2 post lift questions

[Capt Crash]

So I got my 9000 lb 2 post lift wired today (YAY). I bought this lift at an auction a few years back so I dont have a manual or know the builder. When I took it down I left the hydraulic lines and the lift cables exactly as they were. My questions are:

How much difference is OK in the tension of the 2 cables? When the lift is down one cable is looser than the other, and when it is raised the other cable is looser. I do feel like I will tighten the one that is loose when its lowered, but how much difference is OK?

Do the hydraulic rams have a vent on the top? When I raised the lift all the way up, some hydraulic fluid sprayed from the top, but I cant find a leaking hose or fitting. I did fill the tank with a little more than I drained out when I took the lift down.

Maybe tomorrow I will try lifting something small to see how everything looks before moving onto a car.
Brian

 

[gizardlizard]

You don’t mention which brand or model of lift you have. They can be quite different.

I have a Rotary and both cables need to be the same. When squeezing them, it should take about 10 pounds of force to make them touch.

There should not be any leaks. Some lifts are vented and some not. The ones that are vented will have a pipe plug on the end of the ram that you loosen to remove air as you run the lift to full stroke a bunch of times. The ones that don’t have vents, you need to cycle to full stroke many times to get rid of air.

 

[mikedodge]

The cables are usually adjusted when the lift is raised a couple feet off the floor. The way they work they shouldn't change tension like that, they're both being pulled at the sane time. It sounds like maybe when it's sitting on the floor your arms aren't level so one cable is being pulled more then the other, then the other cable is getting the tension when it goes up?

 

[kbeefy]

I adjust mine so that the locks are as even as I can get them.
If not, it is possible to get one side on a lock and not the other side.

 

[Studenut]

Hi all
Im new to this Forum
Im an old car nut. A have a few early Studebakers
I have a old Maxon outrigger 2 post lift. It is similar to the picture attached. Mine is older and yellow at least 40 years old. It came with as new set of all the the bronze bushing wear parts.
Im looking or an assembly / user manual. Either hard copy or electronic copy would be great
Thanks on advance for your help.
Pat

 

[BobnCO]

“The cables are usually adjusted when the lift is raised a couple feet off the floor.” (Mikedodge above) That was how I adjusted my used Rotary; I also adjusted it weeks(?) later after a few cycles of loaded operation as I noticed it was less equal (older cables with some set to them..) My stops click nearly simultaneously now, but certainly did not when I started.

 

[Rc_Guy]

Hi all
Im new to this Forum
Im an old car nut. A have a few early Studebakers
I have a old Maxon outrigger 2 post lift. It is similar to the picture attached. Mine is older and yellow at least 40 years old. It came with as new set of all the the bronze bushing wear parts.
Im looking or an assembly / user manual. Either hard copy or electronic copy would be great
Thanks on advance for your help.
Pat

You might wanna start your own post about this instead of jumping onto somebody else’s, it might be easier to get a answer

 

[Studenut]

Thanks I will.

 

[dante2]

You might wanna start your own post about this instead of jumping onto somebody else’s, it might be easier to get a answer

I never understood why new members won't start a new post. Props to him or her for not dragging a post from the dawn of time though.

 

[finn]

I never understood why new members won't start a new post. Props to him or her for not dragging a post from the dawn of time out though.

It’s a little daunting for a new member to start a new post. I empathize with new members.

Then there’s the question as to how far off topic is off topic….

 

[mikedodge]

Well at least bringing back old posts from the dead shows they were trying to find what they were looking for. So many new members at various forums make their first post asking the most common questions and if they spent any time all looking around they'd have found their answer. So cheers for someone new doing that!

 

[BobnCO]

Now it's just a thread bi*&^ing about ther peoples posts.... devolution..