Author Topic: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand  (Read 14495 times)

Offline snub

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Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« on: December 25, 2012, 02:32:15 PM »
I thought this might be interesting to anyone here that works on automobile engines. For years I struggled with my store bought engine stand. Just turning the bare block was a chore as there was such a large difference between the I.D. and the O.D. of the shafts that the engine rotates on. And then there is the problem of getting the locking pin into the hole while hanging on to the turning handle.

So, I came up with this. A little bit of overkill, perhaps, but as I was treading in unknown territory I went with "bigger is better".





The shaft started as a piece of 2" steel that I turned down to1- 7/8"and mounted on pillow blocks and self centering bearings. I cut the original outer tube down the middle and welded on a piece of 1/2" plate. The engine mounting plate was welded to the shaft and the pillow blocks were bolted to the plate.








On the controller I have an on-off switch, a dpdt switch to control direction and a 12 Volt PWM to control the speed.



The motor is a 10 RPM gear reduction. It is a surplus item originally used on travel trailers to move the "slides' in and out. It has plenty of torque. More than I needed, but the price was right. It also has a built in electromagnetic brake so it holds its position when you turn the power off. No need for a locking pin. It was purchased from Burden Sales for $60.00.



I also added some "outriggers" to the stand to give it some stability when torquing on fasteners.
Some threaded rod with nuts welded inside the square tube and hockey pucks on the bottom.



Not including the price of the original stand or the powdercoating it cost about $250.00 in materials.

Rob.Wilson

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Re: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« Reply #1 on: December 25, 2012, 02:43:21 PM »
Hi snub

Bean there many a times ,we have the same stand at work  :bang: :bang:  ,
Now thats a Madmodded engine stand  :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: nowt wrong with overkill  :thumbup:


Rob

Offline snub

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Re: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« Reply #2 on: December 25, 2012, 03:15:05 PM »
Thanks, Rob!

Just thought I would post some pics and specs of the motor. At 70 Ft. LBS. it might just be the answer to someones overkill project. BTW, I did an interweb search and found similar motors selling for up to $500.





Offline snub

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Re: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2012, 04:09:56 PM »
A short video:


Rob.Wilson

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Re: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« Reply #4 on: December 25, 2012, 04:18:50 PM »
Sure dose work well Snub  :headbang:



Rob

Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« Reply #5 on: December 25, 2012, 10:25:19 PM »
That thing rocks. I can think of a few times when I would have wanted one! Awesome job.

Eric
Science is fun.

We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.

Offline DavidA

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Re: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2012, 12:08:29 PM »
Now all you have to do is include a drive to the wheels and your days of dragging it around are over.

Dave

Offline roger

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Re: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« Reply #7 on: November 07, 2017, 11:07:14 AM »
hello snub, is there anyway to get more detail info on the motorized engine stand you made??

Offline AdeV

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Re: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2017, 01:07:45 AM »
Superb! That's getting copied, if you don't mind! I don't fancy building up a heavy Jaguar V12 without something like that...

All you need now is a remote control.... maybe an App on your smartphone?  :med:
Cheers!
Ade.
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Location: Wallasey, Merseyside. A long way from anywhere.
Occasionally: Zhengzhou, China. An even longer way from anywhere...

Offline awemawson

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Re: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2017, 03:15:14 AM »
I've never used an engine stand - how the heck do you get the mounting flange onto the engine - you can't exactly hold the engine in one hand and put in the bolts with the other  :scratch: Dangle from block and tackle  :scratch:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline AdeV

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Re: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« Reply #10 on: November 08, 2017, 03:32:20 AM »
I've never used an engine stand - how the heck do you get the mounting flange onto the engine - you can't exactly hold the engine in one hand and put in the bolts with the other  :scratch: Dangle from block and tackle  :scratch:

With a normal (unmodified) stand, you pull the whole spindle end out, flange & all, mount to engine using bell housing mounts. Then hoik the whole damn thing up, slide the spindle back through the tube, re-fit the safety flangy thing (that stops it pulling out), retire to a warm place to recover one's strength...

Or, if the engine's like one of mine (~250kg), yeah, you use a separate engine hoist to position it.
Cheers!
Ade.
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Location: Wallasey, Merseyside. A long way from anywhere.
Occasionally: Zhengzhou, China. An even longer way from anywhere...

Offline snub

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Re: Motorized Automotive Engine Stand
« Reply #11 on: November 11, 2017, 09:10:48 PM »
hello snub, is there anyway to get more detail info on the motorized engine stand you made??

Sorry, Roger, not really. There weren't any plans. I just "winged it".