Crazy Crane

[Tmate]

Some 30 years ago I built an engine crane based on an old Chevy 283 bare block. I knocked the center main bearing web out with a sledge hammer, and used the center main bearing oil holes to attach a steel cable. I used the starter motor/flywheel to wind up the cable up around the main, raising the load. I then used a long handle which released the clutch to slowly lower the load.

A highly impractical, but fun project. It worked too. It ended up in the scrapyard.

 

[Bobtail4x4]

now that is different

 

[owas]

Won't be folding that away

 

[zzr1200]

Definitely an interesting "Red Neck Design", can't help thinking a boat trailer winch with some extra pulleys would have been an easier design, though....

 

[pint]

mad, in a good way

what did the clutch hook up to ? a pawl/ratchet mechanism i guess

 

[Tmate]

what did the clutch hook up to ? a pawl/ratchet mechanism i guess

If I recall correctly (it was in1980), I had a fixed transmission input shaft going through the clutch disk. When I actuated the throwout bearing with the long handle, it allowed the flywheel/crank to wind the cable up or down.