I have a bike engine to ship out. anybody know the best way to ship??? i checked the ups site and they have $368 and it exceeds the usps weight limit. not a huge deal but most folks shipping cost in ebay is $175. what am i missing?
Most people ship heavy stuff like that by common carrier( i.e. trucking companies). Check your local shipping companies like roadway,r&l carriers etc. I highly recommend taking multiple photographs of the engine and any included bolt on accessories because if the trucking company damages it,it is your burden to prove they did it! I have had several engines shipped to me and every one had some damage done to it.One was totally destroyed. Make sure you package this thing extremely well and drain ALL fluids. Any spills will be charged to you,the shipper. Sometimes they wil hold it at a dock until some one comes to get it if there is a fluid leak. That can be a real pain if you are on one coast and your buyer is on the other coast and the engine is held up somewhere in the middle. I avoid selling heavy items because it usually turns out to be nothing but drama unless you are set up for packaging these type of items.( leak-proof plastic re-useable shipping containers,etc.) Good luck!
Make a 'crate' for it out of 2 x 2s and then box around the crate. Ship using any trucking company. I think you're close to Madison, you might need to take it to the airport or a nearby hub.
We shipped a motor about 5 years ago and I think it cost us about $100. It arrived in good condition. Ship any add ons in a separate box via normal shipper.
Quote from: Court Jester on February 29, 2008, 05:24:07 AM
I have a bike engine to ship out. anybody know the best way to ship??? i checked the ups site and they have $368 and it exceeds the usps weight limit. not a huge deal but most folks shipping cost in ebay is $175. what am i missing?
DHL.
I had a SV650 engine sent to me from Florida for $65.00
Seal it in a plastic bag before you crate it. If it smells like gas or oil, or if anything leaks, they won't ship it
Quote from: EX_#76 on February 29, 2008, 08:58:14 AM
DHL.
I had a SV650 engine sent to me from Florida for $65.00
Seal it in a plastic bag before you crate it. If it smells like gas or oil, or if anything leaks, they won't ship it
Good tips. When you charge the guy for shipping, be sure to include any materials you've purchased in the S & H
I've had good experience with Forward Air
Secured the engine to a pallet and off it goes
Can't remember how much it cost, but it wasn't overly expensive
Quote from: bel-biv on February 29, 2008, 11:17:05 AM
I've had good experience with Forward Air
Secured the engine to a pallet and off it goes
Can't remember how much it cost, but it wasn't overly expensive
ditto.
back in '03 it was $79 from Cali to WI for an 88 katana 600 motor.
only catch with Forward air is you have to drop it off at Their closest dock station and the person getting the shipment has to pick it up from the dock. Sometimes them docks aren't too close by...
Quote from: EX_#76 on February 29, 2008, 08:58:14 AM
DHL.
I had a SV650 engine sent to me from Florida for $65.00
Seal it in a plastic bag before you crate it. If it smells like gas or oil, or if anything leaks, they won't ship it
AMEN...we shipped an SV motor DHL from NC to IL for $57... and had it in 2 DAYS via normal ground shipping. :biggrin:
Do a search on the WERA board. I've seen several people say that they just used a Rubbermaid tub from Wal Mart and shipped it on FedEx pretty cheap.
I believe the freight companies charge quite a bit more.
I've shipped via UPS and FedEx. Between the two I've probably shipped over 50 motors. Only ONCE did I have a problem and that was a busted valve cover.
You just have to keep it under weight. Build a crate with plywood bottom, plywood top, 2x2's from top-to-bottom, bolt the motor to the 2x2's and run rope through the motor and top of the crate so they have something to lift. Wrap that in plastic and then staple cardboard for the sides.
I've always managed to do that under 150# which was the UPS/FedEx cut-off.
Never shipped a big motor in a rubber maid tub. I think if I did, I'd find a place that would fill it with that expanding foam stuff first..
I have access to a bagged expanding foam machine. good thought.
thanks for the info folks. you've been a huge help.
buchannon wheel and spoke uses the expandable foam. it worked awesome.
I used USF and they were pretty good. $125 to Oregon from STL