Often spotted in car garages and warehouses, an engine crane is a valuable piece of equipment that can be used to lift, hold and move heavy items through the air.
But what exactly is an engine crane and how do they work?
What is an engine crane?
Popular among mechanics that work with heavy weight items, engine cranes are used to lift and lower large objects into place. Also referred to as engine hoists, they make light work of holding engines or items mid-air.
How do engine hoists work?
The mechanics of an engine hoist is relatively simple – a human operated winch is used to apply oil pressure to hydraulic cylinders filled with liquid fluid. This creates the force needed to move objects up and down.
In fact, an engine hoist works in a similar way to a building crane, except it’s far smaller in size so it can fit into workshops.
Engine hoists make lifting, moving and lowering heavy items much easier, as well as being much safer. With 693,000 people sustaining injuries at work each year, engine hoists reduce the risk of strains which are the result of workers moving items that are far too heavy.
Of the 21,565 motor repair workshops in the UK, it’s safe to say the majority of these will have an engine hoist to help them with their heavy lifting.
What are engine hoists most commonly used for?
As the name suggests, engine hoists are used in the automotive industry by mechanics lifting engines out of cars to work on them. Whilst perfect for lifting smaller vehicles, an engine hoist is not capable of lifting heavy engines. For this reason, engine cranes are not a substitute for engine stands.
Engine hoists are also only designed to support the weight for a short amount of time, meaning they can’t be substituted for an engine stand.
Engine hoists have a similar mechanism to electric hoists too, which can be used for lifting virtually any heavy load. This means they’re also popular in sawmills, shops, factories and warehouses.
In conclusion
Engine hoists have long been favoured by car repair shops and garages to assist mechanics with heavy lifting. No matter how strong they may be, having a helping hand to lift heavy engines goes a long way to protect their backs from excessive strain.
Powered by hydraulics, engine hoists are an essential piece of kit when dealing with smaller vehicles. If you haven’t already got one, perhaps it’s time to invest?
