Engine removal thoughts

[jakwi]

Hi all,
I have a 2003 Bayliner 245 with a 5.7l engine.
The tasks on this winter's maintenance list include changing out the rusty oil pan and also swapping the engine coupler that has started to slip. I plan on removing the exhaust manifolds to inspect them, as it has been 3 years since they were first installed. This should put my engine weight at 750lbs or so.

As an express cruiser I'd need to lift the engine from about 5ft off the ground(where it sits in the boat up to about 12 or 13 ft in order to clear the boat.

I have a 3 ton chain fall.

I could lift from an oak tree I have in the yard. It's about 12 inches diameter and grows out at about a 45 degree angle from the ground. I'm a little nervous about this, but It would probably do the job. The tree is in good health, and would easily support 4 grown men without falling down, so that should do the job.

The other option that occurred to me is to put a 4x4 or potentially a 6x6 across the gunwales of the boat and lift the engine from there. Obviously I wouldn't be able to remove the engine from the boat this way, but I could lift it up enough to swap the pan and coupler and then reinstall from there. Has anyone ever tried to do it this way?

Third option is potentially to hire a tow truck to come in and lift it for me. I've heard this is possible, but I don't know if it can really lift high enough to accomplish the task. Downside is I'd probably have to pay him twice to come lift it out and then to lift it back in, and it seems like the whole process would take a lot more time than necessary this way.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dubed]

Hi all,
I have a 2003 Bayliner 245 with a 5.7l engine.
The tasks on this winter's maintenance list include changing out the rusty oil pan and also swapping the engine coupler that has started to slip. I plan on removing the exhaust manifolds to inspect them, as it has been 3 years since they were first installed. This should put my engine weight at 750lbs or so.

As an express cruiser I'd need to lift the engine from about 5ft off the ground(where it sits in the boat up to about 12 or 13 ft in order to clear the boat.

I have a 3 ton chain fall.

I could lift from an oak tree I have in the yard. It's about 12 inches diameter and grows out at about a 45 degree angle from the ground. I'm a little nervous about this, but It would probably do the job. The tree is in good health, and would easily support 4 grown men without falling down, so that should do the job.

The other option that occurred to me is to put a 4x4 or potentially a 6x6 across the gunwales of the boat and lift the engine from there. Obviously I wouldn't be able to remove the engine from the boat this way, but I could lift it up enough to swap the pan and coupler and then reinstall from there. Has anyone ever tried to do it this way?

Third option is potentially to hire a tow truck to come in and lift it for me. I've heard this is possible, but I don't know if it can really lift high enough to accomplish the task. Downside is I'd probably have to pay him twice to come lift it out and then to lift it back in, and it seems like the whole process would take a lot more time than necessary this way.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I rent a lift from my local equipment rental place. Its basically a tow behind high lift cherry picker much like an auto engine hoist.
It costs about $70 for the weekend, its easy to deal with on my own, and when Im done with it, I just return it and its no longer in my way. Easy

 

[jakwi]

I rent a lift from my local equipment rental place. Its basically a tow behind high lift cherry picker much like an auto engine hoist.
It costs about $70 for the weekend, its easy to deal with on my own, and when Im done with it, I just return it and its no longer in my way. Easy

Interesting, I didn't even know this was a thing. Thanks I'll definitely look into this!

 

[FLATHEAD]

If you go the lift route try to get one that is designed to lift objects it will have a hook attachment that can be put on. We had one at work you removed the basket with a couple pins and put on the hook. That particular one had an aluminum basket that would potentially get damaged if using to lift objects ( your engine) by pulling up rather than lifting up.

 

[Dubed]

Interesting, I didn't even know this was a thing. Thanks I'll definitely look into this!

The one I rent is an "engine hoist" It lifts plenty high enough to get the motor over the transom while sitting on my roller trailer. It is a manual hydraulic jack pump just like an automotive engine hoist

 

[jakwi]

The one I rent is an "engine hoist" It lifts plenty high enough to get the motor over the transom while sitting on my roller trailer. It is a manual hydraulic jack pump just like an automotive engine hoist

I've been searching for one online just to see what it looks like, but the only ones I've found the max height of the boom is 10ft at the hook. That is barely going to reach over the gunwales. Does the one you're referring to just look like a normal cherry picker, but taller?

The top of my gunwales are probably at 10ft with the boat on the trailer.

 

[Dubed]

I've been searching for one online just to see what it looks like, but the only ones I've found the max height of the boom is 10ft at the hook. That is barely going to reach over the gunwales. Does the one you're referring to just look like a normal cherry picker, but taller?

The top of my gunwales are probably at 10ft with the boat on the trailer.

Wow, 10'?
Thats pretty tall. This is what I rent, not sure it will clear 10'. Maybe they make a taller one..

 

[kenny nunez]

Put the hoist in the back of a pick up truck, strap it down with ratchet straps. Also remove the wheels off the boat trailer which will give even more working room. After the engine is clear of the boat the hoist may not go down enough to mount the engine on an engine stand. You will just have to take some measurements before you start raising the engine.
Auto Zone rents them and probably there are some rental stores in your area.

 

[Scott06]

In addition to the other suggestions and auto wrecker with a boom is not a bad option. That is essentially what I had when I did my repower. Was the way to go, spent more time getting work done than screwing around. It took him longer to set the machine up than do the lifts.

Edit- didnt see you mentioned this in first post...

 

[jakwi]

Wow, 10'?
Thats pretty tall. This is what I rent, not sure it will clear 10'. Maybe they make a taller one..

Yeah, express cruisers have a ton of freeboard. Thanks for the pics

 

[jakwi]

Put the hoist in the back of a pick up truck, strap it down with ratchet straps. Also remove the wheels off the boat trailer which will give even more working room. After the engine is clear of the boat the hoist may not go down enough to mount the engine on an engine stand. You will just have to take some measurements before you start raising the engine.
Auto Zone rents them and probably there are some rental stores in your area.

This might be the best option. I don't really need to put it on a stand. I just need to safely lift it and be able to work on it/under it while it is in the air.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have bought an A-frame gantry off of Craigslist and resold it a month later

 

[jakwi]

I have bought an A-frame gantry off of Craigslist and resold it a month later

That's another idea, I thought about building one, but dang it's a huge effort to use once and then it'll likely rot out before I need it again.

 

[kenny nunez]

Whichever way you get the engine out you really need to have it on an engine stand. Trying to replace the sheet metal on an swinging engine is no fun.

 

[jakwi]

Whichever way you get the engine out you really need to have it on an engine stand. Trying to replace the sheet metal on an swinging engine is no fun.

Really, I didn't think that would be a big issue. I know I've seen those stands for cheap on craigslist. Thanks

 

[flashback]

If you have the room to work on it then lifting from the gunwale will work. Your tree would work as well. If you have doubts then brace it but in both cases I think you will need to stablize the hanging engine or you will be chasing your tail when wrenching...

 

[Jakem]

I used 4x4s down each side and then 1 across. Pro ably get you high enough. I could swing my engine around 360 and also slide it back and forth on the side 4x4s

 

[CapRedbeard]

Another option: here’s the gantry I built for my Yamaha MR1 motors (about 250lbs). You might need a slightly beefier beam across the top and obviously you can extend the legs to however tall you need them, these are 10’ tall.

 

[nola mike]

This might be the best option. I don't really need to put it on a stand. I just need to safely lift it and be able to work on it/under it while it is in the air.

Thanks for the input.

Don't ever work under anything that's supported by hydraulics.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Don't ever work under anything that's supported by hydraulics.

When I was in the Crane/Telehandler/Davit/etc. industries. the common motto is "Stand Behind your work.....never stand under your work....."

hydraulics can fail
welds can fail
ground can fail