How do I pull my engine or PTO if I don’t have a hoist?
If you can’t get access to a 3-ton overhead hoist on a power trolley, here are some ideas we’ve seen used to pull engines and PTOs. None are recommended as ideal. Some aren’t even recommended!
- Rent a cherry picker or floor crane from a rental center.
- Borrow a local utility or tree company’s bucket truck and tie a chain fall to the bucket.
- Borrow a forklift, a front-end loader or a backhoe.
- Hire a tow truck service and use the extended boom of the wrecker.
- Build a tripod. Take three 8′ horizontal supports from an abandoned chain link or cyclone fence, flatten one end of each 8′ piece, tie together the flattened ends with a bolt and now you have a tripod. Hook a chain fall to it and you can begin pulling your engine. If you try this one, make sure the three legs are adequately supported so they don’t collapse.
You shouldn’t sacrifice your head, fingers or toes trying to pull an engine, PTO or anything to heavy to safely lift. We always recommend wearing steel-toed work boots while working with anything heavy; accidents happen and your toes are too important to lose to a cylinder head.
