Hi all from England

[GPW]

I've browsed this forum before, but recently I decided that my life would be more complete with a 4 post lift in it, so after browsing the threads about that here I though I'd join up.

So HI!!

I've three old cars to keep going, I've got most of the usual stuff like a MIG, compressor + nut guns, some nice spanners and roll cabs, but the last jack I bought was in 1984. After wasting half an hour trying to find some suitable oil to top it up with I decided that rather than buying a funky ali floor jack a decent lift was what would really make my life easier - because on a car all the stuff that needs fixing tends to be underneath.

My garage is big for the UK but small for the US at 6.5 x 8m with a double door, the lift will necessitate re-arranging the inside so the layout makes more sense for that, although I will be able to wheel it around so it's nice and flexible.

the lift will also help me install proper roof lighting too, because soon I'll be able to slid on a couple of 8' x 4' smartboards on top and use it as a builders platform too, so it's a win win.

My ultimate dream is to finsih enough stuff so I can tile the floor and plaster the walls - the nirvana of garagedom.

 

[drivesitfar]

GPW: i can't give you much advice about lifts, but i know about every other member here that is active owns one of them so if you can't find the information you are looking for here or GOOGLING just ask.

in the meantime lots of great people here and a ton of information so enjoy the place like i do.

cheers and welcome!!

 

[sawduststeve]

Hi GPW,

If you have the height for a lift I really think your life will be vastly improved with one, and the sooner the better.
I'll keep my eye out for updates.

Regards
Steve.

 

[GPW]

Thanks for the advice guys, I ended up with a 4 post lift - quite a common cheapy, the JH-4P3700

It tool a little fettling to get it working well - 5 straight days in fact! But it was cheap LOL.

I had to
1) File out a hole for the stop switch
2) Extend the arm of the stop switch (drilling out the roller and putting at the end of a bolt)
3) File out a post cap hole
4) Swap the long and short hoses as they'd put the short hose under the ramp
5) Alter the locking lever system to put the balljoints in the inside which tilts the locks toward the inside - which stops them getting stuck on the outer rail. Also needed to shave 25mm from the longitudinal locking rod and make spacers to keep it in place. This also clears the removable ramps much better too.
6) Change a few fasteners
7) Change the motor wire which was only 4" long
8) Re-add the motor switch so it needs a two button press to rise (my own requirement).
9) Buy 10 litres of 32 grade hydraulic fluid
10) Lube the locks and pulley bushes with ACF50
11) Some nuts only went on one way around and some bolts and nuts didn't like each other.

I estimate the peak pressure at full load (based on the cylinder diameter) is 1800psi so I've ordered a pressure gauge (1500psi) so I can monitor hydraulic pressure in use. It's cheap and I like dials.

So the lift now works well and no leaks so far, time to stick a car on it today for some exhaust work!. I have a jacking beam arriving in a week or two, but I'd also like to add a jacking tray but can't find any in the UK, I may just buy some angle iron and make one though, it's not rocket science .

Will try to post a pic at some stage.
Glad I went for a 4 poster as I'll need to wheel it around and it just seems a bit safer to me in the various possible failure modes.

I did have to re-org the entire garage to fit it in but it's a much better layout now, and allowed me to sort and clean a lot of stuff.

 

[GPW]

Managed to get a very nice jacking beam to go with the lift,
Most I found were either hugely expensive or didn't have any useful pads/arms on them, until I found a Peak/Atlas one that did.

No grease as standard so I used a bit of ACF50 to start and will grease it with molygrease at some stage.

Very nice though, fits the lift a treat and rolls along nicely. Needs quite a few pumps to raise it mind, but nothing's perfect

http://www.garageequipment.co.uk/Ga...6H-Peak-Jacking-Beam-22-Tons-Hand-Operated-fo