Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[BukitCase]

Mark (DragonEggs) - in your particular situation, I think the cherry picker may be your ONLY option (Space - the final frontier ) - be SURE to budget for the air/hydraulic jack replacement if you're gonna use it more than maybe once a YEAR

As to the HF gantry, you're right about headroom - unless you're willing to cut a foot or more off inner AND outer uprights BEFORE assembly, it's a no-go.
Also, you may remember what I did to mine (INCLUDING the heavier beam already mentioned here) - the "saga" begins here, and includes diagonal bracing between posts and heavier/longer beam (distance between posts wasn't enough for my 580B's stabilizers to clear)

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/387658-container-weld-shop-build-17.html with post# 163

Besides the mods I've already done, I've discovered that the stock height adjusters ABSOLUTELY SUCK as in, don't work AT ALL about half the time. Cheesy little weird cam-like "winches" on each post, cables too light, tacked on afterthought CRAP (to put it mildly)

My THIRD plan (after scrapping the first couple ) was to fab bolt-on brackets at the base of each post, shorten the cheesy pipes enough and add a pair of the air/hyd jacks (replacement for cherry picker jack) to PUSH UP on said cheesy pipes, BUT...

The HF version of that (which seems to have DISAPPEARED from their site) has a MAXIMUM stroke of 17.5 inches - the adjustment holes on the crane are on 6 inch centers; which means that my mod would've only allowed a 12" change in height without either using some pre-cut spacers and a bunch of "monkey motion" to get more range, or moving the earlier mentioned bolt-on brackets...

SOLUTION -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UAOJX0O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I ordered a pair of these a while back - if you read the description, they are the ONLY version of this I found with slightly MORE than 18" ram travel.

That will at least let me change height by THREE holes at a time instead of only two...

Before you ask, NO - that part isn't even STARTED yet, there's so many 'gators in my little pond ATM that (if I wuz smarter) I could probly just walk across their heads and run away

However, if anybody wants a better description of my height adjust plan, just ask and I'll 'splain my intentions. Meantime, back to your basic "suckage" channel... Steve

 

[bigtiller]

I know I could research this thread but I am lazy. Looking for experience on HF Gantry Crane.

Telescoping Gantry Crane - 1 Ton

Looking to lift off my F-150 bed for a repair. Thoughts? Thinking of using a 25% coupon. Puts it at $555 plus tax. Seems worth it. Problem is I have no more room in my garage/shop.

The HF store is too far away for me to get to on a casual basis. But at that price, I would make the drive. So I have to ask the question before I make the drive....

Will a 25% coupon be excepted on the gantry crane purchase?

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay gravitating to the HF 2T folding shop crane... is this tool on the 'don't suck' list?

 

[bcp]

Good for a few more days:

Bruce

 

[California]

Okay gravitating to the HF 2T folding shop crane... is this tool on the 'don't suck' list?

I recently bought the 1 ton version when I had to replace an axle housing. It was ideal, including for wiggling the ROPS past obstructions and into the precise position I needed to get the bolts started. Photo Photo. With a coupon from that coupon database it cost $100.

Some other projects were made simple by having the crane. Quality of the crane seems fine. Recommended!


One tip: I made a second, short 10 inch jack handle for adjusting height quickly when there is no or minimal load. The handle is visible in the second photo.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Good for a few more days:

View attachment 616197

Bruce

$10 less.

 

[whitepine2]

How about a lovejoy cuppler type with the right size for both shafts.

 

[MoArk Willy]

The HF store is too far away for me to get to on a casual basis. But at that price, I would make the drive. So I have to ask the question before I make the drive....

Will a 25% coupon be excepted on the gantry crane purchase?

Just try and order it online and use the coupon code. If it works there it will work in the store.

 

[5030]

I wonder where HF's prices will go with Trump hammering on the tariff's. In as much as 90% of the stuff they sell is Chinese, I expect serious price increases in the very near future. May even put them out of business...

 

[dragoneggs]

$10 less.

View attachment 616204

Called my local HF and learned they had one left. Used this coupon and purchased and assembled it this afternoon. I think this will be a great addition to the shop. Glad I got the 2 ton vs. 1 ton as I need the extra reach... and with the reach the rating steps down to 1.5, 1.0, and 1/2 ton depending on boom extension.

Fairly easy to assemble by yourself, just don't tighten up the crane and bolts until you have the side brace straps in place. I did get wifey assist with the boom to place the bolts in the holes. Installing the caster bolt/nut in the tubes was a little challenge but easily solved with electrical tape and a box wrench.



Also bought the 1 ton load leveler using a 20% off coupon. Wanted the 2 ton just for the smoother bearing action but HF was out of those. Oh well. Positioned it over my F150 bed and it doesn't reach to the center of the 4 pick up points but hoping the load leveler will compensate. I have some straps and hooks but need a couple larger chain quick links to do a proper rigging.

After a couple of actuations... I am now in the market for an 8T air over hydraulic long ram. I added an air/hydraulic jack to my HF 20T press and that has been a wonderful mod.

A whole lot less expense than going with a gantry, and much more portable and folds easily for storage. Someday when I build my shop with higher ceiling and doors I will do it right with a gantry. Don't know if it will be HF or a built in though.

 

[MoArk Willy]

I wonder where HF's prices will go with Trump hammering on the tariff's. In as much as 90% of the stuff they sell is Chinese, I expect serious price increases in the very near future. May even put them out of business...

Despite the daily diatribe "sky is falling" crap you hear daily from the media, the tariffs will hardly be noticed by consumers.
China, on the other hand is definitely noticing.
Surely a couple of pennies or even dollars is worth it for the good of the country.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I wonder where HF's prices will go with Trump hammering on the tariff's. In as much as 90% of the stuff they sell is Chinese, I expect serious price increases in the very near future. May even put them out of business...

Probably a subject .... better taken to "Friendly? Politics"?

 

[PhysAssist]

Quote Originally reb:
I am having difficulty getting my lawn mower to run. One thought was to replace the engine with the predator vertical shaft engine. Not sure how much hassle that would be. I get the impression that the hole pattern is pretty much a standard. Has anyone here tried that?

I have the old Greyhound version, several years old now. Bolted right on, no issues. Had to run a choke cable up the handle, not sure if that's needed on the new ones. Mine runs fine. It can be tempermental to start, has to be choked even when hot, but runs strong and smooth.

I replaced 2 Horizontal Briggs& Stratton engines [splitter and DR Brush mower] with Predator engines- there were a lot of available mounting hole to choose from, so on the splitter, it bolted right on, but I needed more clearance for the pulleys on the mower, so I had to fab some new [thicker] mounting points- both are still running well now- approx 8-10 years later.

In both cases they were more than a little more vigorous than the same rated HP engines they replaced.

 

[PhysAssist]

Quote Originally Posted by dragoneggs
Okay gravitating to the HF 2T folding shop crane... is this tool on the 'don't suck' list?

I recently bought the 1 ton version when I had to replace an axle housing. It was ideal, including for wiggling the ROPS past obstructions and into the precise position I needed to get the bolts started. Photo Photo. With a coupon from that coupon database it cost $100.

Some other projects were made simple by having the crane. Quality of the crane seems fine. Recommended!

One tip: I made a second, short 10 inch jack handle for adjusting height quickly when there is no or minimal load. The handle is visible in the second photo.

Plus it looks like it you don't get enough reach as is, you could bolt some square channel in thru the end of it for a longer moment arm.

 

[PhysAssist]

How about a lovejoy cuppler type with the right size for both shafts.

Second this emotion- it worked great on my splitter.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I went in to AirGas to swap out my empty Acetylene tank. They didn't have the AC3 size I needed so they gave me the next size up for this time which wouldn't fit on my little torch cart. So I went into HF and found an el-cheepo hand truck to use as a temporary cart. It will be handy to have around when I don't need it for a torch cart any more. Not a big fan of HF but for somethings w/o too many moving parts they make sense to me.



gg

 

[Diggin It]

The HF store is too far away for me to get to on a casual basis. But at that price, I would make the drive. So I have to ask the question before I make the drive....

Will a 25% coupon be excepted on the gantry crane purchase?

There are many things excepted on the coupons, but I don't think the gantry crane is one of them so the coupons should be accepted for it.

Always watch the dedicated coupons though because they tend to be bigger discounts than either the 20% or 25% coupons would yield though it doesn't always work out that way. The dedicated coupon right now is for $599 and the 20% off of the regular $799 make it $591.

 

[Diggin It]

How about a lovejoy cuppler type with the right size for both shafts.

Second this emotion- it worked great on my splitter.

For this question?

One issue is that the Predator engines have 7/8" output shafts and the shredder impeller is 1". There are a few sellers out there making adapter collars in their home shops and listing them in the $10 range. A few years back, I asked one of them if they thought it would hold up under the torque/stress of a shredder and he wasn't sure if it would or not.

Has anybody tried that kind of combination?

No clearance. The shredder impeller sits an inch or two behind the engine and mounts direct the the engine output shaft. I'd have to find a way to move the engine forward a few inches to use something like that.

 

[bigtiller]

There are many things excepted on the coupons, but I don't think the gantry crane is one of them so the coupons should be accepted for it.

Seeins how you are gooder a spellin than I am, tell me why the word pneumatic begins with the letter "p"

 

[California]

tell me why the word pneumatic begins with the letter "p"

Ever heard of pulmonary - (some medical condition)?