Outboard Engine Hoist

**4Speed** · 12-06-2021, 04:50 PM

Any thoughts or recommendations on pulling a 3.0L Mercury with a automotive engine hoist like the ones at Harbor Freight or Tractor Supply. Just going to add some set back and need to unbolt and separate for a hour or two. I plan to use a safety chain/ cable/ strap to the garage 2nd story floor joist just incase. Not sure I want to rely on the joist unless $%*! happens.

**FUJIMO** · 12-06-2021, 05:45 PM

...too much weight for an overhead wood floor joist for any length of time. beg, borrow or steal a real lift of some sort...

**Chaz** · 12-06-2021, 06:47 PM

I made my neighbor a pair of aluminum covers to go over the rafters in his garage. He puts a piece of pipe across the two and uses a chain hoist to pull and replace engines with his kid. Personally, I don't recommend using the house as a tool .. but ...

I have a cherry picker that comes apart and stores in the corner of my motor room.
To get motors in~out~and around, I made another one that plugs into my hitch.

My trailer needs a little work , so I'm thinking about a couple wooden gantry's, chain hoists and slings. That stuff always comes in handy.
Come to think of it, I have some I-beams layin around. I could make one out of steel and buy a trolly for it ... Yea- I know, overthinking a simple job ..

**MattGreen** · 12-06-2021, 06:55 PM

I have been using a Harbour Freight folding engine hoist for lifting outboards for nearly 10 years - works great. The key tool is actually the correct lifting eye for your motor.

Matt

**Pulse186** · 12-06-2021, 07:00 PM

If you spread the load garage rafters can support the weight.

When I was 18 I pulled motors out of cars in my moms garage and all I did was sling a chain over one rafter and hooked up the chain fall. Can't believe we didn't pull that garage down on our heads, lol

because I'm older and (slightly) wiser I borrow my friends engine hoist, it is from hobofreight, works fine.

**FUJIMO** · 12-06-2021, 07:37 PM

...knowing how thin a material a ford or chevy 1/2 ton pickup truck frame is...that lift in the reciever hitch looks scary chaz...cantilevered out like that...

**4Speed** · 12-06-2021, 08:16 PM

I was thinking about taking a 4x4 or (2) 2x6 spiked together about 8' long and placing them on the 2nd story floor joist plywood so as to distribute the weight and dropping a chain down through a pre cut hole floor as from what I can find out the engineered joists can support 40-50 lbs./ sq' and mine are 2' on center but I would be a little nervous.
Suppose given the cost of the motor & lower vs. the cost of a foldable lift, I could always craigslist the lift after I am done.

**FMP** · 12-06-2021, 08:23 PM

Unbolt it and tip the boat over...

**Chaz** · 12-06-2021, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

...knowing how thin a material a ford or chevy 1/2 ton pickup truck frame is...that lift in the reciever hitch looks scary chaz...cantilevered out like that...

If it makes ya feel better, there's no pin in it either ...

No motocross or long trips .. just a couple hunnert feet around my property, one building to the other .. boathouse and box trailer is as far as it's ever been.

**InjectorService** · 12-06-2021, 11:36 PM

Regular engine hoist will do it but sometimes you run into lifting restrictions, start touching the flywheel with the arm, but usually you can make something work. Just pulled my Optimax off with a hoist a week ago. Lower was off, so I placed the exhaust housing down on a piece of wood and left tension on the hoist attached to the flywheel. That's where it sits today

**moatorbotin** · 12-07-2021, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

...knowing how thin a material a ford or chevy 1/2 ton pickup truck frame is...that lift in the reciever hitch looks scary chaz...cantilevered out like that...

but you trust towing 7k lbs with one?

**hellbents-10** · 12-07-2021, 08:36 AM

I used a good old engine hoist for my 300xs and it worked great.

**Chaz** · 12-07-2021, 09:59 AM

**Baker343** · 12-07-2021, 12:20 PM

Had to get creative

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**Aaronhl** · 12-07-2021, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by 4Speed

I was thinking about taking a 4x4 or (2) 2x6 spiked together about 8' long and placing them on the 2nd story floor joist plywood so as to distribute the weight and dropping a chain down through a pre cut hole floor as from what I can find out the engineered joists can support 40-50 lbs./ sq' and mine are 2' on center but I would be a little nervous.
Suppose given the cost of the motor & lower vs. the cost of a foldable lift, I could always craigslist the lift after I am done.

I dont see why that wouldn't work, letting ti hang there for a few hours probably wont be too bad, you could always let the lower unit stand on a block of wood to release some of the weight on the joists if you need to hold it longer, but anyways my dad an I both have hoists in our garages connected to eye from the joists...He was able to put a piece of wood over the joists to connect the eye to and I have a floor over my garage so I rigged up a few pieces of steel angle to bolt into the joist...Ive had a 2.5 swinging on it pretty good before and the drywall hasnt cracked yet lol

I find I am using my in-garage ceiling hoist more often because its easier to back the boat in...the portable one I use if I am on the road...