What I'm working on now (off-topic)

[Denise]

  Well, Mr. Crane finally broke down, after six years of service, and I'm totally lost without him, because I can't lift heavy stuff.  This is, of course, the yard crane that I built from an engine hoist and some 12v winches.  The motors shelled out completely, pole shoes broken into pieces.

   I see this not as an engineering failure, but as a chance to do a redesign.  I purchased a Spicer riding mower transaxle for a hundred bucks on Ebay, and a 14.5 HP B&S electric start engine, brand new.  The new Mr. Crane will be gas powered, belt driven, with differential brakes for steering.  It should have a max speed of about 6 mph, about six times faster than it was, with four forward gears and a reverse.  I thought about adding a hydraulic system to lift the boom, but maybe I'll save that for version 4.  I will be adding a block and tackle for the winch hook, though, and a driver's seat in the back so that my ass can act as ballast.  This should increase the load capacity of the extension hook.  I think that a flashing beacon on top would be cool too, maybe an inverter and some AC outlets, and a cigarette lighter.  Since the engine has a flywheel alternator and the battery doesn't have to drive the wheels anymore, it should stay charged up.  I'm also planning to add a trailer, so I can take him to junkyards and airports to get parts.

   Pictures and a video will be forthcoming, as I put it together.  The old Mr. Crane impressed me by moving a 472 engine through a sand pit.  Can't wait to see what he'll be able to do with the new modifications.

[Stampie]

Total tease without the promised pictures.  Make it a tracked vehicle with mounting points.

Stampie

[pdxmose]

How's your book coming?  I haven't found it on the shelves yet.

I'm hoping there will be a picture section.

              ...mose

[Geoff]

That's not necessarily off-topic, Denise, after all it is an engine hoist --- and it serves other purposes.
Geoff

[Gary]

Sounds great.
We're all waiting for film at eleven!
Gary

[Denise]

  Umm...how about a teaser pic?  This is the old Mr. Crane, with the winch motors removed, and the engine that will go in.  The center wheels will be cut off, and the transaxle mounted just about in the same place.  UPS is taking forever to ship me the transaxle, and that's what I'm waiting for before I can know how to mount the engine.

  We're still very much off-topic, because Mr. Crane won't be able to lift an engine out of a car anymore, with that Briggs engine in the way.  If I have to pull an engine, I'll buy another engine hoist, then transfer the block to Mr. Crane after it is pulled.

  As for my book, I've been throwing all of my creative energy into producing European karaoke music, in English, French and German, and I'm doing demos at various karaoke shows in Tucson and Vegas.  Singing is more fun than reading, and easier to do when you have a good buzz. 


-denise