Engine shipping

[TLR-Billbo]

Shipped my TLR engine to San Diego a couple weeks ago, learned how to build a crate and where to go for shipping. FWIW After the engine was on the crate (without the wood around it, just the wood to the engine mounts) I tipped it 90º and the motor didnt budge And after it was finished I stood and it and jumped all over it (I'm 225lbs) and didnt make a move I may have overdone it a tad on the crate, but I'd rather it be a tank and get there safely than be a turd and get there in pieces

Crate pics:








Then I used some 4-ply carboard that came from a oil-burning furnace box. I used screws to screw the cardboard on (yes screws) and it was SOLID. I beat on taht cardboard with the drill and kicked it, etc, didnt budge







The buyer said it arrived in good shape as well

as far as shipping, UPS wouldnt take it because it was over 150lbs (ended up being 180lbs all said and done). And UPS freight wanted like $700 So I did some research, found this webiste: www.freightcenter.com And put in the info - dimensions, weight, class (BTW for future reference when shipping a motorcycle engine VIA freight the class is 85 ) And it listed 10 different carriers and their rates. Prices went from $300 to $1200

So nedless to say I went with the cheapest, which happened to be Yellow Freight. They quoted 4 business day transit time, actually took 7 I think, so not bad. Completed the forms online, had a gentleman call me to confirm, and told me the truck would be at my shop between 1 and 5pm. Truck showed up at 1:15 Forklifted it onto the truck from my truck, signed the papers, and away she went!

just htought I'd put this here for future reference for anyone looking to ship an engine (in the US andways). $300 for coast-to-coast, can't complain there

[BikePilot]

great write up.

[rufer]

Absolutely perfect

I used a one-way palette, some blocks of wood and the same clamping sets used to secure the bike in the van to have it shipped by myself in the van.



Greetings
Rufer

[TLR-Billbo]

one of my friends works at a trucking company and told me some guy came in with a triumph engine just like you ahve yours, but with the harness wrapped around it and threw a cardboard box over it shipping yourself like that, no problem, shipping frieght like that is goign to get you a busted engine and a pissed off customer

[zippytlsr]

Uh... yeah.... i'm the pissed off customer... when i bought my engine.. they laid it flat on an old rear tire, wrapped it in saran wrap, and put it on a pallet and called it good. Needless to say the water pump was crushed in transit.

No, i did not buy my motor from any one here.

TLR-billbo.... you are one of the few who knows what it means to send something via Frieght! your container is EXCELLENT. You should get a few more shots of the "build" and make it a sticky... I need to build a crate for my old motor.

[TLR-Billbo]

I wish I had more shots from the build process

I an explain in better detail though. Most of the wood I used came from a pallet I broke down, so when I refer to a 2x4, it was actually like a 1.5x4 or so, and the 4x4s were pretty much cut to the perfect size (as the space out the pallet).
I sat the engine on the bottom part of a crate (this came from an old wood stove shipping crate, so I knew it was solid) and propped it with wood blocks to get it to sit somewhat nicely. I then screwed a 2x4 to a 4x4 and positioned it on the bottom as to line up with the factory engine mounts on the front of the engine. I marked where the 4x4 was to go, took the engine off and screwed in the 4x4 from the bottom.
I righted the crate and replace the engine, and repeated for the other side. The LH side I needed to trim the 2x4 to fit around the case cover (mag side) as you can see in the pics. Repeated marking and screwing. I set the mag side board so it would place pressure inwards on the engine, helping to reinforce it. I then proceded to mark and drill 2 holes in each 2x4, and run bolts with large washers through intot he engine mounts, tighten securely.
Then to the back. The back consisted of 2 2x4s and 1 4x4. fitted and trimmed as nec. to mount to the rear engine mount with a through-bolt, washers and a nut. Tighten securely.
Now I had to make the cage around the engine. This consisted of screwing 2 2x4s to each side of the crate, doing some rough eye-measurements, marking and cutting all to height. Then I did the same for the 2 that go across the top. This was pretty flimsy, so then I added 4 more, going across the engine, 2 on top and one on either side (as seen in the pics). This stiffened it up quite a bit, but I wasnt satisfed.
So I had some 1" square wood lengths laying around, so I broke out the miter saw and cut the length and needed angles to fit corner to corner. Screwed these in in opposite directions (not sure if it helps any to do opposite directions ) Then cut 4 smaller pieces and angled them to brake the diagonals I had just made. Fitted and screwed those in, and she was rock solid
Then came time for covering. Was thinking plywood...but would add a ton of uneccessary weight, and thus up the shipping cost as well. My dad installs oil burners and forced-hot water heating systems and the like, so he had a couple heavy-duty cardboard boxes from furnaces he's installed. I cut the pieces to fit the crate, and proceeded to try stapling them. Come to find out I didnt have any long enough staples (this cardboard is a good 1/4" thick!!). So I eyed the box of black drywall screws I had used to assemble the crate, and said why not give those a try. Worked like a charm. Threw a few in and snugged them, just enough to compress teh cardboard underheath the head and hold it in place. With only 1 screw in each corner I couldnt rip the cardboard off the crate!! So for safety's sake I proceeded to add more screws as I felt necesary.
Then came the test...I kicked, punched, took the back end of the drill and even a hammer to the cardboard...wouldnt tear. Hell it hardly dented! So I printed up some 8x11 address labels and used wide clear packing tape to tape on the labels. My dad helped me throw it in the back of my truck, and the rest is history!

[zippytlsr]

Thanks! that is super sweet!

[TLR-Billbo]

now how to make this a sticky....

[interpol]

It arrived safe and sound, it took 7 days because of a reschedule. I'm in the middle of a mast request. Maybe ill post up pics of where you may see the engine in the future

[TLR-Billbo]

[actls]

If you keep the weight down, Fed Ex is under $100 coast to coast. I have used plastic crates and expandable foam in the past with excellent results...also keeps the weight to a minimum.


I just hope I never see another person ship an engine in a cardboard box with packing peanuts! Particularly when they claim to be in the parts business (yes, I can hold a grudge )

[Sam]

Excellent Crate

The one I sent from the UK to Gigas in Greece was layed flat on it's side on a pallet on 1" thick Kingspan type semi rigid insulation sections and multi layed under each cylinder to keep the motor square, then tied on with banding and crimps before finally covering with a layer of 1" black foam and clear wrapped.

Got another to send to Finland soon