about what he’s doing and I get over it.

Re: Light weight overhead-crane: hood lifter

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 9:24 am
by dean466
WEW51L110 wrote:if I get lonely for any of that regimen, I can talk to him about what he’s doing and I get over it.


:lol: :lol:

Dean

Re: Light weight overhead-crane: hood lifter

PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 8:38 am
by WEW51L110
Mock-up #2:
Finally got around to the second mock-up. I’ve been making brackets to hold the assembly to the trusses of my shop and I needed to know accurate dimensions for how far apart to install them. This mock-up allowed me to get that measurement: 65.375”.
Also, I’m going to fabricate the mount for the hoist (shown) to the trolley. The hoist is a small electric one that is capable of lifting 440# on a double line or 220# on a single line; 110v, with a lanyard control. To date I have about $100 tied up in this experiment. Most of it in the purchase price of the hoist.

Re: Light weight overhead-crane: hood lifter

PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 11:23 am
by nikkinutshop
65.375, EH? That is engineer talk for just under five foot six inches. North of the border that would be 166.052 centimeters, engineering talk, of course.
Looking good WEW.
My "albatross " is being a problem. A no start situation shows a crank sensor failure, when I connected the laptop. New parts have been ordered. I'm losing interest quickly. :t3909:

Re: Light weight overhead-crane: hood lifter

PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 5:28 pm
by WEW51L110
I could have put 65 3/8”, but the text just doesn’t look right. So I defaulted back to decimal inches.

Sorry the ‘40 is being such a pain. However, persistence pays off. It may pay out in more pain, but sooner or later, you’ll solve it. Hang in there.

Re: Light weight overhead-crane: hood lifter

PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 11:37 pm
by nikkinutshop
I am surprisingly OK with a few troubles. For me, the build is the thing and I am learning some good stuff. If there is a next time, I am going KISS

Re: Light weight overhead-crane: hood lifter

PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:23 am
by WEW51L110
I’ve finally completed this installation with successful results. I did test the hoist by lifting a weight before I parked my truck under it and am satisfied there is nothing to worry about. Once I lifted the hood with it, I was relieved to know that this idea paid off. To support the hood, I used ratchet straps that are about an inch wide and had more than enough length to go around the hood. Additionally, I can put them on and the hood is not damaged or paint scratched and I can then even them out by ratcheting them individually to keep the hood level.
The hoist capacity I bought is 220# single line, 440# double line. I will never use it to it’s maximum capacity, but I wanted a hoist that was compact, light weight and electric. I felt that a manual hoist (come-along) was too jerky and difficult to access. I removed the original 6’ electric cord and replaced it with a long cord to reach an outlet. That way I don’t have to always be connecting an extension cord whenever I need to power up.
Photos:

Re: Light weight overhead-crane: hood lifter

PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 10:11 am
by lbesq
That is a nice installation.