Freighting an engine

I've sold my TB45 engine to someone in WA and need to get it ready to take to a freight depot so, although it seems pretty straightforward, I was after tips on best practice or things not to do.

When I bought my TD42 engine, it was held onto the pallet with several strands of tie-wire, the stuff you use for tying concrete reinforcing iron. Then it was wrapped in a kind of black "Glad-wrap" plastic presumably to protect it from the weather.
I'll check Bunnings to see if they have that stuff.

Any first-hand experiences on sending or receiving a freighted engine?

Cheers!

Hey John, this is one thing I have done a bit with :)

I've always been told to keep and engine upright, all loose parts/cables either detached and stored separately or tied down so they can't be pulled or moved.

Keep weight and other objects away from the more "delicate" parts like the injector pump, fan, turbo, injector leads (presuming the engine is still dressed). Although these parts are pretty solid and robust, if anything were to hit the motor or the motor were to roll, these are the things most likely to crack or break. If possible, have it shipped in an enclosed crate as opposed to sitting on a pallet - this helps avoid damage from other materials/ goods being transported.

Like you said about the tie down wire, use plenty of it - you certainly don't want the motor to be able to break free.

Otherwise it is pretty straightfoward. I think of it like donating an organ - the organ is fine when its in your body, but its the most delicate, precious thing when its being transported. I've seen a lot of guys sit them on old tires on top of the pallet, or even wrapping it in sheets and belting it into the back seat.......... i wouldnt recommend that one though haha.
Good luck.........
Dylan

Cheers, Dylan.. Yes, most precautions are logical there. I've removed delicate stuff like IACV valve & TPS..
I have some big squares of 70mm thick plastic foam from an old mattress that I was thinking of placing around it before smothering it with the plastic wrap..
Can't start getting into closed boxing or stuff like that because the freight cost starts to be more than the price of the engine :)

After getting a replacement motor fitted to our bus in Katherine, NT I had the old one freighted back home to Victoria for spares. (not a wise decision- live & learn). The freight company in Katherine picked it up from the workshop, took it to the depot, put it on a pallet & wrapped it just as you describe.

My TD was freighted to me on a pallet, I had to go to their depot to pick it up. They did load it on my trailer for me. As for sending it. Well it will be a tough one I reckon. I don't think any freight company would pick a motor up from your home thats already on a pallet ready to go. Their might be though...
The only way I see it happening is if you trailer the motor either already on the pallet and strapped and wrapped, to the depot, or take the motor and pallet separately to the depot and do it their, ready for them to load it.

Good luck.

Make a stand to support the motor upright, and secure that to the pallet,
put any sundry items in a sturdy box and like stated wire everthing you can tight,
Bunnings sell different gauge tie wire. Grab some plywood boards and enclose the pallet.
You will then need to take it to who ever is freighting the motor, or to some one who has a fork lift.
so you can load on to their truck, weather proof it as best you can.
Fill out your Con note , and away you go.

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Originally Posted by mudski

My TD was freighted to me on a pallet, I had to go to their depot to pick it up. They did load it on my trailer for me. As for sending it. Well it will be a tough one I reckon. I don't think any freight company would pick a motor up from your home thats already on a pallet ready to go. Their might be though...
The only way I see it happening is if you trailer the motor either already on the pallet and strapped and wrapped, to the depot, or take the motor and pallet separately to the depot and do it their, ready for them to load it.

Good luck.

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All that's covered. There's a local freight depot who will take it out of my trailer with a forklift.
I'm using the pallet I picked up my TD on. That's where I got the idea of tying it all down with wire.
I have some slabs of plastic foam to put up against it and I got a big roll of Glad wrap type plastic from Bunnings.
It will have to fall off the truck for something to get hurt.. :)

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Originally Posted by Cuppa

After getting a replacement motor fitted to our bus in Katherine, NT I had the old one freighted back home to Victoria for spares. (not a wise decision- live & learn). The freight company in Katherine picked it up from the workshop, took it to the depot, put it on a pallet & wrapped it just as you describe.

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Hey Cuppa,
Why was it not a wise decision?!

Anything large like that coming to WA can be addressed to my business in Osborne Park and I can unload it from the truck and you can pick it up. I own the business so there is no issue in getting the boss's permission. I have a 2.5 t forklift.

Sale fell through in the meantime. I hope it's local pickup if it sells again :)

What - guy from WA let you down. Give me his details and Ill "have a word" with him. LOL just kiddin.

:)
It's no big deal, a youngster who hadn't really thought it through..
It'll find a good home eventually.

OK mate Ill tell Da Boys to stand down. Hope you get a buyer soon.

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Originally Posted by dom14

Hey Cuppa,
Why was it not a wise decision?!

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Was freighted from Katherine to Gippsland, to the hospital where one of our house sitters worked. Lifted onto the back of his ute with a hospital forklift. Lifted off the back of the ute with housesitter’s tractor(front end loader) & put into a shed at home. Once we were back home there was this great heavy lump of metal sitting in the shed with no way for me to move it. I never used any of the parts & eventually several years later convinced a neighbour to lift it out of the shed with his tractor & put it into a scrap metal skip when we were clearing the place up to sell. It was a heavy white elephant.

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Originally Posted by Cuppa

Was freighted from Katherine to Gippsland, to the hospital where one of our house sitters worked. Lifted onto the back of his ute with a hospital forklift. Lifted off the back of the ute with housesitter’s tractor(front end loader) & put into a shed at home. Once we were back home there was this great heavy lump of metal sitting in the shed with no way for me to move it. I never used any of the parts & eventually several years later convinced a neighbour to lift it out of the shed with his tractor & put it into a scrap metal skip when we were clearing the place up to sell. It was a heavy white elephant.

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Ok, cool. I guess a standard engine crane is no help with such a heavy diesel motor!
I've also heard of horror stories of having to leave the broken down Patrol in the middle of the outback 'cos the recovery cost is lot more than the value of the vehicle.

I'm looking forward to the days of driving a converted motorhome/bus around the country. It won't be anytime soon for me. :D

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Originally Posted by Cuppa

Was freighted from Katherine to Gippsland, to the hospital where one of our house sitters worked. Lifted onto the back of his ute with a hospital forklift. Lifted off the back of the ute with housesitter’s tractor(front end loader) & put into a shed at home. Once we were back home there was this great heavy lump of metal sitting in the shed with no way for me to move it. I never used any of the parts & eventually several years later convinced a neighbour to lift it out of the shed with his tractor & put it into a scrap metal skip when we were clearing the place up to sell. It was a heavy white elephant.

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just one use for an unwanted engine.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...psd2530f4f.jpg

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Originally Posted by Clunk

just one use for an unwanted engine.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...psd2530f4f.jpg

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Well there you go ... There is a purpose for a zd30 after all... Who would have thunk it.

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Originally Posted by Hodge

Well there you go ... There is a purpose for a zd30 after all... Who would have thunk it.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

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You can only get 4 bottles in a ZD30. Gotta be a better way.