Question about Chain Hoists

[smyrna5]

I am looking for a chain hoist that will assist my hydraulic engine crane to drop a 454 engine out and differential out the bottom of my front wheel drive motor home, which is jacked up 3 feet in the air to accomplish it. The hoist will be attached to my engine crane from the top of the dog house access opening, similar to this setup, except I modified my engine crane support legs to fit over the hump where the engine is. Click on the descriptions to see the pic.

-->The Basic Setup (http://www.atlantamusclecars.com/Revcon/Revcon-motor-in-hole-2.jpg)

--> The Only Wheely This Motor Home Will Ever See (http://www.atlantamusclecars.com/Revcon/Reaching1.jpg)

The transmission was relatively easy (compared to the motor), but it doesn't weigh much, even though its a TH475.

-->TransmisionOut (http://www.atlantamusclecars.com/Revcon/TransmisionOut.jpg)

I want a decent amount of control both going down as going up. That said, would I be better off with a chain hoist with a lever on it, like this one

--> Lever Hoist (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_14102_14102)

or just a plain old chain hoist like this one? Is there anyway to lock this one at a certain height, or does someone have to hold the chain the whole time?

--> Standard Chain Hoist (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_7683_7683)

Some have even suggested I go with an electric hoist like this one.

--> Electric Hoist (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_420551_420551)

The engine weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 650-800 pounds, or so I am told.

I want a decent amount of control over the up down movement because the front wheel drive differential weighs 300 pounds (a Dana 70) and both it and the motor have to be maneuvered around several interfering frame members to get it out. I will have some extra control over it just buy raising or lowering the hydraulic engine crane itself.

[gatkeper1]

I've always used the standard chain hoist for engine R&R.

[Wyoming]

For simplicity and ease of use...go with the lever chain hoist. A regular chain hoist will cause you too much grief trying to keep the chain fall in line in such a closed area. Elec. doesn't have the "feel" of a regular hoist. May not be a problem, but I think you'll find the lever hoists meets your needs, is cheaper and gets the job done. If it was out in the open, I'd vote for the old reliable chain fall hoist.

As for control...flick of the lever and you can go from up or down as needed.

[smyrna5]

Thanks. I have never used either type of hoist, and didn't know that you had to keep the chain fall in line with the load with the chain fall hoist. That could certainly be a problem with my application. On the other hand, the lever type hoists they had seemed to all have only about 5' of lifting capability. Unfortunately, the salesmen at Northern Tool was pretty much zero help.

As another alternative, I considered just welding a boat winch on top of my engine crane with a heavy duty roller at the end similar to this setup.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37555

[Wyoming]

If 5' isn't enough "stretch" for you...hook a second chain up as a dead-end to use while repositioning the lever hoist. Five foot should get you where you need to be anyway!! Boat hoist will NOT give you the ability to tie-off the load in exact position like ANY of the other hoist options will.

[smyrna5]

If 5' isn't enough "stretch" for you...hook a second chain up as a dead-end to use while repositioning the lever hoist. Five foot should get you where you need to be anyway!! Boat hoist will NOT give you the ability to tie-off the load in exact position like ANY of the other hoist options will.

Arrrgh!! I had already purchased the chain fall hoist from Northern Tool before I had a chance to read the replies here. This morning I took it back and exchanged it for the lever kind. Got it home and the dang thing doesn't work. The ratchet mechanism works fine when letting stuff down, but if you flip the lever to "up" all it does is to raise the load up an inch or so, then let it right back down. Geeze with quality like that I coulda had a HF one. I guess I could take it apart and work on it, but I think I am just going back to the store for another exhange or refund.

[Brianstick]

I would too.

[calweld]

Sometimes you have to put a load on the chain before the ratchet works properly. I just hold the end until I get it taut, then they work normally.

[gatkeper1]

The reason I use a standard chain fall is that you can ever so slightly raise or lower the load so that you can line the bolt holes up for reassembly . This is something you cannot do with the ratchet type chain hoists. Its a full click up or down with no in between. BTW I have never had a problem with the chain having to be pefectly in line. You have 2 hands, guide the chain with one if need be.

[Roger]

About the only problem I had with chain hoist is the loops of chain some times get in way or hangs up on something. I have used electric chain hoist that chain fed out of a canvas or rubber bag into hoist. Worked good. Only real problems with electric chain hoists is cost and weight.