Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Categories
- All Discussions27,069
- Orphaned Marques
- ↳ Hudson21,137
- ↳ Street Rods807
- ↳ Off Topic574
- ↳ American Motors149
- ↳ Kaiser - Frazer70
- ↳ Nash70
- ↳ Packard163
- ↳ Studebaker122
- Classic American Cars
- ↳ Ford Motor Company956
- ↳ Chrysler Corporation477
- ↳ GM Corporation1,396
- ↳ Post War Chevrolets75
- ↳ Pontiac Forum119
- General
- ↳ All makes1,961
- ↳ Poll Discussions24
- Swapmeets & Events
- ↳ Events130
- ↳ Swapmeets108
- Hot Rod Corner
- ↳ Ford Rods90
- ↳ Lead Sleds67
- Special Interest Groups
- ↳ The Flathead Forum139
- European marques
- ↳ MG Car Company2
- ↳ Mercedes-Benz2
In this Discussion
- 46HudsonPU November 2009
- esfoder December 2009
- TOM-WA- November 2009
- Uncle Josh November 2009
- walt norem November 2009
Weighing Large Items...
-
I've seen quite a few threads concerning the weight of engines, transmissions, engine/trans, frames, vehicles, etc..
A suggestion, for those of you who may be interested -
Many larger local 'truck stops' have scales to weigh vehicles. Usually there is only a nominal fee for this, and you get a certified weight & written receipt.
- Weigh the vehicle you will be using, without any cargo & with a full tank of gas. You'll only need to do this once, unless something changes or you put your barbells behind or underneath the seat. If you have a truck with a trailer, you might want to get two weights for 'unloaded' - that of just the truck, and that of the truck & trailer;
- Then, weigh the vehicle with the 'item in question' as the cargo;
The difference will be the weight of the item in question...
My local landfill - free to private residents in my area, has a weighing scale (many do nowadays). Every once in a while they participate in my curiosity without knowing it. Having been through the scales many times, I already know how much my truck weighs empty, so I just 'haul' some stuff to the dump, with the large item to be weighed as additonal ballast (load covered by a tarp). I 'dump' my excuse load, then go back through the scales. The difference between what my empty truck weighs and what it weighs with the 'ballast' is the figure I am looking for... :rolleyes:
Just some thoughts... -
We just use the Elevator or feed mills scales. Always free and you don't need an excuse. Race cars or hay your selling to a nieghbor they are always happy to let you use the scales and will give you a ticket if you want one.
-
OR, if ya live where I do, a good half hour from a scale, get a plank, and mark it off at the 1/4 and 1/2 points.
Put one end on a block and t'other on a bathroom scale, most of which will weigh Aunt Mathilda up to 300 lbs.
Most motors can be weighed at the half-way point, by doubling the reading, and a whole car can be done a wheel at a time at the 1/4 point by multiplying the reading by 4
Nice and snug right in the garage. -
Uncle Josh wrote:OR, if ya live where I do, a good half hour from a scale, get a plank, and mark it off at the 1/4 and 1/2 points.
Put one end on a block and t'other on a bathroom scale, most of which will weigh Aunt Mathilda up to 300 lbs.
Most motors can be weighed at the half-way point, by doubling the reading, and a whole car can be done a wheel at a time at the 1/4 point by multiplying the reading by 4
Nice and snug right in the garage.
A visual of Uncle Uncle Josh's description.
A few key points -
- Take the weight of the board out of the equation. 'Zero' your scale out prior to putting the item to be weighed on the board, or subtract what the scale shows as the weight of the board from the total;
- The longer the supporting board, the more accurate the measurement;
- Unlike it is shown, the supporting board should be as level as possible;
- The 'points of contact' should be as focused as possible - Seen in the diagram as a little dots between the board & scale and the board and block. If you have some 1" square tubing (or equivalent) to put under the board and scale at the measured points - that will help the accuracy tremendously;
- The item being weighed with the weight of the item 'centered' on the desired location (25% or 50%)
Note that this will not give a precise weight measurement - depending on how well you do the above, it will just get you in the 'ballpark'... -
Do I put Aunt Matilda on the scale or under the object I am trying to weigh?
-
46HudsonPU wrote:
A visual of Uncle Uncle Josh's description.
A few key points -
- Take the weight of the board out of the equation. 'Zero' your scale out prior to putting the item to be weighed on the board, or subtract what the scale shows as the weight of the board from the total;
- The longer the supporting board, the more accurate the measurement;
- Unlike it is shown, the supporting board should be as level as possible;
- The 'points of contact' should be as focused as possible - Seen in the diagram as a little dots between the board & scale and the board and block. If you have some 1" square tubing (or equivalent) to put under the board and scale at the measured points - that will help the accuracy tremendously;
- The item being weighed with the weight of the item 'centered' on the desired location (25% or 50%)
Note that this will not give a precise weight measurement - depending on how well you do the above, it will just get you in the 'ballpark'...
Nice I love back yard engineering!!
Dusty
