Specifications
  • Manufacturer – Pittsburgh Automotive
  • Maximum lifting capacity – 2 ton (4000 lb)
  • Wheel count – 6 casters, 360 degree rotation
  • Material – High tensile steel
  • Hydraulic jack capacity – 8 ton (16000 lb)
  • Foldable – Yes
  • Adjustable boom positions – 4 positions:
    1. 2 ton (4000 lb);
    2. 1.5 ton (3000 lb);
    3. 1 ton (2000 lb);
    4. ½ ton (1000 lb).
  • Extendable legs – No
  • Weight – 162.8 lb (73.8 kg)
  • Dimensions (folded) approx. – 25.5×33.5×63.5 inches (64.7x85x161.2 cm)
  • Dimensions (working) approx. – 62x41x59 inches (157.4x104x150 cm)
  • Lifting range –
    • 73.5 inches (1.86 m) from the ground with closed boom
    • 89 inches (2.26 m) from the ground with fully extended boom

Check Pricing and Purchase Pittsburgh Automotive engine hoist

Review

Pittsburgh-Automotive-2-ton-crane
Pittsburgh Automotive is a company that makes lifting and other types of equipments for automotive works. This is their 2 ton (4000 lb) lifting crane. This tool can be used for all sort of lifting works starting from lifting engines, gearboxes, transmissions of a car, to lifting motorcycle parts, boat engines, shop equipment and many other items. The hoist has got a foldable design and provides many other features such as a high capacity hydraulic jack, chain and hook, 6 swivel caster and other features.

Frame

The frame of Pittsburgh Automotive 2 ton engine hoist is made from a durable steel. Parts of the hoist have high quality welding, which shows the quality of this engine hoist, when compared to cheap hoists. Also frame has got a very decent paint job and the hoist is painted in a metallic gray color instead of regular orange and red engine hoists we have used to see. This engine hoist features a foldable design so it can be stored in the corner of your workshop when not in use and takes up much less space than in a working position.

The tool comes disassembled in a carton box. There are assembly instructions of the hoist, but some users have reported that these instructions miss some important details of how to assemble the tool. We found that the hoist is actually pretty easy to assemble, one gotcha is that you should not tighten bolts before you put them into the correct holes, and only when all bolts and washers are in their places you can tighten all bolts.

Pittsburgh-Automotive-2-ton-hoist-folded

Jack

The jack of the hoist has got an 8 ton (16000 lb) capacity. For lifting you have a lifting bar that needs to be inserted into the hydraulic ram and for lowering of load there is a bleed valve on the bottom of the jack that needs to be opened slowly to lower a load. The bleed valve will allow to lower the load in a speed you choose to be safe for a certain job, so you might lower some lighter loads faster and some heavier loads such as engines slower. Also we suggest getting a load leveler when lifting an engine, which will help to balance the load so the load doesn’t start to wobble or swing and increase pressure to the hoist.

Legs and wheels

The engine hoist is equipped with two detachable legs and 6 swivel casters. All 6 casters can be turned 360 degrees around, which extends the maneuverability of the tool. The casters are 3.5 inches (9 cm) in size and have durable double ball bearings, which allows to freely move the hoist even with a load.

Boom

Engine crane has got an extendable boom with 4 adjustment positions:

  1. 2 ton (4000 lb);
  2. 1.5 ton (3000 lb);
  3. 1 ton (2000 lb);
  4. ½ ton (1000 lb).

The boom can be extended from 41 inches (104.1 cm) to 61 inches (154.9 cm) in length. The lifting range from the ground with closed boom is 73.5 inches (1.86 m) at 2 ton (4000 lb) capacity and with opened boom – 89 inches (2.26 m) at ½ ton (1000 lb) capacity. The hoist also has got a chain and a hook at the end of the boom.

Size and weight

The dimensions of Pittsburgh Automotive 2 ton crane at working position are 62x41x59 inches (157.4x104x150 cm) and at folded position – 25.5×33.5×63.5 inches (64.7x85x161.2 cm). The weight of the tool is 162.8 lb (73.8 kg). Harbor Freight Tools provide a 90 day limited warranty for this hoist.

Check Pricing and Purchase Pittsburgh Automotive engine hoist

Advantages

  • Strong and durable construction that will last
  • High quality parts, good welding and decent paint job
  • Easy to assemble and use
  • Great quality for the price of the hoist

Disadvantages

  • The chain and the hook may have better quality, although they will stand most tasks, and they can be replaced with higher grade parts if required
  • Assembly instructions have left out some details such as not to tighten bolts until all bolts have been placed into their according holes, or else mounting holes may not line up and bolts could not be installed
Billy Miller
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