Drill motor 110v

[Gurp]

Looking at building a homemade motorcycle lift.
Was looking as using a ac drill and a screw jack for lift amd lowering.
Why? Bc that system is both cheap(used corded drill) and self locking. Ive never had a car lower on a screw jack. But i want to run a remote switch on the table top. Any advice on wireing the setup. I know i need a AC on off on 6 prong switch but unsure how to wire it up.

 

[rkevins]

you would need to start with a wiring diagram of the drill to see how it reverses, then use a on off on momentary contact switch and also wire in stop switches for upper and lower limits just to be safe

 

[The Cobbler]

take the reversing switch out of the drill and see what it does (contact wise) and follow that

 

[Gurp]

Limit switches. Good idea i hadnt though about that yet. I know they are just a contact breaker but would i wire them to the hot or neutral side?

 

[Gurp]

Dogdog im more than likely going to use a corded drill with a half inch chuck. It will have the power tp lift what i need to on a screw jack.

 

[James-W]

Let me start by saying I am not trying to get you to change your mind on building the lift. I am just giving you an option that you can think about, or you can ignore it.

Harbor Freight, not everyone's favorite tool store, has a motorcycle lift run by a foot powered ram. The price is decent and I have seen the lift and it seems to be fairly well built. Before doing anything I would suggest going to a Harbor Freight store and check it out in person.

Here is a link to the lift.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lbs-steel-motorcycle-lift-68892.html

 

[dogdog]

Dogdog im more than likely going to use a corded drill with a half inch chuck. It will have the power tp lift what i need to on a screw jack.

I realized that, that is why I delete that post, don't think it applies... I am not sure if a corded drill is strong enough though...... I tried that setup to lift a car and it wasn't that great with a corded drill...

 

[Gurp]

James I thought about useing a small bottle jack as well. Im going to test a few older corded drills I have. Also a used 1/2 corded impact as well. Always lots of options. I seen the HF ones but i realize for some time and effort i can achieve what i need much cheaper.
It all comes down to whats avalible. As it warms up.

 

[oledude1952]

A up/down labeled, two push button momentary contact, rubber cord ready, pendant crane type control switch from Amazon, can be bought for around 23 bucks.

They have them as cheap as 7 bucks but, they are only 3 A rated. Any 1/2 inch chuck drill motor will be pulling over 4 amps loaded well. And the OP will have to buy a piece of SO or SJO cord with 6 # 16 ga. conductors in it, not cheap..

Then, he has to get this 6 wire fat rubber cord inside to the drill handle somehow and get the wires connected to the drills rotation selector wires. Not easy to do, in my opinion.

By the time the OP buys the lift's metal, welds it up, IMO he will have way more money in the project, than the HF unit JamesW posted costs. Depends on what ones time is worth to them, I guess. Good Luck to the OP on his project and JMO

 

[dogdog]

saw this video a few years ago... might of interest to you... and they do sell motorized scissor jacks. probably cheaper than buy a drill ...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0027Z6F3W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Zeke]

James I thought about useing a small bottle jack as well. Im going to test a few older corded drills I have. Also a used 1/2 corded impact as well. Always lots of options. I seen the HF ones but i realize for some time and effort i can achieve what i need much cheaper.
It all comes down to whats avalible. As it warms up.

A bottle jack limits height travel. So does anything but I think you can get more lift height with your screw. Be sure to not use all thread if you can help it. Get an Acme screw and nut from McMaster, etc. Also look up go kart lift/stands.

 

[JRC3]

Any way to use a small AC powered winch and remove the cable and pulley and attach it to the screw? Seem to me it would be plenty strong enough, easier to mount, and comes with a remote (switch).

 

[sberry]

I am all for diy but by the time this is done it likely cost more and not be as good as a used or new table. Some things don't pay or save and this is one. Yes, you can build a folding cherry picker too but not for the same as you can buy the HF one if your time is worth more than a dollar an hour.

 

[dogdog]

some times it's just fun to DIY.. you make something you learn something.... but be smart and be safe, though.....

 

[sberry]

Yes, that is a good point. I only comment due the fact it was in the op about doing it cheaper.

 

[Jim greengo]

How about just building a table with a wheel chock,then put a ramp on it when needed?

 

[TractorJeff]

How about just building a table with a wheel chock,then put a ramp on it when needed?

You are going to push a 500 or 800 pound motorcycle up a ramp?

 

[Gurp]

Ive been reading more into it. Buildingnthe table out on wood. With the exceptions of the inner legs will be black iron gas line and the jack and tom and bottom paltes along with the brackets to attach the upper portion of thr drill body. I seen a video on a automated vise using a small cordless drill that started the inspiration. I have most of the materials except the ply wood and a single 8ft 4x4 post already.

 

[Jim greengo]

You are going to push a 500 or 800 pound motorcycle up a ramp?

I've pushed plenty of 500 lbs 900-1000 kaws up ramps over the years not a new concept by any means.

 

[James-W]

some times it's just fun to DIY.. you make something you learn something.... but be smart and be safe, though.....

I agree that making something from scratch and watching it work can give you a lot of personal satisfaction. But at the same time just because you CAN do something doesn't necessarily mean that it is a good idea. For example, I have the capability to make a bolt, a washer and a nut. But I can also go a few blocks to the local hardware store and buy the bolt, washer and nut that I need for a dollar or two. That being the case, why would I want to waste my time making these items? On the other hand, if the bolt, washer and nut were something special or obsolete and no longer available, that would be different.

Anyway, I am all for building stuff, I tend to do a lot of "inventing" myself and I enjoy it. But I tend to build stuff that you can't buy, like an automatic can crusher that you feed the cans in the top vertically and the machine flips the cans over horizontally, crushes them, then drops the cans into a barrel.

But again, if the opening poster feels that he can build this lift using an electric drill, then I think he should go ahead and give it a whirl. He won't know if it will work out until he tries. As for myself, I would just buy the one from Harbor Freight, but the opening poster wants to build a lift on his own so I wish him all the best of luck in this endeavour. I hope it turns out well for him.

 

[nadogail]

For What My $0.02 will buy, I was given a tour of a nationally known convention center where I observed that the hand crank of a pretty wide roll up door had been replaced with a corded 1/2" drill motor.

When the Convention Center Manager was complimented on the ingenuity of his crews ad hoc solution to the laborious task of operating the heavy door; he said "you were not supposed to see that".

 

[rkevins]

always brake the hot wire

 

[Jim greengo]

You are going to push a 500 or 800 pound motorcycle up a ramp?

Which brings up another point,now that you mention 500-800lbs.
After having wandered through harbor freight on a couple of occasions looking at the quality of some of some of there cherry pickers and other welded tools,I'm not sure I'd trust a lawn mower on one of their lifts.
Let alone a motor cycle I was partial to.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Looking at building a homemade motorcycle lift.
Was looking as using a ac drill and a screw jack for lift amd lowering.
Why? Bc that system is both cheap(used corded drill) and self locking. Ive never had a car lower on a screw jack. But i want to run a remote switch on the table top. Any advice on wireing the setup. I know i need a AC on off on 6 prong switch but unsure how to wire it up.

Google has plenty of wiring diagrams so I won’t post them here. Btw, why not just use the switch that is in the drill already?

 

[Gurp]

Google has plenty of wiring diagrams so I won’t post them here. Btw, why not just use the switch that is in the drill already?

The reason for that is i want to not have to bend down to the motor to use the life. I was going to run the controls from a more convenient location.

Although random EBay looking and I saw a 12v motorized sissor jack for a RV that would be perfect for my idea