Today we review a Harbor Freight 2 Ton Engine hoist. We build it, test it out, and give some final thoughts. Be sure to subscribe for more reviews, commentary and outtakes!
Thank you thank you thank you for including the box dimensions! I've been trying to find out how big the boxes are for more than a day (on and off!) Nobody seemed to want to give this basic info. Great video.
Mechanic tip. If you open the valve to the hydraulic jack you can lift the arm from the lower to upper position with your arm and then close the valve and it will stay at the height you close it at. No more jacking it up forever. 😊
I realize that this is an old post, but its never too late to learn, especially if you didn’t have a father to teach you the ropes. Hydraulic jacks don’t lower their loads unless you either open the valve, or the seal in the jack is defective. Your jack has a warranty, use it!
I have a Harbor Frieght 2-Ton Engine hoist that is about 15 years old. It is orange, and the paint is very good, and is not faded as I keep it in my garage. All of the welds are good as well. The hydraulic ram has never dropped with an engine hanging on it. I also use it to lift other heavy objects out of the back of my truck. If I were you I would take it back, because it is not supposed to leak down like that.
Yea, like most things product quality degrades over time with most companies. I'm actually thinking I'm going to keep the frame and buy a power ram for it. That would be dope
Hi, nice video as it really helps someone get mentally prepared and thinking about pulling an engine especially if you never did it before. Just a thought here… to make up for the max height of the hoist not being quite long enough… Could you take the front wheels off the truck, and lower the truck down a few inches or so and rest tge truck on jack stands. I don’t know if that would work, but just throwing it out there for some thought. Maybe when you go to put the engine back into the truck.
A great piece of info for a review would be how wide the bottom can straddle. Like how wide is the base under each of the 4 load pins when the boom is at its highest point. Sure it's often used to lift engines and that doesn't matter, but it's a shop crane and popular use is lifting things on to carts or tables where you need to straddle the base. No one ever gives that info...
Bought the 2T fr $180 + tax. Any consideration to replacing bolts on upper arm/head with pins....as on the folding base.....to facilitate easy further dis-assemble into multiple separate sections in order to store standing up between wall studs of garage. As you mentioned, not an every day use tool.
U have to bleed the hydraulic part of the jack. Sometimes they don’t even come with fluid. That’s y the jack wouldn’t hold position with the weight of the engine.
Looks like you have it extended all the way out at .5 (500lbs) position, which you mentioned “1/2 ton position”(1/2 ton is 500lbs) and you mentioned the manufacturer says the engine is slightly over 500lbs which explains why it’s not holding the weight.
My buddy bought this engine hoist and it isn't worth $100. After only being less than a year old it leaks hydraulic fluid like a stuck pig. Straight up garbage. Wouldn't even hold the little V6 engine of his that we pulled out.I'll say it again..straight up garbage!!!
Not sure if you have a video in this, but I also want to buy a gantry crane from harbor freight. Thing is I don’t know if it would fit in my 2017 Ram 1500 with the 5’ bed (crew cab). Harbor Freight is so crowded all the time. When I asked for help, they walk away and don’t come back. I asked a few times … like how big is the box or boxes the gantry crane comes in. I told them I don’t want to buy it, drive around the back to their warehouse dock, and then find out it won’t fit in my truck… then I’d have to rent a U-Haul mover, etc. if you already bought a gantry, even if it’s just a video of you talking about how you got it home, dimensions of the box/boxes, etc. thanks again
WARNING MUST BE WATCHED MUTED BECAUSE OF INAPPROPRIATE MIND NUMBING VOMIT INDUCING BACKGROUND MUSIC. What is wrong with you people who need this constant Tweedle Dum Tweedle Dee Ga Ga Pooh music inundating your feeble minds?
Mechanics tip just deflate the tires a little bit as opposed to sitting the motor on someone's Grill
I was just about to post the same. Can easily gain 4” that way on a typical pickup.
Yea. I ended up doing that when putting it back in. Damn thing
Thank you thank you thank you for including the box dimensions! I've been trying to find out how big the boxes are for more than a day (on and off!) Nobody seemed to want to give this basic info. Great video.
👍🏻
Mechanic tip. If you open the valve to the hydraulic jack you can lift the arm from the lower to upper position with your arm and then close the valve and it will stay at the height you close it at. No more jacking it up forever. 😊
The 🐐 himself
👍🏻
You just changed my life
I realize that this is an old post, but its never too late to learn, especially if you didn’t have a father to teach you the ropes. Hydraulic jacks don’t lower their loads unless you either open the valve, or the seal in the jack is defective. Your jack has a warranty, use it!
Your skill level has come a long way.
Thanks man!
I have a Harbor Frieght 2-Ton Engine hoist that is about 15 years old. It is orange, and the paint is very good, and is not faded as I keep it in my garage. All of the welds are good as well. The hydraulic ram has never dropped with an engine hanging on it. I also use it to lift other heavy objects out of the back of my truck. If I were you I would take it back, because it is not supposed to leak down like that.
Yea, like most things product quality degrades over time with most companies. I'm actually thinking I'm going to keep the frame and buy a power ram for it. That would be dope
7:00 lower the front tire pressures significantly. thx for video. wonder if it came with a slightly defective cylinder seal
Hi, nice video as it really helps someone get mentally prepared and thinking about pulling an engine especially if you never did it before. Just a thought here… to make up for the max height of the hoist not being quite long enough…
Could you take the front wheels off the truck, and lower the truck down a few inches or so and rest tge truck on jack stands.
I don’t know if that would work, but just throwing it out there for some thought. Maybe when you go to put the engine back into the truck.
You could absolutely do that.
8:50 - "Who knows how fast this would have gone down if I was using the 1 ton?" - good question
As long as it can pull and hold that 5.3 until I can get it on a stand I’m good broskie!
Right on, that It can do!
A great piece of info for a review would be how wide the bottom can straddle. Like how wide is the base under each of the 4 load pins when the boom is at its highest point.
Sure it's often used to lift engines and that doesn't matter, but it's a shop crane and popular use is lifting things on to carts or tables where you need to straddle the base. No one ever gives that info...
I'll be back in the shop tomorrow. If I remember ill measure it and hit you back.
@@rythecarguy2711 guess you don't remember
Yeah what gives?
Bought the 2T fr $180 + tax. Any consideration to replacing bolts on upper arm/head with pins....as on the folding base.....to facilitate easy further dis-assemble into multiple separate sections in order to store standing up between wall studs of garage. As you mentioned, not an every day use tool.
U have to bleed the hydraulic part of the jack. Sometimes they don’t even come with fluid. That’s y the jack wouldn’t hold position with the weight of the engine.
Yea I did bleed it and I just bled it yesterday again as I plan to use it soon. It still drops the boom. 😢
@@rythecarguy2711 dam u might have to return it. I’ve never seen that other than if the jack isn’t bled. Still a good video tho👍
Thanks man. I might call in on warranty
@@rythecarguy2711 might be a good idea. mine held for almost a week before noticeably dropping.
👍🏻
Can you use that to put stuff in bed of truck? How tall does it lift?
They want $370 now for it in a different color, this aint inflation anymore.
New version has he boom arm top tension straps box welded closed. Haven't observed any other changes. Maybe better ram??
@@stlpro2a386 nothing to make it cost double
I hope so, the ram on this one ended up sucking.
@@rythecarguy2711 replace the ram
@@ryancrowley4243 that was the plan before I sold it. I was going to do a power one would've been nice.
I really just am gonna use this to unload my ls out the bed of my truck . 😪 thanks for the vid this helped
You're welcome. They are still nice to have around, I used to lift transmissions and the bed off my truck.
Thanks for taking the dimensions.
👍🏻
I should buy one!
🤘🏻
Your crane has a duff ram - it should hold pressure, especially when new.
Yea, it was just a POS
Mine doesnt leak down you need to take it back or replace the ram
Already dumped it an bought another one.
Thanks
Does anyone know if all hydraulics will sag like that? Or is it just this brand which I should avoid?
I bled mine twice and added fluid and it still sagged, I think it's just cheaply made and the seals are not great.
It shouldn't drop. I have two hoists from different brands and neither one drops. I have used them to lift heavier things than an engine.
Looks like you have it extended all the way out at .5 (500lbs) position, which you mentioned “1/2 ton position”(1/2 ton is 500lbs) and you mentioned the manufacturer says the engine is slightly over 500lbs which explains why it’s not holding the weight.
It is extended all the way but 1/2 ton is 1000 lbs not 500. 1 ton = 2000 lbs. Should be more than enough capacity.
The lift lowering itself under load is not normal. Something is broken,
Correct.
U didn't mention the cost of the lift.
Changes all the time. It's over 300 now 😳
Your suppose to top the fluid off before use…that’s why it’s dropping
I bled it and topped it off, still did it.
Next time you could let air out of your tires
I did when putting back in. Worked like a charm.
Your hoist should say no to “drug” shouldn’t really be dragged down that fast either
Huh?
@@rythecarguy2711 say no to drugs🗿
😂
Next time let the air out of the tires
Handsome
Haha thank you. Unless you were talking about the engine lift.
My buddy bought this engine hoist and it isn't worth $100. After only being less than a year old it leaks hydraulic fluid like a stuck pig. Straight up garbage. Wouldn't even hold the little V6 engine of his that we pulled out.I'll say it again..straight up garbage!!!
Chinese hydraulics suck. Not surprised it bleeds down.
Yup 😕 very annoying. I'm switching to a gantry crane
Not sure if you have a video in this, but I also want to buy a gantry crane from harbor freight. Thing is I don’t know if it would fit in my 2017 Ram 1500 with the 5’ bed (crew cab). Harbor Freight is so crowded all the time. When I asked for help, they walk away and don’t come back. I asked a few times … like how big is the box or boxes the gantry crane comes in.
I told them I don’t want to buy it, drive around the back to their warehouse dock, and then find out it won’t fit in my truck… then I’d have to rent a U-Haul mover, etc.
if you already bought a gantry, even if it’s just a video of you talking about how you got it home, dimensions of the box/boxes, etc.
thanks again
@@anderslarocque1280 I plant to buy one for my next garage. I will for sure make a video on it.
WARNING MUST BE WATCHED MUTED BECAUSE OF INAPPROPRIATE MIND NUMBING VOMIT INDUCING BACKGROUND MUSIC. What is wrong with you people who need this constant Tweedle Dum Tweedle Dee Ga Ga Pooh music inundating your feeble minds?
Calm down old man. And what do you mean by "you people?"