How to Ship a Motorcycle Engine in a Crate
If you have a motorcycle engine, you may find that you need to ship it. You may be trying to send it to an aftermarket repair shop or outfitter to have some work done to it, or you may be selling it and have it listed on an auction site. Either way, you will need to know the proper methods to ship your motorcycle engine. Since motorcycle engines are relatively small compared to a car or truck engine, they are a bit easier to ship. Open-crating is the best shipping method because many freight shippers accept it. These days, shippers like to be able to see what they are shipping.
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Things You'll Need
- Large, commercial-sized roll of plastic wrap
- Cardboard
- Packing tape
- Fluid draining container
- Piece of plywood
- (3) 2-by-4 inch boards
- Drill
- Chains with bolts and locking nuts
- Hammer
- Nails
Instructions
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1
Drain all of the fluids from the motor. Make sure that you drain the oil and water/antifreeze from the motor. It is important to avoid spilling because it will cause you a huge fine.
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2
Cover any sharp corners or poking parts with cardboard and packing tape. You may need to fold pieces to make them thicker.
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3
Wrap your motor completely with plastic wrap. Use the whole roll if necessary. You must wrap all around the whole motor.
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4
Cut your plywood about 8 to 10 inches bigger than your motor. This will be what your motor sits on.
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5
Cut your 2-by-4 inch boards to the width of the plywood, 8 to 10 inches long.
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6
Attach each 2-by-4 to one side of the plywood using a hammer and nails. Make sure that you attach one 2-by-4 to the top and bottom of the plywood, and one in the middle.
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7
Flip the plywood over. Drill holes in each of the corners, on the left and right sides, and in the middle. Your holes should be large enough to thread your chains through, making sure that there is enough, but not too much space between the edge of the plywood and the hole.
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8
Thread the chains to the holes on the left side of the plywood crate, using the bolts and locking nuts. You will be attaching the bolts and nuts from one link of the chain's end to another link on the part of the chain that will be going over the motor.
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9
Pull your chains across the motor. Attach the chains, bolts and nuts in the same manner as in Step 7. Make sure that the chains are pulled tight.
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Tips & Warnings
Thread the chains to the holes on left side of the plywood crate, using the bolts and locking nuts. You will be attaching the bolts and nuts from one link of the chain's end to another link on the part of the chain that will be going over the motor.
