Wasted $350 on a 'certified' engine stand that almost dropped my PT6

Bought this fancy engine stand off a guy on Craigslist last spring. Said he used it for the past 10 years at his shop. Got it home, put my PT6 on it, and the whole thing started wobbling on day two. Found out the locking pin was worn down and the tilt mechanism was seized up. Has anyone else dealt with shady used shop equipment that looked good but was totally unsafe?

3 comments

3 Comments

oscarc121mo ago

So you're telling me you didn't even spin the tilt handle or wiggle the pin before handing over $350? @the_ruby is right, that sounds like a recipe for disaster. I'd bet that guy knew exactly what he was selling - probably had that stand sitting in the corner of his shop for years, hoping some sucker would take it off his hands. A worn locking pin on a PT6 stand is about the worst thing you can miss, that engine could have dropped and taken out your foot or worse. For that kind of money, you'd think you'd at least get a stand that won't kill you, but that's Craigslist for you.

ninaowens1mo ago

Right? Sounds like he paid $350 for a killer footrest and a story to tell in the ER... hope he at least got a free tetanus shot out of the deal.

the_ruby1mo ago

Did you check the thing over before you handed over the cash? I mean, $350 for a used stand sounds pretty cheap, and a worn pin and a stuck mechanism are kind of the risk you take when you buy someone else's junk off the internet.