Getting The Engines Home

Now more firmly settled in our new home, my thoughts turned to the important business of 'claiming' the garage before it was overrun with box, bikes and lawnmowers. I bought a second hand engine crane from Ebay, using the specification of the one I had borrowed from Doug as my guide.

Typically cranes are sold in 1 ton and 2 ton versions, the weight that can be lifted is not the only consideration.You also have to consider how far you will need to extend the lifting arm: the further you extend it, the less load you can safely lift. With the DS gearbox out front and engine behind, you need to extend the arm quite a way to be over the lifting eye attached to the water pump housing. Another factor to consider is the 'spread' of the legs of the crane as you will need to manoeuvre it between the from wheels to get over the engine. 

I bought a one ton crane. At 'half-stretch' it can carry half a ton safely - which was enough for the engine and gearbox. In addition to the crane, I also bought myself some lifting straps. These are colour-coded according to the weight they can cary. I got a couple a couple of two meter purple loops - rated for 1000kg.

DX Engine Retrieval - 11 September 2016

First to come home was the remainder of the DX engine I had bought from Adie.

The weekend of 10 and 11 September 2016 was the Citroen Car Club's 'Chevrons' rally on the Little Horwood site. I'd already arranged to meet Darrin from Citroen Classics there on the Sunday to collect some new valve guides and cylinder head bolts. Killing several birds with the same stone, I also used the trip to collect the DX engine from the farm nearby. Setting off very early, I was at the farm soon after 8am.

In It Goes......11 September 2016

Tyre pressures had been increased for carrying a full load and the back of the car was suitably padded-out. With the use of Doug's crane at the barn I carefully loaded the engine in. Mission accomplished and I still had my parts to collect from Darrin and the Chevrons rally to enjoy!

Arriving home at the end of the day, I used my new engine crane at home to unload at the other end. I'd rigged up a couple of trollies using pallets and some sturdy castors from Screwfix. Rubber wheels - not plastic one that might shatter.

Engine and Gearbox - 25 September 2016

A man on a mission: I was back up at the barn two weeks later. This time with Richard. With his help the DX2 engine and gearbox were split.

By now most of the peripherals and hydraulic pipes were already at home. I took lots of reference photos of the various different bolt shapes and lengths and their locations, as many of them are double-ended to accommodate other brackets and clips. The engine and gearbox came apart surprisingly easily.

As before the engine - and this time also the gearbox -  were loaded in the Zafira for the journey home.

Piece of Cake - 25 September 2016

"Teas Up Richard!"

It had been another productive day. Now all I had to do was retrieve my DS..........