Shipping a Motor

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
I did. Wrapped motor in a giant garbage bag. Think I put a piece plywood in the bottom with some 2x4's. screwed the bedplate down. Then started shooting spray foam on the four corners. Then anywhere else I could........ cannot remember exactly how full I did it. Cannot remember who I sold it to.........
 
We double box motors and use blocks of very heavy duty closed cell foam of varying thicknesses to fill in all voids. Shipped dozens with no issue. You are welcome to use some, it works great and won't cost you anything :)

We also use FedEx and have had very good luck shipping motors with them.
 
I've shipped my Dasa 1200 a couple times in the last year and I built a crate out of 2x4's and 2x2's with plywood on the outside, bolted the bed plates to the frame of the crate and then filled all voids with closed cell foam and packing peanuts. Sent with UPS and didn't have any problems.
 
Location
okc
I have sent several motors to thrust in a ice chest from Walmart then shipped through FedEx for 75.00 with insurance never a problem
 
I've shipped my Dasa 1200 a couple times in the last year and I built a crate out of 2x4's and 2x2's with plywood on the outside, bolted the bed plates to the frame of the crate and then filled all voids with closed cell foam and packing peanuts. Sent with UPS and didn't have any problems.
I shipped a motor in a crate like that with UPS, round trip and when it returned the wooden crate was destroyed and the magnesium valve cover broken. UPS gave me nothing.
I think of shipping like a necessary gamble and only do it when it is 100% needed.
 
I bought an engine that was shipped in a single cardboard box with some packing balloons and paper around it... Needless to say, parts were "missing" and it took forever to get because the UPS truck it was on "rolled over"... Oh, and that was the second time it was shipped because the first attempt, the engine leaked oil out of the box so UPS sent it back to the seller... And this was someone who works for one of the big engine builders/retailers....
 

N3vrSat1sfied

Military Member
Location
Fort Worth, TX
I got an Alradco radiator for my truck sent to me in cardboard and spray foam via fedex. That thing was in there good, heck it was harder getting it unpacked then the install.
 

Pablo

sqeez bth levrs & lean bk
Site Supporter
Location
georgia
There's two or three methods that work.

1. Build a crate (with handle cut outs) with a frame that u can bolt the bedplates too so engine can't move inside the crate and fill the voids with polystyrene or bubble wrap so tight u can't jam anymore in there and wood screw it shut.
2. Rubbermaid tote. Wrap engine in heavy gauge plastic/yard trash bag. 1/2" plywood floor and roof. Fill voids with polystyrene or spray foam so it can't move. Zip tie shut.
3. Multiple heavy duty cardboard boxes that the largest uses a plywood floor and roof. Have the first box with engine and polystyrene. Next box with a layer of two of polystyrene on all sides. 3rd box with plywood top and bottom and polystyrene sides with layer of two of polystyrene.

I don't have pics of the last few engines I've shipped but I've used all 3 methods and all work if done properly and u have at least a small amount of concern for the buyer. U can't prepare for all the atomic drops that ups is gonna put on ur package (I use fedex now), but have yet to be told my engines weren't packaged good enough for the journey. I've sent some to Germany and Australia.

This pics aren't of a complete engine but it shows how to secure engine cases in a box with enough padding for the trip.

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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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There's two or three methods that work.

1. Build a crate (with handle cut outs) with a frame that u can bolt the bedplates too so engine can't move inside the crate and fill the voids with polystyrene or bubble wrap so tight u can't jam anymore in there and wood screw it shut.
2. Rubbermaid tote. Wrap engine in heavy gauge plastic/yard trash bag. 1/2" plywood floor and roof. Fill voids with polystyrene or spray foam so it can't move. Zip tie shut.
3. Multiple heavy duty cardboard boxes that the largest uses a plywood floor and roof. Have the first box with engine and polystyrene. Next box with a layer of two of polystyrene on all sides. 3rd box with plywood top and bottom and polystyrene sides with layer of two of polystyrene.

I don't have pics of the last few engines I've shipped but I've used all 3 methods and all work if done properly and u have at least a small amount of concern for the buyer. U can't prepare for all the atomic drops that ups is gonna put on ur package (I use fedex now), but have yet to be told my engines weren't packaged good enough for the journey. I've sent some to Germany and Australia.

This pics aren't of a complete engine but it shows how to secure engine cases in a box with enough padding for the trip.

a8e2a1dc37e639f8bce9ad6e2fa344d6.jpg
5c917779ffed56bc6a96d1a76505e8d8.jpg
7994f2931663ebce3b0f942043ef1450.jpg
bd16a37cd90e76b93b5d76d6802dfeba.jpg
c8bb1f8f3071cc007e925d2ef6f41aee.jpg

06abb05673ccaa232aa180cf4fa1360d.jpg
416a8ab6b814762a76f357e603707553.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


He boxed in a diassembled dasa enginge in same style and shipped it overseas to me . Worked very good!!!!
 
Matt I used big filler spray foam for gaps bigger then 2". Just do it in sections and allow it to cure. Bottom,sides,then top. Sucks getting it out, but worth it.
 
I use all the above items and then use'' strapping tape ''around the box and hide that tape with brown shipping tape , ups and usps dont like strapping tape wrapped up in their conveyors , but I dont like busted boxes from them either .
 

air blair

you are the reason
I have an SXR motor I am shipping, and recently, @jo5hi3 and I had a big issue with UPS, and it really left a bad taste in my mouth. We completely "over" packed the box. I dont need me crammed it full, I mean we fool proofed it as best we could. But regardless....life goes on.

What is the best method that you guys use to ship a motor? I really liked in the past when I got a motor that was put in a garbage bag or two, and then spray foamed into the box. How many cans of spray foam do I need?

Is there a better method?

Thanks guys!
Erik from tpe ships engine in a box packed and padded well, then that box in a box with 3 inch padding surrounding box. New boxes. That is the best way to ship. Ive done rubber made boxes. Smash bang crack boom
 
Location
PA
I never had an issue with rubbermaid boxes with foam inside. Sent many to california and back using the same one. Zip tied the lid. Never a crack, smash or boom.
 

Ducky

Back in the game!
Location
Charlotte, NC
I never had an issue with rubbermaid boxes with foam inside. Sent many to california and back using the same one. Zip tied the lid. Never a crack, smash or boom.

Yea, I have no clue what happened recently. The crate/tote we shipped it in was given to us by a rubbermaid engineer who tests products, and it was actually a competitors crate/tote that beat rubbermaids tote in every test. There was definitely some negligence on UPS's part, which is why we have a conference call with them tomorrow.
 

Ducky

Back in the game!
Location
Charlotte, NC
Coolers/Ice Chests are expensive...when shipping a motor worth a couple hundred dollars. Makes more sense when you are shipping a DASA or something of that sort.
 
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