Replacing ram on cherry picker

[Adam F]

I'm going to pick up a cherry picker for $25 tomorrow. The guy said its fine, just missing the hydraulic ram. I found a ram at HF for $40 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=36397
I was just wondering if any of you have used this ram? Is it worth a shit? I need it to pull the V6 out of my 4Runner and drop in a 350 V8. The guy said said the mount for the ram is still there, so I'm assuming all I would have to do is bolt it up. I could always weld up some new mounts if the old ones dont work.

[FLApathy]

I have that one on mine, same deal. Pulled a few motors with it, its been great to me. I took a pic of it, apparently I have the 3 ton model, but still thats a ton over what my lift is for. Like I said tho, zero problems.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d119/FLApathy/RandomCrap.jpg?t=1200007037

[Adam F]

Good to hear, thanks.

I have no clue where I'm going to store this hoist though. My garage is FULL. Cant beat it though at $65. Beats renting one for a few days at $20 a day.

[FLApathy]

Good to hear, thanks.

I have no clue where I'm going to store this hoist though. My garage is FULL. Cant beat it though at $65. Beats renting one for a few days at $20 a day.

Yeah you can see how full my damn garage is. Does it fold up? Sure as hell makes a big difference.

[Adam F]

Nope, doesnt fold up. I cant afford a new one. Unless maybe I could find a 30 percent off coupon, since the HF foldable one is on sale.

[jasonmt]

I would see if I could find a "quick lift" ram at HF or Northern etc, pumping the ram like a pubescent boy who just discovered masturbation when you are raising the boom sucks.

[FLApathy]

I would see if I could find a "quick lift" ram at HF or Northern etc, pumping the ram like a pubescent boy who just discovered masturbation when you are raising the boom sucks.

Mine isnt bad, about the same as the one it replaced, and everyone ive ever used, perhaps I do have the "quick lift" model. I dont know where I got my lift, but its pretty solid tho.

[Bmf24]

anyone ever use one of the air over hydrolic rams HF sells? seems like it would make it alot faster to get the boom up to the right height.

[the burbanator]

takes me 3-4 minutes to lift a stock,loaded chevy d44 off the floor and put it on the axle rack maybe 2 feet off the ground. mine got left outside for a few weeks though.

[D60]

I would see if I could find a "quick lift" ram at HF or Northern etc, pumping the ram like a pubescent boy who just discovered masturbation when you are raising the boom sucks.

That's why I'd get air-over. I have the HF one, but have not actually used it. It sits in the corner of my shop for another project, scheduled to be completed in spring of 2056 :shaking:

I'm sure it's slow as shit, but I'd rather stand there holding the trigger for 8minutes than pumping as you describe for 5 minutes (or whatever). This is also coming from the viewpoint of someone with a shitty lower back, and pumping that handle forever requires that I be bent over just enough to make it hurt.

I've never actually seen a "quick lift" in the long ram 8T versions, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

[ChiScouter]

I have the 8 ton air/hyd from HF. It is FANTASTIC for getting the arm into position. It slows down quite a bit when under load but still beats the hell out of pumping a ram a million times. It also pumps pretty fast when using it manually. Mine is currently out of action. The cap on the air ram cracked from getting bumped and I have not been in a position to get it fixed. That is the only negative, the cap has a garbage swivel fitting on it, and the cap is made of some really shitty aluminum. It lifts much faster with air than a regular ram does manually

[jasonmt]

I've never actually seen a "quick lift" in the long ram 8T versions, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

The local Princess Auto has them (think the Canuck version of HF or NT), my cheap ass is waiting for the next time they are on sale:

[andyr354]

I also have the HF 8 ton air/over. Love it.

Instead of standing there jacking I can lock the trigger and get other things ready. It is also handy when working on engine placement or something. Can run the hose over and squeeze one or two pumps.

This thread really sounds dirty :)

[Adam F]

I went ahead and bought the $129 1 ton foldable hoist.

[jeepnmatt]

i figured out a way to make the lift take up less space:

remove the bolt that attaches the ram to the lift arm. this is a 5/8" bolt. replace it with a hitch pin for a receiver hitch. to fold up the lift, pull the pin, lean the cylinder back against the main vertical, and fold the lift arm down. with the arm in the 4000lb position, the end with the hook clears the floor by quite a bit.

[DRM]

I have a nice BEEFY engine lift crane, but the old ram is leaking badly even after using info from threads here to replace seals and refill with fluid.

Just how well are the HF rams holding up long term?

Also, are the air-over units really worth going to?

[odin544]

I have a HF lift and I use the shit out of it on my 8.1 with 4l80e attached. I've had the motor and tranny in and out at least a dozen times this month. Its several years old as well and never have a problem with it. I would die to have an air/hyd ram on it though. Just cant justify the expense just to be lazy. But if I had to replace it I would definitely go with the air/hyd.

[andyr354]

I got my air/hyd when it was on sale %50 off, with a %15 on top of that. Pretty cheap then!

[braxton357]

I have the 8 ton air/hyd from HF. It is FANTASTIC for getting the arm into position. It slows down quite a bit when under load but still beats the hell out of pumping a ram a million times. It also pumps pretty fast when using it manually. Mine is currently out of action. The cap on the air ram cracked from getting bumped and I have not been in a position to get it fixed. That is the only negative, the cap has a garbage swivel fitting on it, and the cap is made of some really shitty aluminum. It lifts much faster with air than a regular ram does manually

I've got that same ram for my bender and have been debating whether or not to get one for the hoist too. It's not that slow.

You guys do realize that if there is no load on the arm, you can just (slowly) lift it into to place and pump from there...rather than pumping it from the closed position...

[ChiScouter]

I've got that same ram for my bender and have been debating whether or not to get one for the hoist too. It's not that slow.

You guys do realize that if there is no load on the arm, you can just (slowly) lift it into to place and pump from there...rather than pumping it from the closed position...


Yeez I was wondering what that mechanism was at the base of the jack. I thought it looked the same as where I used to put the handle on my old jack

I guess it was kind of confusing when I said "it pumps up pretty fast manually"
:laughing:


To anyone else who is or may be using one. I would recommend getting rid of the swivel fitting on top of the air pump and run your air line up the jack and zip tie it to the hoist or the jack itself. That way if you tug on the line the force won't be transmitted to the weak casting on top of the air pump.

[burtv]

To anyone else who is or may be using one. I would recommend getting rid of the swivel fitting on top of the air pump and run your air line up the jack and zip tie it to the hoist or the jack itself. That way if you tug on the line the force won't be transmitted to the weak casting on top of the air pump.

I did the same thing, works great