Wood beam

[jos51700]

Steve Welder needs to learn how to quote

Now you're just putting words in my mouth.....So I'll return the favor.
There's that comprehension thing we just talked about....

 

[Steve welder]

It sounds like you have a 4x6 'top plate' holding the roof, with a separate header over the garage door opening. I'm assuming the cavity between them includes cripples.
The 4x6"x8ft beam alone couldn't carry the weight, but the beam assembly which includes the cripples and door header are likely the reason it fared so well with lifting the welder in the past. It would take a lot more detail and knowledge to be able to say just how much weight the beam could 'actually' lift - plus we'd have to know more about the roof to figure out how much it's already bearing. You can see how this becomes a less-than-simple question.

An easier way would be to measure for deflection at the center of the door opening with a known load. Using that, you could extrapolate a conservative max load that you could hang from the beam before getting into iffy territory.

It sounds like you've already resolved not to use the beam for the 1200lbs lift, which is probably for the best anyway. It's bad enough to drop an engine or item, it's even worse when it takes the house with it!

I thought at first I could get away with it
I guess if the span was three feet I probably could but eight feet is no good
It’s a solid timber and it did do 5 to 6 hundred no problems
What bites me now is back when I redid the garage all I had to do was add a good stiffener and I’d not be having this thread
Thanks for the advise

 

[69FBCuda]

You could add temporary bearing posts to decrease the opening width with 4x4 pine posts or steel lolly columns. Another concern is the 3/4" hole location reduces the carrying capacity vs a full face or top loaded scenario. Also consider adding to the width of the beam with more plys.

 

[Steve welder]

You could add temporary bearing posts to decrease the opening width with 4x4 pine posts or steel lolly columns. Another concern is the 3/4" hole location reduces the carrying capacity vs a full face or top loaded scenario. Also consider adding to the width of the beam with more plys.

I could and im aware of that but my pickup has to fit between the span
To bad as I have adjustable lolly column's I used when I held part of the garage when I put in a new foundation
Thanks for the thoughts, always appreciated

 

[dICKj]

No! I can tell you from experience. The sound of an overhead cracking beam supporting a 440 is a sound you will never forget. The only sound more unforgettable is the sound of that 440 hitting the floor!