Porto-Power Uses?

[JefeAZ]

How many of you own a porto-power hydraulic ram? What all can these things do? Never used one before but have a chance to pick up a 10 ton unit rather cheaply.

I do need to compress the legs on my roll cage, could it be rigged to work for that? Dont have any plans for major body work so Im not sure its worth the 1 time use.

 

[Hozr]

They can be used to perform a complete extrication from wrecked vehicle and were actually a precursor to the "jaws of life". They are slow but they can do some SERIOUS work. Be careful what you place it against as it will damage the push points.

 

[Slednut10]

When you say compress the legs on your cage, do you mean pull the legs together a little? If so, then the kit would need to have a pull back ram in it. Most of the basic kits only have a push ram. I have a cheap kit I bought years ago and an assortment of rams to go with it. I keep finding uses for it that I never would have dreamed of when I first purchased it.

 

[JefeAZ]

When you say compress the legs on your cage, do you mean pull the legs together a little? If so, then the kit would need to have a pull back ram in it. Most of the basic kits only have a push ram. I have a cheap kit I bought years ago and an assortment of rams to go with it. I keep finding uses for it that I never would have dreamed of when I first purchased it.

Ya thats what im thinking, ill find all sorts of job for it. Ya just bring the legs together for door clearance. See this:

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251508

I may pick this up as well. Could this be used without the porto-power?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251574562577

 

[KyleQ]

They are cool - I bought one and I've never used it, but my old man did. He had a retaining wall that the hill was pushing over. He dug a trench 4" wide behind the wall and the placed an I-beam against the wall and used a porta-power to push off of that against his trail truck. He did the entire wall like that -turned out perfect.

They have all sorts of uses - just need to think outside of the box sometimes. I've got a pull/pull cylinder - you just reverse what sides you hook up on the cylinder and it goes one direction or another.

 

[Slednut10]

Ya thats what im thinking, ill find all sorts of job for it. Ya just bring the legs together for door clearance. See this:

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251508

I may pick this up as well. Could this be used without the porto-power?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251574562577

That is the pull back ram I mentioned. You still need the pump from the kit to use it.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I have known them to bend connecting rods back to near straight shape after an engine was hydrauliced.

 

[JefeAZ]

ha thats incredible

 

[Explorer]

You just never know when it will come in handy. Son smashed up the front end on his car and we were able to save a pile of money being able to straightening up the core support instead of purchasing a new one. It actually paid for itself in one use.

 

[moses_m]

We use them regularly at work to line up large items like electric traction motors to mudpumps and drawworks. Great tool when used properly. Ive always liked the manual ones with the hand pump over the electric ones. Just a little safer.

 

[Rustytruck]

If you wanted to pull the legs closer together with a porto power ram wrap the chain around the legs, instead of hooking directly to the end of the ram bring the chain across the ram body and hook to the opposite end. So as you extend the ram you close the circle. You would have to control the porto power so the crossing chains stay in line with the ram cylinder. I would wrap a piece of chain around the ram body and around the crossing chain. Hydraulic rams are dangerous as you try to use them they try to pop off as much as they want to push. Give them wide berth while under load.

 

[hucklburry rev2]

I've used em at work to pick 120,000 pounds and down from there, obviously not the set pictured. I did use one like that to fix a 3-point hitch on a john deere that got bent....

 

[broncnaz]

There handy and the cheaper the better especailly with the offbrands dont plan on them holding up to a lot of abuse as even the good named brands have issues. If its a 10 ton setup and dirt cheap(under $150) then go for it. As was said you can probably find lots of uses for it. Although pullling cage legs in can be done a number of ways without a portapower. A simple rachet strap will do it or better yet a come a long. Of course a pull back ram is nice to have but costs extra. I would suggest getting the 10 ton 10,000 psi version.