Would you like a Hudson Engine Hoist?

RL Chilton
RL Chilton Administrator, Member
edited May 2014 in HUDSON
I'm posting this to get a feel if there is a desire out there to own a copy of a Hudson engine hoist that is similar to the ones used exclusively in the engine plant at HMCC.  We have finished making a prototype that is programmed into a CNC plasma cutter.  It gets cut so quickly that there is very little flash to clean and the edges are quite smooth without a lot of need for handwork to finish it off. This prototype is super strong (probably over-engineered just like a Hudson) and made from 1/4" plate. 

As you can see from the pictures, the hoist can bolt up in the middle of a 6-cylinder head, or further back if the transmission is bolted to the engine.  The four holes in the vertical portion are there to "balance" your engine assembly without the need of an "adjustable" engine hoist that has a crank and an all-thread attached.   You simply put your hook on your cherry picker (or bridge crane, if one is so lucky) in the correct hole to balance and away you go.  

These hoists would sell for $50 plus S/H.  I am now ready to make a run of these if there is some demand. Please let me know your thoughts on the matter and also let me know if you would like to be placed on the preliminary "list" of potential buyers.  






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Comments

  • railknight
    railknight Expert Adviser
    edited May 2014

    A few years ago I purchased the reproduction Kent-Moore oil pump gear alignment tool for a stepdown 6 cylinder engine made by Gert Kristiansen of Salt Lake City.  I only used it once so far, but it sure came in handy to get the job done.

    This looks like the same thing.  You (or a mechanic working on your stepdown engine) may only use this engine hoist bracket once to lift the engine out or even raise it a bit to, say, replace the front engine mounts, but it'd be just the piece of equipment to have to help get the job done. 

    That said, I'll get the ball rollin', RL, and you can put me down to purchase one for $50.00. 

    While it's not in use for its intended purpose, you can perhaps use it as a heavy duty door stop or better yet place it on the coffee table in the living room to act as a modern piece of machine art.  The little lady will love you for that!  

    Dan

     

  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    Put me down for one as well.
    Kdancy
  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    Thanks Russ,
    John Forkner will take one also.
  • stbryson
    stbryson Senior Contributor
    edited May 2014

    Hello Mr. Chilton,

    I would like to be placed on your list for one of the Hudson engine hoists you are having made.

    Thank you, and take care,

    Steve Bryson

  • 4starservice
    4starservice Member

    Russ,

    Very nice looking work. I am interested in being added to the list.  Don't know if I will need to use it but having the right tool is far better than adapting a poor tool.

    Drew

  • mdwhit
    mdwhit Expert Adviser
    Russell,
    Please put me on the list!
    Thanks, Michael
  • hudshornet
    hudshornet Expert Adviser
    Russell I am interested also. Thanks
    Hudso.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    edited May 2014
    I sent all of the above a PM.  If you did not get a PM from me, then I all ready have mailing addresses for you and are included on my ongoing list.  With the emails I have received, we are nearly up to 20 units.  I will probably get a run of 25 or 30 made sometime in the next 10 days or so.  Will keep everyone posted.  There is an ad going out in our local Chapter Newsletter, which gets shared with all of the other chapters and I'm sure will generate a little more interest.  

    Thank you everyone who has contacted me and expressed a desire to own this unique tool!
  • Jay_G
    Jay_G Expert Adviser

    I will take one also.

    Jay

  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    Please add me to the list.
  • kamzack
    kamzack Senior Contributor

    I'd like one as well.
    Kim Kramer
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    This is still in the works, but the company doing the cut-outs are dragging their feet.  Will keep everyone posted.  
  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    Update?
  • dyurko
    dyurko Member
    I would like one too if possible
  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    Update ??
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    The shop I was working with decided they weren't making enough money and I am now (and have been) searching for another place that would be interested in taking on a small production run.  I've checked with 3 other shops since the initial deal with no luck.  Next time I'll make sure I make a post about it when I have ALL of the products in hand.  
  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    Thanks for trying!
  • alansking
    alansking Member
    Seems the shops you are trying have too much work to care about the little man, first mistake in business, find a small shop with less work and a more interested owner.
  • faustmb
    faustmb Senior Contributor
    I deal with this quite a bit. The small shops arent set up for a real production run and don't have the quality large shops tend to have , and the shops who can run production don't want to prototype. Fortunately I've been able to use companies I deal with on my day job that give me production quality at a fair price, more or less as a favor. CNC equipment is expensive per hour, and they want to keep it humming along.
  • allan
    allan Member

    Doug Wildrick reproduced these a number of years ago.  I bought one and have used it for everything from engine work to transmission removal.  Perhaps Doug has the resource to have another run of these produced.

    Allan

  • JasonNC
    JasonNC Expert Adviser
    Check with McCombs Steel in Statesville, NC.  A few years back when I was trying to produce a bracket for air conditioners for Hudsons, those guys were real cooperative in helping me design and produce the steel plate that was the greater part of the bracket.  
  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    The one shop in my area that is able to make te bracket has only a plasma cutter. That leaves a rough edge on all the cuts. A water jet is needed to make smooth edges. I could use one that was plasma cut, but for production that may not be satisfactory.
  • faustmb
    faustmb Senior Contributor
    The local shop I use for my brake kit's laser cuts the flat parts now, it leaves a very smooth edge. It rought than milling, but not much.
  • JasonNC
    JasonNC Expert Adviser
    What are the dimensions of the engine hoist shown in the photos above, including the thickness of the metal.  I'm going to try to print a picture of it to show to the metal shop what it looks like in an attempt to get them to make me one.  
  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    edited March 2015
    Jason, the price I got to make them up using plasma cutter was 27.50 each. That includes the metal, cutting then braking into shape. Send me your e-mail address and I'll forward the info to you.
  • JasonNC
    JasonNC Expert Adviser
    Kdancy, I sent you a PM.  
  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    I told the metal shop to go ahead and make 3 up. Let me see how they turn out. I post when I pick them up.
  • JasonNC
    JasonNC Expert Adviser
    I told my metal shop guy to make only one.  I will post pics of it when I get it back as well.  
  • JasonNC
    JasonNC Expert Adviser
    As promised, here are some pictures of the engine hoist that the metal shop made for me.  The only thing that wasn't according to plans as far as I can see is that the plate is 3/8 instead of 1/4 inch thick, however that should be a plus.
  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    Jason that is a little different than the print. The print shows notches so you can place it over the spark plugs.
    That should work just fine through.
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