Lorin- I have been using an engine hoist (from Harbor Freight) for 11 years now and love it. It's especially useful for setting bearing where the plate goes in and out a lot. To make lifting the plate a one man job, though, you'll need an additional accessory - an engine balancer. This hangs from the hoist and has a screw mechanism inside it to shift the center of gravity along its length to lift evenly. I use it with a nylon moving strap going through the chain holes on either end, and attached to the front and back of the plate. By carefully adjusting the length of the straps, and the center of gravity on the balancer, you can get the plate balanced to lift straight out, or tip it slightly if needed to clear an obstruction. One further hint - line the inside of the rim with cardboard or some other protective material. That will keep you from scratching it should the plate bump it or ride up against the rim. Ed Bordeleau Pianoarts, Inc.
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC