anyone know anything about "john bean" brand ? (car lift etc)
- Thread starter mawrick
- Start date
Aahz
Well-known member
The John Bean brand is owned by Snap On and sold by Snap On and it's affiliated companies. Up until recently, the John Bean lifts were built by another Snap-On owned company called Wheeltronics in Mississauga, Ontario. From my understanding, Wheeltronics is being wound down (or has been) and Snap On has switched to their newest purchase, Challenger Lift, to supply lift products. (From what I have seen so far, Snap On will be selling the Chinese imported brand of Quality Lift under the John Bean name).
Depending on which lift you are looking at will determine the quality of it. Wheeltronics made some good lifts and also made some real sub-par products as well. My experience trying to get parts for ANY Snap On, John Bean or Wheeltronics branded lifts is that it is a pain in the ***. Everything is handled by Snap On's "Service Center" out of Arkansas, but no one there knows anything about any of the products and I have more service manuals for their products in my office than they do in their service center. Many parts (historically) have not been available and if you COULD by chance get them, the lead time and prices were outrageous.
Challenger, on the other hand, has always been a competitive commercial brand and even their "Quality Lift" brand has had some decent success. Hopefully, being purchased by Snap On does not lead them down the path to ruin like so many other Snap On owned equipment brands.
(BTW, Snap On still makes some of the best hand tools available. It's unfortunate that equipment lines they have purchased have done so poorly).
Depending on which lift you are looking at will determine the quality of it. Wheeltronics made some good lifts and also made some real sub-par products as well. My experience trying to get parts for ANY Snap On, John Bean or Wheeltronics branded lifts is that it is a pain in the ***. Everything is handled by Snap On's "Service Center" out of Arkansas, but no one there knows anything about any of the products and I have more service manuals for their products in my office than they do in their service center. Many parts (historically) have not been available and if you COULD by chance get them, the lead time and prices were outrageous.
Challenger, on the other hand, has always been a competitive commercial brand and even their "Quality Lift" brand has had some decent success. Hopefully, being purchased by Snap On does not lead them down the path to ruin like so many other Snap On owned equipment brands.
(BTW, Snap On still makes some of the best hand tools available. It's unfortunate that equipment lines they have purchased have done so poorly).
Ahh, ok - the one I'v been looking at was advertised beiing a 2008 model:
"john bean sol 3000"
But I think I'l go another route - I'm in europe as well so might even be worse getting hold of parts, I guess I'l try to fetch a "Stenhøj", "Koni", or a "Nausbaum" lift as I know they are quality and afaik easy to get parts for
"john bean sol 3000"
But I think I'l go another route - I'm in europe as well so might even be worse getting hold of parts, I guess I'l try to fetch a "Stenhøj", "Koni", or a "Nausbaum" lift as I know they are quality and afaik easy to get parts for
Steve Becker
New member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2015
- Messages
- 2
I currently have a 4810605AFX drive on alignment lift. It was installed Sept. 2012.
I'm in the Chicago area and it seems to be weathering on the poor side.
I can't see this equipment lasting for another year without a significant investment to the rear slip plate hardware and some of the bearings. The holding pins are very sloppy, they do not stop the slip plates from moving and I complained about this part of the lift in the first month. Simply put, it's a very poor design with zero integrity with respect to function. I get movement on the rollback if I'm not careful. Some of the hold-down bolts are stripped (by Snap-on service... not his fault, fault by design) from the service call that was made to address this concern. Some are frozen from 2.5 winters worth of moisture. No question the design is meant to fail and the maintenance will be ongoing.
This particular unit has no grease fittings in areas that you would expect them to be (center pin of the scissor joint). For a while it moaned and groaned like it was being tortured, it took about 2 years for it to break in and mellow out.
I have different readings on my first safety locked setting than I do when elevated to work underneath. This would be the imperfection of the safety stop teeth. I don't know if this can be corrected, but I will find out soon. The rack was adjusted last week (Jan. 2015). It required leveling. I'll blame the installers for that. It cost me 4 hours of my time a $150.00 and we have a low spot in the right rear that may require more time and materials that were not presently on hand. The inaccuracy of the Visualiner from the first safety lock to the ones higher up are still in question, however, I don't think the level of the rack is to blame.
I was told this was high quality equipment and that it will not have problems with wear or maintenance costs like the cheaper racks. I will say the lack of bearings on the scissor mechanism will be a benefit, but NOTHING else in the design is worth discussing as far as maintenance benefits are concerned.
It cost me over $21,000.00 to have this rack installed and I feel as though I've been ripped off. I'm using this post to see what type of response I will get from Snap-on. I will press this issue to the fullest extent. This rack is anything but "top-of-the-Line". At best it's mid-grade to low-grade at the highest price you would expect to pay!
My equipment is still under warranty and I'm looking to set this corrected on Snap-on's dime. I will report the outcome as it develops and alter my remarks accordingly. If anyone has any advice on how to lean on Snap-on for results, I'm all ears. If anyone has other forums that this post would be welcomed, please let me know... I want everyone to know this equipment is awful!
I'm in the Chicago area and it seems to be weathering on the poor side.
I can't see this equipment lasting for another year without a significant investment to the rear slip plate hardware and some of the bearings. The holding pins are very sloppy, they do not stop the slip plates from moving and I complained about this part of the lift in the first month. Simply put, it's a very poor design with zero integrity with respect to function. I get movement on the rollback if I'm not careful. Some of the hold-down bolts are stripped (by Snap-on service... not his fault, fault by design) from the service call that was made to address this concern. Some are frozen from 2.5 winters worth of moisture. No question the design is meant to fail and the maintenance will be ongoing.
This particular unit has no grease fittings in areas that you would expect them to be (center pin of the scissor joint). For a while it moaned and groaned like it was being tortured, it took about 2 years for it to break in and mellow out.
I have different readings on my first safety locked setting than I do when elevated to work underneath. This would be the imperfection of the safety stop teeth. I don't know if this can be corrected, but I will find out soon. The rack was adjusted last week (Jan. 2015). It required leveling. I'll blame the installers for that. It cost me 4 hours of my time a $150.00 and we have a low spot in the right rear that may require more time and materials that were not presently on hand. The inaccuracy of the Visualiner from the first safety lock to the ones higher up are still in question, however, I don't think the level of the rack is to blame.
I was told this was high quality equipment and that it will not have problems with wear or maintenance costs like the cheaper racks. I will say the lack of bearings on the scissor mechanism will be a benefit, but NOTHING else in the design is worth discussing as far as maintenance benefits are concerned.
It cost me over $21,000.00 to have this rack installed and I feel as though I've been ripped off. I'm using this post to see what type of response I will get from Snap-on. I will press this issue to the fullest extent. This rack is anything but "top-of-the-Line". At best it's mid-grade to low-grade at the highest price you would expect to pay!
My equipment is still under warranty and I'm looking to set this corrected on Snap-on's dime. I will report the outcome as it develops and alter my remarks accordingly. If anyone has any advice on how to lean on Snap-on for results, I'm all ears. If anyone has other forums that this post would be welcomed, please let me know... I want everyone to know this equipment is awful!
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Anarius
Well-known member
John Bean used to be good stuff (so the old timers say). However, under snap-on management, they have become more "bluepoint". Their products work, but not as well as their competitors and their price point is stupid. If shopping new, consider Rotary or even Bend-pak.
I worked at a franchise auto repair place (under corporate management) and the franchise management company equipped it with all John Bean stuff. The alignment rack was a PITA with issues similar to the last poster - it sounding like a whale being raped by a nuclear submarine, it began to have serious rust and finish issues in the first winter, and the pins for the slip plates both front and rear were a pain in the *** to get in and out - we did not have leveling issues though, that sounds like an installer problem.
We had a John-Bean tire changer with four different assist arms for mounting/dismounting and all they ever did was swing out and smack the techs. We had to remove them after one tech broke a rib.
Our John Bean "top-of-the-line" balancer required monthly calibration and we still had constant issues with it. It lost a motor and 2 control boards in the first 3 months of use. Repair guy told us we had to dry off the tires before using it (cause thats practical in a Michigan winter) as the machine had no water resistance or seals.
Our four John Bean two-post hoists were a nightmare. We lost pumps and motors it seemed like right and left. We eventually purchased and stored two complete power units (almost half the price of the lifts!), because you can't get parts for the damn things. Everything had to be shipped out, rebuilt, and shipped back. Took 15-20 business days. At one point only one hoist of 4 was operational while we waited for parts.
I left the store shortly before a franchisee bought the license, and he stripped the equipment out and put in Challenger lifts and a hunter rack, with Coats balancer / tire machine.
I worked at a franchise auto repair place (under corporate management) and the franchise management company equipped it with all John Bean stuff. The alignment rack was a PITA with issues similar to the last poster - it sounding like a whale being raped by a nuclear submarine, it began to have serious rust and finish issues in the first winter, and the pins for the slip plates both front and rear were a pain in the *** to get in and out - we did not have leveling issues though, that sounds like an installer problem.
We had a John-Bean tire changer with four different assist arms for mounting/dismounting and all they ever did was swing out and smack the techs. We had to remove them after one tech broke a rib.
Our John Bean "top-of-the-line" balancer required monthly calibration and we still had constant issues with it. It lost a motor and 2 control boards in the first 3 months of use. Repair guy told us we had to dry off the tires before using it (cause thats practical in a Michigan winter) as the machine had no water resistance or seals.
Our four John Bean two-post hoists were a nightmare. We lost pumps and motors it seemed like right and left. We eventually purchased and stored two complete power units (almost half the price of the lifts!), because you can't get parts for the damn things. Everything had to be shipped out, rebuilt, and shipped back. Took 15-20 business days. At one point only one hoist of 4 was operational while we waited for parts.
I left the store shortly before a franchisee bought the license, and he stripped the equipment out and put in Challenger lifts and a hunter rack, with Coats balancer / tire machine.
Steve Becker
New member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2015
- Messages
- 2
My shop is also a franchise. The franchisor was involved and basically guided me in this direction with the approval of other recent purchasers in the chain. I would bet they got a kickback for every unit purchased.
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What are your thoughts on the SOET6600 scissor lift?
http://www.snaponequipment.com/johnbean/aul-soet6600.asp
...for an in-ground flush mount system for my home garage. 98% of the lifts I research are made in China, was hoping the John Bean unit was made here and stronger...other option is the Nussbaum, but its 8k
http://www.nussbaum-group.de/englis...ssors-lift-with-nt-technology/jumbo-lift.html
The Chinese units are 3.5k delivered. Cars I will be lifting are max 3,800lbs so will the cheaper units be ok?
http://www.snaponequipment.com/johnbean/aul-soet6600.asp
...for an in-ground flush mount system for my home garage. 98% of the lifts I research are made in China, was hoping the John Bean unit was made here and stronger...other option is the Nussbaum, but its 8k
http://www.nussbaum-group.de/englis...ssors-lift-with-nt-technology/jumbo-lift.html
The Chinese units are 3.5k delivered. Cars I will be lifting are max 3,800lbs so will the cheaper units be ok?