The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Shipping a Crank?

A fellow stovebolter is interested in buying a 248 Crankshaft that I have and we were both wondering what the best way to ship this heavy item with out damaging it in the process. I think it is already too heavy for UPS to handle even w/o packing it up for safe shipping. I have heard of shipping big heavy items on buses before, but I have never done this. As far as packaging this, I feel that a cardboard box and packing peanuts would not be up for the task. I think that it should be crated, but I do not know if strapping it to a board inside the crate is good enough or would it be better to make wooden journals to support the crank on its journey to its new owner. What do you folks think? Thanks.

Jim

Here's what I do on large heavy items...

Wrap them snugly in a plastic trash bag. Then, find a box that's large enough, and use spray can expanding foam to fill the voids around the part.

Works much better than peanuts.

cujo,

This is what I think I know..UPS will take 150 lbs. If you crate it in wood, they will insist on your first born. If it is OS-1 or OS-2, drop off your wife AND first born.

If you weight the crank and it is light enough with the intended packing to meet UPS weight limits, strap it to a board and put it inside a cardboard box with stout material around it.

Tx Firefighter mentioned the foam which is a cool idea. If you decide on UPS, go to their website or a true terminal and get the dope on the oversize (OS) packages and special charges.

Your original thought on the bus might be worth investigation. We always used that method for heavy stuff when I was a "shop gofer".


Stuart

I have not weighed the crankshaft, does anyone know how much one of these suckers weigh? I was thinking it might weigh ~ 80lbs, what do you guys think?

Jim

Heck, easy stuff! (I ship old bikes all the time. Even heavier stuff!!) Last time I shipped a crank ( small block chevy) I rolled it up in cardboard so it had three or four layers. Stuck a label right on it. Took it to the post office. I'd do the same with UPS. Just make sure that cardboard hangs off the end a few inches for end cushioning!. Squeeze it together and tape well.

So how does this heavy shipping work? I would assume that over 50 lbs, the shipper uses some kind of hoist?

truckernix,

I don't know about all shippers, but UPS puts a label on the package that says "heavy"...that's it!

Stuart

Hey use Greyhound. I've shipped doors, front fenders and a front seat for a '56 PU...no problems .

http://www.freightquote.com/

a pal of mine I know that runs a machine job shop with his brother, they use this site to ship the metal thingymajingys they make all over the place.

-W

Most times, the job specs require that a person can lift up to 100 lbs in the course of their job. Most UPS drivers make full use of their hand trucks.

That is very interesting. I wish that we had shippers like that! Up here most employers cannot ask a person to lift more than 50 lbs! I don't know what they do with mechanics.

For info to all
UPS 1-800-742-5877
You will need zip from and to
Approx weight
length,width and height of pkg

More Info to All
US Shipping / Phone# / Steps to Find a Human
DHL 800-225-5345 press1 press5 press0 enter your phone#
FedX 888-463-3339 At message say "rep" or press 0
Union Pacific 800-877-5123 press# during main menu options
UPS 800-742-5877 press 0,0
Hope this helps cujo and others
Regards

I had no idea that a crank weighed that much.. I would have thought maybe 25 to 30lbs tops.

Well I just weighed the 248 crank on the wifes bathroom scale (Don't Tell Her) and the crank weighed in at 75lbs. Here's a link to a picture of the crank if your interested:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/541778765/541778765chXkic

cujo8,

UPS has a website where you can plug in weights, package size, destination etc and come up with a shipping price. I even generate my own shipping labels and arrange for pickups without lifting my butt out of the swivel chair.

Stuart

Here's the UPS site.

Here's the DHL site.

I've heard DHL is cheaper.

When you use the calculator at the UPS site, add a few bucks to the total. Seems that when you make an actual shipping label, they are always a few bucks more than what they quoted. I ask UPS customer service about this and they never did give meman answer.

Thanks for all the good info and links guys.

Jim