In the near future I'll be selling the engine/trans out of my GS.  I've done alot of stuff, but mailing a motorcycle engine is not one of them.  Anybody know a good way of packaging and shipping this?  

Thanks!!!

I've seen MIB. Make sure you use Brown paper and normal brown colored twine 

Michael

My suggestion is to list on CL first and try to avoid shipping, but if you have to ship here is a good idea.

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=49763.0

Most of our racers stick em in big rubbermaid containers and duct tape the shaZam! of it  Then you can ship UPS or even greyhound is cheap 

That's clever.  Thanks guys, I would never have thought of that. 

If you have modest carpentry skills, a wooden crate with places for the motor mount bolts to bolt, and then either greyhound freight (under the bus) or other normal freight carrier - evidently fed ex freight has rates that are not too bad for the not too fast option. Rubbermaid and duct tape seems a bit underpacked to me...

I second using greyhound. Used to ship large jeep parts that way all the time, usually ran about $40-60.

I second his second. They can accept quite a bit of weight and usually cheap. I would probably agree that crating that bad boy might be best. You could also check and see if there is a truck terminal in your town and the recipient's town. If so, you can deliver the motor to the terminal, they will place it on a pallet and shrink wrap it. Then the other person picks up at the terminal in their town. More expensive though. usually around $100+

Or if you know anyone in a factory that could ship it LTL for you. Might be cheaper but might get some problems from the company they work for.

ice cooler and Fedex freight are your best friends.

Quote from: DoD#i on September 17, 2009, 02:37:54 PM
If you have modest carpentry skills, a wooden crate with places for the motor mount bolts to bolt, and then either greyhound freight (under the bus) or other normal freight carrier - evidently fed ex freight has rates that are not too bad for the not too fast option. Rubbermaid and duct tape seems a bit underpacked to me...

I'll second ScottPA's idea on the rubbermaid container.  I have received 2 engines in them and they are MORE than protected if you package them right.  I also have shipped an engine in a wooden crate we built and I can tell you the weight and price alone are a HUGE difference.  We're talking $100 to ship in the plastic container, vs. $200 for the wooden one.  The engine weighs enough alone, let alone adding wood to the weight.  If you're concerned about packaging, I recommend getting a few of those insulating foam sheet from Lowes/Home Depot, cutting htem in squares to fit sideways between the engine and the tub.  I think you will be surprised how much of the tote that the engine will take up.  It won't require much packing material at all and will be safe and secured.  Just don't forget to plug any open holes in the engine before it's shipped!

I also used UPS as it was cheaper than FedEx for me...by about $75

Another idea for padding inside a rubbermaid container would be to use expanding polyurethane foam. Put a couple of plastic trash bags next to the engine, and then add the foam to the bag. It'll expand to fill the space, and be perfectly shaped. Just be sure to not let the foam touch the engine directly, it would be a first-class PITA to clean it off. Use several bags so they can be removed. If you use one or two big bags, the receiver will have to lift everything out at once, engine and packing, or spend time carving the foam up to get it out of the way.