Another boring Test Stand thread again for the 100th time

[donco735]

Yet another boring test stand:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=719725&sid=d31d07859ea2d457fdf8538dfbd81670

[ernieballbass]

Forgive me for asking this, but a lot of the photos on this thread are unavailable...

Let's pretend (hypothetically) that I am a massive moron.

How do I go about wiring the test stand? Specifically what wire gauge should I use for where???
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What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions.

[APPLEGREENVW]

[rayjay]

I've been building and using dedicated test stands off and on since the mid 80's so when I started messing with VWs again last year I decided to put one together. I keep my eyes open for free or very cheap exercise equipment and that's where the majority of raw materials came from.

First I built the basic frame. I was given a bad early IRS tranny so I emptied the case and cut it across the diff area. I used a Sawzall being careful to not let the chips pile up too much. I had the casters on hand from a yard sale score.

Then when I went to put a motor on the stand I discovered that my Invacare patient lift wouldn't clear the lower framework. I added some 2x2 steel tube sections to raise the lower framework 4".

In this pic you can see the brace I built to support the back of the engine. The metal I have is not thick enough to support the weight of the engine. This brace solves any strength issues. Now all the forces are straight down. No bending forces on the upright that the trans case section is bolted to.

Here you can see the thick rubber pad that bears against the engine case. There are bosses here on the case. I have bought 2 full height nuts to replace these half height jam nuts that I had on hand. This brace can be easily removed from the stand leaving only a 6" tall 3/4" rod sticking up from the lower frame member.

Yesterday I welded in the tabs to support the [ freebie ] wire shelving for parts storage. The wire shelving may get replaced with 1/4" plywood in the future. I had some 1/2" x 1/8" steel strap on hand and I was able to come up with a clean design for a battery tray. As a last touch I welded on an 8mm bolt for the ground strap. I also dug up a pair of usable battery cables. As usual I never have a red cable the right length for the positive side.

I still have to figure out my fuel system. I would like to be able to easily use a gravity feed set up occasionally so I need to come up with a design for this. Still have to come up with some toggle switches, a starter button, a master switch, maybe an oil pressure gauge, charging system wiring harness, etc etc. I will probably add an intermediate shelf to hold an oil drain pan above the battery.

[Dale M.]

Personally I would mount motor lower on stand, up high and to much torque could result on motor and stand in horizontal position instead of vertical...

Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[rayjay]

[chrisflstf]

That's an accident waiting to happen. Look at where the center of gravity is. Maybe add some outriggers

[Bruce Amacker]

No problem with C/G, I run them all the time on a similar stand. I use a piece of 8ga house wire for the positive cable, it's plenty large enough to handle the amperage. The prop rod is kind of weird, but whatever. Put a big drip tray under it as they always seem to leak. A marine outboard tank works great for fuel.
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'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
Build threads:
'66- http://www.leakoil.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2888&sid=54d8dedfb3822f99c7f2ea430cb4e856
'65- http://leakoil.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4263

[rayjay]

[earthquake]

Maybe some day I will finish mine...

The tail is for mounting the dash.

eQ
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74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]
95 Chevy C3500 dually
98 Ford E150
Link to Kelly J. Nolte 3/20/53 - 11/6/08
https://time-zonelabs.blogspot.com/p/about-kelly.html
DEATH TO CHINGERS!
[From a military recruitment poster in the novel "The Stainless Steel Rat" By Harry Harrison]

[chrisflstf]

My version. Junk 6v case, clearanced for 12v, scrap metal frame. Have all 6/12v bushings. Battery and gas sit on the ground. Not going to fall over. Clears heat exchangers also. Doesnt need a lift for the motor, jack will do

[rayjay]

My test stand is nearly done. I have placed some corrugated plastic sheet on the wire shelving .

For some reason I decided to make the middle shelf so that is slides on the upright. I guess my thinking was that I could lower it so there is easier access to get to the sump plate and then be able to raise the drain pan up closer. I have a plastic tray I am fitting to this shelf. This is the mid position.

All the way up.

Electric panel. Yes, it's a recycled cutting board . The mast the electrics are mounted on can be pulled straight up and detached from the test stand for when I want to pressure wash a motor or if the test stand is left outside when not in use.

Gravity feed fuel tank off a JD.

[Bruce Amacker]

Ugly, but mine's no beauty queen either. If you don't already have one put a fuel shutoff valve in the fuel hose, available at any hardware store in the small engine dept. If your carb float seeps you'll have a big fire hazard.
_________________
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
Build threads:
'66- http://www.leakoil.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2888&sid=54d8dedfb3822f99c7f2ea430cb4e856
'65- http://leakoil.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4263

[Dale M.]

[rayjay]

There is an inline petcock on the tank.

[madmike]

One of my 'run/test' stands

_________________
'Black Ice'Drag Buggy 'Turbo'
Rail Buggy 1915 turbo
76 Drag/Street bug 2180cc 'Turbo' 11:85 @113 mph"If I go any faster I'll burn up the Hamster" ,gets 28 mpg. also 10/09/22 11.90 @115 mph
"If I'm ever on Life Support,UNPLUG Me, Then Plug me back In see if that Works"

[rayjay]

These are some mods I did to my test stand to update it to use the absolute best idea for R&Ring acvw engines. The hydraulic lift table is ideal for acvw engine hoisting. You need a double leg engine stand. The mods I made to my test stand allow me to use the hyd lift table to R&R an engine on the test stand.

Old design.

New modifications

Ive decided that I don't need this brace anymore . The braces I added to the belhousing add enough strength to delete this .

[rayjay]

I took my engine off my new 2 leg engine stand and put it on the test stand. Absolutely no drama. The only pita was figuring out how to arrange the straps to lift my dead bus motor off the hyd lift table. I need to fab up a lift plate to bolt to the top 2 motor mounting bolt holes.

My patient lift in action. Super handy around the shop.

I'm going to make a new riser platform out of 2x12 lumber for the uprights.

Removing the engine from the Summit engine stand.

Puttiing it on the test stand.

[rayjay]

To use the patient lift you have to remove the fan shroud. No need if you use the lift table.

Also, I definitely do not need the brace . There is NO flex in the structure.

[nsracing]

YOu people really love lifting that motor very high. When it falls over and catches fire, I am sure it won't be fun.

I like to start it on the ground - just an old used tire and piece of plywood. And fire extinguisher on stand by.