Any scissor lift experts?

[supratreo]

hi, i'm looking to buy a used 19' scissor lift and wanted to see if theres anyone here who can share their experience.
mainly looking at Genie (gs-1932) or Skyjack (3219).
i've been watching my local auction for a few months and prices are down a little bit right now, i'm assuming because time of year. they were going for 3200-3600 earlier this year and are now around 3000.
what should i be looking out for? i know to check the basics such as operation, battery age and obvious abuse/wear but is there anything else?
i've also checked market place and see them from 3000-4000.
one thing that sticks out to me is that they almost always have sub 350 hours. that seems pretty low to me for a machine that is 7-10 years old, am i missing something?
Any knowledge at all would be great. thank you

 

[RTM]

Might be that 350 hours is some magic depreciation value, or similar, where the rental yard decides its time to replace them.

When I worked at a facility that had their own lift, it was actually leased, not owned, for our convenience.

 

[dscheidt]

Hours on machines like this tend to be low, because you drive the machine to the spot you want, raise it up, and turn it off while you work. Depending on the job, it can be in use all day, but only in motion for an hour. they're also not terribly expensive as machines go, so owners don't feel as much pressure to make sure they're working all the time, they way you would with a more expensive machine.

 

[supratreo]

that makes sense. it would seem, then, that these don't really "wear out". maybe just hoses and batteries right?

 

[dscheidt]

that makes sense. it would seem, then, that these don't really "wear out". maybe just hoses and batteries right?

they get crashed, knocked over, rained on, infested with mice, whatever. Remember, not every machine at the auction is bad, but all the bad ones are there...

 

[isb cornbinder]

I looked at buying an X lift and I decided to built my own. The cost was a determining factor, And I want the lift to fit all of my needs. I will never use an X lift for automotive work.
The cost of materials was $1365.00 in 2002. In 2024, the materials could be 3 times what I paid.
The remote power unit can be detached and used as a battery boost. I can use the 12 volt hydraulics to power my press

 

[BrandonV]

one thing that sticks out to me is that they almost always have sub 350 hours. that seems pretty low to me for a machine that is 7-10 years old, am i missing something?

On an electric lift the hours is how many hours the pump has been running so anything in that ballpark has seen some use.

 

[supratreo]

On an electric lift the hours is how many hours the pump has been running so anything in that ballpark has seen some use.

so does key on= pump running or the pump only runs when your driving or going up/down?

 

[BrandonV]

so does key on= pump running or the pump only runs when your driving or going up/down?

At least the one we have at work the pump kicks on when I actually command it to go up/down. The hour meter at least on the old one I saw was wired to receive power when the pump was energized.

300 hours on a scissor lift seems like a lot IMO.

 

[supratreo]

ya thats what i'm thinking if hours are only counted when its in actual operation but this will be for home shop use to do electrical/drywall/paint/lighting and then just work on the property when needed.
just wanted to see if theres anything major that wears out on them.

 

[BrandonV]

ya thats what i'm thinking if hours are only counted when its in actual operation but this will be for home shop use to do electrical/drywall/paint/lighting and then just work on the property when needed.
just wanted to see if theres anything major that wears out on them.

The biggest concern IMO is using one of these on the jobsite when it breaks down. I've seen people roll a scissor lift into a room in an office building after hours for example and then the thing gives out. It's sometimes a big deal trying to get the thing out. Not a huge deal if you're talking about your personal property.

 

[IndyGarage]

I've owned a couple of them. They are incredibly useful when you need one. Neither were Genie Brand. I had one that was a JLG with a pretty large platform - about 4 by 8 feet. I think it was 25 feet lift. I thought it would be better to work on, however there were two problems with it. First the large platform was heavy and tended to sway more when the lift was extended. And second the larger platform made it very inconvenient to store it.

And that's the biggest problem with a scissor lift - they take up a ton of room to store when you are not using one. That's why I got rid of the ones I had and why I would tend to rent one if I need it, or buy one for a project and sell it when done. For my use a manbasket on a triple forklift is better for occasional use - they do require two people to operate, but they don't take up extra room.

The second one I had was a 20 Foot MEC brand - worked fine after I fixed the wiring issue it had. It had a skinnier platform than the JLG, and was a little more stable at full height. Both of them had the extension on the platform end, which is a nice feature.

Batteries are pretty simple - and pretty expensive to replace when you need to.

My brother in-law who runs a tool rental said he stays away from Genie lifts as they tend to have complicated proprietary electronics. That said, I had a Genie boom lift and it had a problem with the proprietary electronics that was tough to figure out. I'd go with JLG if I had my choice of units.

 

[sparky 1971]

I have a 3220 that's worked well for years, but it has had to go in for repairs a couple of times. It happens. Batteries are expensive and don't seem to last as long as they once did, there's not much that can be done about it but you can make sure it has good batteries at the time of purchase. I've also had to have a drive motor and the brake cylinder replaced. One thing that was done to mine that pisses me off to this day from probably 10 years ago was new tires, it needed them but I sure didn't expect to get charged $1300 for a set, so make sure the tires are at least decent.

 

[gizardlizard]

Do lots of pm on it. They don’t hold much hydraulic fluid, so change it on a regular basis along with the filter. The pumps aren’t cheap, so a little maintenance goes a long ways.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Would a forklift and a manbasket fit the bill? I know it's not what you're asking about, but might be something you hadn't considered...

It's not quite as convenient as a scissor lift for working, but it's not a one trick pony either.

You can rig up an up/down control from the manbasket, so drive the thing where you want, then get in the basket and go up...

 

[vavet]

Would a forklift and a manbasket fit the bill? I know it's not what you're asking about, but might be something you hadn't considered...

It's not quite as convenient as a scissor lift for working, but it's not a one trick pony either.

You can rig up an up/down control from the manbasket, so drive the thing where you want, then get in the basket and go up...

Just don’t piss off the Mrs. before she sends you up in the man basket and then “forgets” about you.

 

[supratreo]

I've owned a couple of them. They are incredibly useful when you need one. Neither were Genie Brand. I had one that was a JLG with a pretty large platform - about 4 by 8 feet. I think it was 25 feet lift. I thought it would be better to work on, however there were two problems with it. First the large platform was heavy and tended to sway more when the lift was extended. And second the larger platform made it very inconvenient to store it.

And that's the biggest problem with a scissor lift - they take up a ton of room to store when you are not using one. That's why I got rid of the ones I had and why I would tend to rent one if I need it, or buy one for a project and sell it when done. For my use a manbasket on a triple forklift is better for occasional use - they do require two people to operate, but they don't take up extra room.

The second one I had was a 20 Foot MEC brand - worked fine after I fixed the wiring issue it had. It had a skinnier platform than the JLG, and was a little more stable at full height. Both of them had the extension on the platform end, which is a nice feature.

Batteries are pretty simple - and pretty expensive to replace when you need to.

My brother in-law who runs a tool rental said he stays away from Genie lifts as they tend to have complicated proprietary electronics. That said, I had a Genie boom lift and it had a problem with the proprietary electronics that was tough to figure out. I'd go with JLG if I had my choice of units.

this is the type of info i was looking for, thank you. i was always under the impression that Genie was one of the best brands but one thing i hate is when brands use proprietary parts.

this thing wont get used as much as you guys think it will, once the shop is done its probably going to sit around until i need to clean my gutters or trim trees. maybe take it to work once every couple years to change parking lot lights.

so basically, make sure it drives, goes up and down and batteries are healthy?
I've heard good things about JLG also, i just don't see as many hit the auction but i'll keep an eye out.

i thought about going the forklift route but i figured that would take 2 people, never knew you could rig up remote controls.

4x8 platform is WAYYY bigger than i need, a 1932ish unit is just right.

 

[IndyGarage]

this thing wont get used as much as you guys think it will, once the shop is done its probably going to sit around until i need to clean my gutters or trim trees. maybe take it to work once every couple years to change parking lot lights.

For finishing a building - putting in lights, wiring, etc. They are fantastic. Easy to move, easy to go up and down and one person can easily use it. If I were constructing a new shop, I would definitely have one. Buy a decent one for $3,000-4,000 and you can sell it for what you bought it for when done.

I don't know if my JLG was a full 4x8, might have been more like 3 1/2 x 7 feet, but it was pretty large and had the wider extended wheels on the base. It was nice to have more room in the basket, but the scissor part was the same as the smaller ones, so it had a bit more sway than a smaller basket one. Not dangerous, but didn't feel quite as stable. And it was way more difficult to store.

 

[kngelv]

I have nearly 30 years of experience as an industrial electrician. I use various scissor and boom lifts quite often. We have both JLG and Genie lifts. I think Genie are easier to maneuver in tight spaces. If you are using it in a shop then make sure the speed control works as designed. Genie has the turtle symbol switch and JLG has a dial. They are by far the thing that goes bad the most often on both brands. Both are good lifts but I like the controls better on the Genie. The JLG requires you to lift up a switch on the joystick before it is operational which annoys me every time. There is also a few second delay with the foot pedal that annoys me every time I use one. I see more side doors on JLG boom lifts which I kind of like.

James

 

[isb cornbinder]

so does key on= pump running or the pump only runs when your driving or going up/down?

What?

 

[cherrybomb]

If you're getting one from an Auction site and it has one of the big name rental decals on it they have decided for whatever reason its been taking lots of repairs or been damaged or unreliable.They are in a specialized business and customers demand good and safe equipment. The aerial equipment has to pass inspections and if it can't, down the road it goes.Can you put up with problems while up in the air?If you are up and it doesn't go down,you have to find someone to manually get you down.So again its your decision.
So sometimes rental might be a better option

 

[Rc_Guy]

Hours on machines like this tend to be low, because you drive the machine to the spot you want, raise it up, and turn it off while you work. Depending on the job, it can be in use all day, but only in motion for an hour. they're also not terribly expensive as machines go, so owners don't feel as much pressure to make sure they're working all the time, they way you would with a more expensive machine.

doesn' the hour meter keep going unless you press the red power off button? I wouldn't press the button unless I was working close to the controls

I looked at buying an X lift and I decided to built my own. The cost was a determining factor, And I want the lift to fit all of my needs. I will never use an X lift for automotive work.
The cost of materials was $1365.00 in 2002. In 2024, the materials could be 3 times what I paid.
The remote power unit can be detached and used as a battery boost. I can use the 12 volt hydraulics to power my press

this thread is about scissor lifts, lifts for people

 

[isb cornbinder]

ya thats what i'm thinking if hours are only counted when its in actual operation but this will be for home shop use to do electrical/drywall/paint/lighting and then just work on the property when needed.
just wanted to see if theres anything major that wears out on them.

Everything needs an inspection and repair 350 hours could easily equal 21,000 trips up and down. These cables do not last forever. Are the safety locks working and able to stop the lift if a cable breaks?
What is your good health and life worth to you? You should replace the cables and hydraulic cylinder seals. A better understanding of how these lifts work and inspection may save your life. Call a lift expert!

doesn' the hour meter keep going unless you press the red power off button? I wouldn't press the button unless I was working close to the controls

this thread is about scissor lifts, lifts for people

I think you should explain your comment. Have you ever used or made anything like a scissor lift?

 

[Rc_Guy]

Everything needs an inspection and repair 350 hours could easily equal 21,000 trips up and down. These cables do not last forever. Are the safety locks working and able to stop the lift if a cable breaks?
What is your good health and life worth to you? You should replace the cables and hydraulic cylinder seals. A better understanding of how these lifts work and inspection may save your life. Call a lift expert!

I think you should explain your comment. Have you ever used or made anything like a scissor lift?

I used them for 30 years. I believe when the red button ( emergency power off button) is on the hour meter is going but maybe that is just on some brands of them. Not that it is the right thing to do but sometimes I have stepped up on the railing to reach higher so I would turn off the red power button. I saw a guy once standing on the top rail while the lift was up to the ceiling and bump the lift lever and the lift went up through the acoustical ceiling, and lights and fire sprinkler pipe before someone on the ground hit the red button.

 

[tncatadjuster]

I'm blindly converting my old Grove 24ft scissor lift into LiPo battery supply. 200aH hour is 200aH hour?
Finally got a proper hydraulic crimper and will sort it soon. So ready to have this tool back in the loop. Retired and ready to use it for me.

I used to strap it to a trailer and paint light poles at auto dealerships.

 

[danski0224]

hi, i'm looking to buy a used 19' scissor lift and wanted to see if theres anyone here who can share their experience.
mainly looking at Genie (gs-1932) or Skyjack (3219).

The Genie is electric drive and the Skyjack is hydraulic drive. Based on a search of those model numbers.

The electric drive will have way fewer parts in the hydraulic system.

I would download the spec sheets for both machines.

Having operated Skyjack, JLG and Genie lifts (and some others), Genie and JLG are the best as far as input and response is concerned. Skyjack has less digital stuff, at least in the controller (lights, displays).

The company I work for owns 2 Genie lifts, and a controller on one recently went bad, and it was over a grand to swap it out. I don't know what the circumstances were that caused the failure. Having company owned equipment like that is somewhat unusual in my experience.

I have operated many different lifts over the years. Failures in the field, from a user perspective, are rare. And that is with equipment provided in the field and operated by many that do not care a tiny little bit. For homeowner or owner/operator use, the machine should be almost bombproof.

I would certainly look into parts availability, diagnostic manuals. Maybe hit a rental place and ask about the models and reliability.

Battery test and replacement might be pretty important, as that is the singular maintenance item that the rental customers do not give a **** about. It has been impossible to get employers to provide distilled water to refill the batteries. More than once, I have poured more than a gallon of water into man lift batteries. Oddly enough, there is little correlation between "dry batteries" and "not charging".

Cheap/long extension cords take out fancy battery chargers. That's what employers provide, combined with only one or two power points on big jobs (and always 200 feet away from where one is working).

Rental yard equipment turnover is based upon hours used or time in service. There is a point where resale value drops, much like a car with 80k vs 105k miles.

It is rarely based on reliability issues. A relative works in the business.

 

[35Ford]

I bought a used Skyjack 3226 from United Rentals. They had multiple units to choose from. The one I bought they brought in from another location, serviced it, put on new tires and delivered it. It had right around 200 hrs on it. They will service it after purchase if needed. My lift has been pretty much trouble free. United will not be the least expensive place to buy a lift but at least there is some support if needed. I had been dealing with them on a fairly regular basis for some time, so it was an easy transaction for me. They currently have over 21,000 used scissor lifts listed for sale. It might be worth a look just to see what's out there.

https://www.unitedrentals.com/sales/equipment/aerial-work-platforms/scissor-lifts

 

[dr_clyde]

I’ve ran several different brands, but my favorite was always Genie. The controls are much easier to use and they’re more maneuverable in my experience without being jerky or overly sensitive. Probably due to the electric vs hydraulic power on everything but the lift itself.

My favorite size lift was the GS-1930. It is small enough to fit through a man door so you can get it just about anywhere in a building. They can only lift 500 lbs, but I rarely found that to be an issue.

The only issues we ever had with our genie was the selector between turtle and rabbit would sometimes have issues and get stuck in turtle.

If buying a used lift I would be most concerned about the batteries. They’re by far the most expensive part of the lift and the most vulnerable. The hydraulics and the electric drives are pretty bulletproof.

 

[dr_clyde]

What?

I think you’re thinking of a scissor lift table, based on your pictures.

OP is asking about man lifts like these:

 

[MWEric]

When looking at the Skyjack pay attention to the welded on blocks that retain the pins for the inner scissor. I was working at a 3M and they had a picture of one where the welds failed ant the unit tipped over.
I have used them many times and my employer currently has one but the lack of a redundant safety system turns me off to them.

 

[Rc_Guy]

I looked at buying an X lift and I decided to built my own. The cost was a determining factor, And I want the lift to fit all of my needs. I will never use an X lift for automotive work.
The cost of materials was $1365.00 in 2002. In 2024, the materials could be 3 times what I paid.
The remote power unit can be detached and used as a battery boost. I can use the 12 volt hydraulics to power my press

I think you’re thinking of a scissor lift table, based on your pictures.

OP is asking about man lifts like these:

^^^^^This. I already said that a few posts back. I have had table lifts, direct lift, for many years.

 

[Treeman]

Everything needs an inspection and repair 350 hours could easily equal 21,000 trips up and down. These cables do not last forever. Are the safety locks working and able to stop the lift if a cable breaks?
What is your good health and life worth to you? You should replace the cables and hydraulic cylinder seals. A better understanding of how these lifts work and inspection may save your life. Call a lift expert!

I think you should explain your comment. Have you ever used or made anything like a scissor lift?

Reiterating this good advice. My workplace had a Genie TMZ50/30 trailer lift (different). It was a money pit for maintenance. Electronics, hydraulics, physical issues, etc.. At a workplace, OSHA/ANSI requires annual inspections by certified mechanics, with other user inspections on a schedule. Users are required to have lift training (similar to forklift) and fall protection training. Yes, people die and/or are maimed using lifts every year (25 - 35/year) They're dangerous similar to how chainsaws and tree felling are dangerous - the weekend warrior doesn't quite know all of the possible injury/death scenarios.

Tree trimming was mentioned above. Scissor lifts are designed to ONLY work on solid surfaces.

Study about them a LOT - wear items, etc.. Consider the cost of ownership vs. renting. Best of luck.

 

[Rc_Guy]

Reiterating this good advice. My workplace had a Genie TMZ50/30 trailer lift (different). It was a money pit for maintenance. Electronics, hydraulics, physical issues, etc.. At a workplace, OSHA/ANSI requires annual inspections by certified mechanics, with other user inspections on a schedule. Users are required to have lift training (similar to forklift) and fall protection training. Yes, people die and/or are maimed using lifts every year (25 - 35/year) They're dangerous similar to how chainsaws and tree felling are dangerous - the weekend warrior doesn't quite know all of the possible injury/death scenarios.

Tree trimming was mentioned above. Scissor lifts are designed to ONLY work on solid surfaces.

Study about them a LOT - wear items, etc.. Consider the cost of ownership vs. renting. Best of luck.

You can get 4-wheel drive off road scissor lifts with and without out-riggers, they are fun.

 

[zkdiesel]

My pair of 3219
Both where inop
The nice looking one has 900 hours and was free, 2 broken wires and recent a limit switch and it was in operation. The ugly one has 120 hours, has been rained on and was $350. They are out there. I’d prefer the 3219 over the genies I work on, simpler.

 

[supratreo]

Great information guys.
United rents is actually where I was seeing most of them come from (on marketplace). BarNone auction is the auction I've been looking at. I don't mind doing some servicing, especially when it comes to safety items, its like a used car, some maintenance would be required.
Reason i don't rent is because this is my home shop and I'm unsure of how long I'll need it. i can't work on it every single day for X amount of hours, just whenever i have free time. it would also come in handy around the house and work.

i see a few people are unhappy with the Genie units so I'll look at the others. its funny, i thought the genie was top of the line and would be more expensive but when i inquired about one it was already sold and they had an equivalent JLG and it was $400 more. i thought it would be the other way around.
as far as tree trimming, i have a bunch of palms along my drive way, I'm not gonna go wheeling this thing. i don't play around with safety (within reason lol).

 

[dr_clyde]

Great information guys.
United rents is actually where I was seeing most of them come from (on marketplace). BarNone auction is the auction I've been looking at. I don't mind doing some servicing, especially when it comes to safety items, its like a used car, some maintenance would be required.
Reason i don't rent is because this is my home shop and I'm unsure of how long I'll need it. i can't work on it every single day for X amount of hours, just whenever i have free time. it would also come in handy around the house and work.

i see a few people are unhappy with the Genie units so I'll look at the others. its funny, i thought the genie was top of the line and would be more expensive but when i inquired about one it was already sold and they had an equivalent JLG and it was $400 more. i thought it would be the other way around.
as far as tree trimming, i have a bunch of palms along my drive way, I'm not gonna go wheeling this thing. i don't play around with safety (within reason lol).

I think Genie is still the gold standard, but that isn't to say the other brands aren't good. It all comes down to user preference and what you're accustomed to.

Every brand is going to have issues or problems, especially if the maintenance wasn't done regularly.

I've bought used equipment out of the forklift dealer's rental fleet with confidence because I knew it was getting regular maintenance. Private party is more of a mystery. At least the dealer has a guy who's job it is to service the rental fleet on a schedule. They get sold when they're fully depreciated tax wise, not necessarily when their usable service life is up.

 

[supratreo]

I think Genie is still the gold standard, but that isn't to say the other brands aren't good. It all comes down to user preference and what you're accustomed to.

Every brand is going to have issues or problems, especially if the maintenance wasn't done regularly.

I've bought used equipment out of the forklift dealer's rental fleet with confidence because I knew it was getting regular maintenance. Private party is more of a mystery. At least the dealer has a guy who's job it is to service the rental fleet on a schedule. They get sold when they're fully depreciated tax wise, not necessarily when their usable service life is up.

i've only used Genie but the idea of having specialty of propriety parts annoys me. I usually find those things out AFTER i buy something and need to get parts so i'm glad that was brought up. any little quirks that each brand might have i may never find out as i won't be using different equipment or using this for a living like some of you do.

 

[danski0224]

i've only used Genie but the idea of having specialty of propriety parts annoys me.

It may not be easy to get parts for the other brands, either. At least for a DIY'er.

I wouldn't be surprised if you had to go to a place that rents the lifts to get parts.

Have you actually checked on parts availability?

 

[Rc_Guy]

Over the 30 years I used them I used skyjack probably 50% of the time, 40% genie and about 10% MEC.

I like the skyjack for easy use some genie you had to hold a momentary switch with one hand and drive with the other hand.

 

[GaryM909]

I have used quite a few of the Skyjack ones working with mechanical contractors. They beat them to death and almost always overloaded them lifting their pipe to the ceiling. They never had any problems with them while I was on the job.