Shop Engine Lift Cylinder

[Susquatch]

I went to move a machine yesterday and my engine lift failed me. The hydraulic cylinder seems to have bit the bullet for the second time. So I went shopping just now for a replacement and spotted this.

VEVOR Hydraulic Long Ram Jack, 8 Ton Engine Hoist Cylinder with Air Pump and Single Piston Pump, Hydraulic Ram Cylinder Clevis Base for Engine Lift Hoists, Garage/Shop Cranes, Mechanical, Farm | VEVOR CA

Buy VEVOR Hydraulic Long Ram Jack, 8 Ton Engine Hoist Cylinder with Air Pump and Single Piston Pump, Hydraulic Ram Cylinder Clevis Base for Engine Lift Hoists, Garage/Shop Cranes, Mechanical, Farm at cheap price online, with Youtube reviews and FAQs, we generally offer free shipping to Europe...

m.vevor.ca

Anyone ever use one of these?

I have a 30ton air assist and don't really like it. Very noisy and very air hungry. My compressor can't keep up. Would this be the Same?

Any other ideas?

 

[Doggggboy]

Looks a lot like this one from PA. And the return policy at PA is second to none.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/searchresults?Ntt=long%20ram%20hydraulic%20jack

 

[CWret]

I’ve had good luck with Vevor but doggggboy’s PA find looks more interesting. I’d go with the $99 version since it’s seldomly used and a compressor not always close by.
I have a 10 ton PA port-a-power kit. Regular price about $300 -but i got mine on sale a couple of years ago for $200 ( it mostly lives in my home made shop press)
It’s like the 4ton version below (for some reason i couldn’t find a link for the 10 ton)

https://www.princessauto.com/en/4-ton-hydraulic-porta-power-autobody-and-frame-repair-kit/product/PA0008667826

 

[Susquatch]

Looks a lot like this one from PA.

I’ve had good luck with Vevor but doggggboy’s PA find looks more interesting.

The trouble with PA is that thats what my old ones were. They both crapped out WAAAY too soon. The first one should have lasted another 20 years. I don't really want to go PA again.

 

[CWret]

Yea - i get it.
A proper industrial port-a-power is several x the price but you get reliability and additional safety.
Back in my construction days i would ONLY buy industrial strength stuff. As a retired guy PA is just OK. I guess ‘good enough’ would be a better way to look at it.
If it breaks there is not much urgency and i ALWAYS stay clear. WAY CLEAR.

 

[Jswain]

The trouble with PA is that thats what my old ones were. They both crapped out WAAAY too soon. The first one should have lasted another 20 years. I don't really want to go PA again.

I bought a 12t bottle jack from PA 2 years ago for my shop press(also PA), for the last year it's been a leaking mess.

Original had a failed lip seal after a few years of very little use, I don't blame you for wanting to buy one from somewhere else lol

Problem is the probably come from the same place, so best/easiest warranty might be something to think about.

Apparently it's only 1 year on bottle jacks and 2 years they might pro rate or help you find parts, after 2 years no support. 2 years for a bottle jack is a sh*t lifespan

 

[CWret]

Luck of the draw.
My 10 ton is over 3 years old. Used only a dozen times. No leaks no issues. (insert fingers crossed emoji)

 

[Susquatch]

I have had good luck with Crappy Tire bottle jack's. Some are 60 years old and still going strong. Every PA jack I have has had problems. I finally upgraded my PA 30 ton prsss with a Crappy Tire jack and its still going.

Problem is the probably come from the same place, so best/easiest warranty might be something to think about.

Sad, but prolly true..... That might apply to Vevor too.....

 

[CWret]

Unfortunately i think PA, Vevor, and our US friend’s Harbour Freight are identical triplets.
IMO Canadian Tire (Can’T) is a step up on that trio and Home Hardware is a (small) step up on Can’T

 

[Dan Dubeau]

I'm batting .500 on vevor stuff right now. With the final verdict still out on my indexing head kit. If this were baseball, that'd be a hall of fame career, but im ready to send them down to the minors. I'd view the hydraulic cylinder as a coin flip, where you'd only lose the time involved, as they're refund your money if it's junk.

Interesting that you've all had bad results from pa jacks. I have a replacement princess auto jack on my carolina hoist, and it's been sitting out, somewhat in the elements of the barn for years and still doing fine after about a decade. Personally I would go that route, then chance a vevor transaction. I'll reserve those for other interesting things not offered anywhere else, and consider them a gamble of time from the get go. Offshore stuff is all a gamble anyway, no matter the retailer. I feel better about a brick and mortor though.

 

[Susquatch]

So if I was willing to spend some money, who makes a swap fit engine hoist jack that has a reputation for quality?

 

[Dan Dubeau]

I'm sure enerpac would be happy to take your money and provide something that will fit.

 

[6.5 Fan]

I've had a PA ram on my engine lift for 15 years, still works fine , no leaks.

 

[Doggggboy]

I'm not sure but Vevor may be one of those sellers that simply replaces your non-functional items rather than asking to have it returned.
If it dies, they'll send a new one, maybe.

 

[Susquatch]

I've had a PA ram on my engine lift for 15 years, still works fine , no leaks.

My PA lift is only about 7 or 8 years old. The first cylinder lasted 3+ years, so the new one is right on schedule. I had an old home made one before that worked better but was only half the capacity. I wish I still had it. I might need to break out the overhead crane or clear out enough stuff to get the loader tractor in there

 

[6.5 Fan]

The scariest lift i ever saw and used was one my old man rigged up. A 18ft long telephone pole chained to the bucket of a 1120 jd tractor. we used this to lift rafters into place on a bale shelter. Not sketchy at all.

 

[Aliva]

I have the PA pneumatic version on my lift table, been going strong for 8 years now

 

[RobinHood]

So if I was willing to spend some money, who makes a swap fit engine hoist jack that has a reputation for quality?

Why not rebuild it yourself?

Take the whole thing apart, replace all the seals with quality stuff. You could probably even upgrade the seals while you are at it. Pretty sure they use standard (metric?) components.

 

[Susquatch]

Why not rebuild it yourself?

Take the whole thing apart, replace all the seals with quality stuff. You could probably even upgrade the seals while you are at it. Pretty sure they use standard (metric?) components.

I could. I've done such things before.

I guess it's a question of value. My sense is that after rebuilding a cheap PA cylinder I will just end up with a cheap rebuilt PA cylinder. Now if it were a John Deere or Case IH or Kubota cylinder, it would be worth it.

I decided to move the machine with my loader tractor so I have some time. I might do what you suggest yet. Nothing to lose by taking it apart anyway. If all else fails, there is some nice stock in one of those cylinders.

 

[CWret]

Now if it were a John Deere or Case IH or Kubota cylinder

WOW - Susq put Kubota in that same category, holy smokes