In ground lift identification

[uscarry45]

I need you assistance in identifying an in floor lift. I beleive it to to be 30 plus years old

I would like to find:

What brand / manufacturer

Lifting capacity

What maintenance needs to be done

Where can i get parts

 

[CraigStu]

I can't help but do have a caution. Don't ask anyone local. Most of these old lifts leak oil. If your is leaking and the local authorities find out about you will be in a world of hurt. 35 yrs ago I was service manager at a dealer that had that problem. Dang glad it wasn't my money. Imagine a work bay in a 6 bay building that needed to remove the lift and all the contaminated soil. Cutting out a 6' wide by 8' long hole in the concrete was just the start. The surprising problem was that the noise from some parts of the operation made it impossible for the techs to work in the other bays. The lift equipment extended maybe 7 ft below floor level and the dirty dirt went down another 4 ft.

 

[uscarry45]

Thanks for the advice. I would still like to find out more about my lift. Someone out their mist recognize this one. It came out of oregon and was removed from a gas station or dealership.

 

[Wrench97]

Start here > https://www.autolift.org/?post_type...9014&search_radius=50&autoset=0&submit=Search

ALI has been around since the 1940's

 

[mikegt4]

Can't help with the lift ID but I sure recognize the air valve, operated one of those thousands of times while working part time at a gas station back in the late 60's.

Like the other responders I have to caution you about the liabilities of installing and using that type of lift, you will have a big target on your back. They have pretty much been outlawed or regulated to the point that even if you got it for free it would still be cheaper to get a modern 2 or 4 post lift.

 

[nadogail]

I recall seeing those air valves in Servive Stations during the 1940's. IMHO, you are holding a Tiger by it's tail.

Again in my admittedly non professional opinion the least expensive option you will have is to make that lift disappear with no trace it was ever there.

I guarantee that my advice is worth exactly what you are paying me for it.

 

[BillK]

Does it work ? If so put it up in the air and see if there is any markings around the top of the cylinder where it attaches to the top plate.

That almost looks like one of the newer type sealed units. I cant say I have ever seen an in ground with different length arms like that either. Like an asymmetrical design. Another reason to think it is newer.

You have to remember that those type of lifts started going away over 30 years ago so there probably are not many people familiar with them.

 

[marinusdees]

I have and use an inground lift, in my hobby shop, bought used, installed by me. 33 years ago. I've heard it is possible to fill these with a non-polluting oil (vegetable oil??). There should be a pipe plug in the top of the ram. Removing the plug allows the oil to be dipsticked, and pumped out. I hope mine will be the next guys problem. Given the layers of hardpan where I live, I think removal is do-able.
PS I'm 83, close to the end!
I recently replaced the control valve, available on Amazon and not specific to the make of hoist. Some of these had heads that were interchangeable between makes, e.g., mine is a Rotary ram, a Globe head.
And, no, mine is not presently leaking.

 

[uscarry45]

I’ll have to look into the vegetable idea. I know they make hydraulic oil to be used in food processing plant equipment.

I know some lifts were installed with “sleeve” around them to prevent ground contamination

I am still looking to identify the manufacturer- somebody surely has the same lift out there

 

[LS6 Tommy]

...I sure recognize the air valve, operated one of those thousands of times while working part time at a gas station back in the late 60's.

Like the other responders I have to caution you about the liabilities of installing and using that type of lift, you will have a big target on your back. They have pretty much been outlawed or regulated to the point that even if you got it for free it would still be cheaper to get a modern 2 or 4 post lift.

Me, too, but it was in the early 80's. I think I had a permanent greasy mark on the toe of my shoe from kicking in the safety catch before having the lift go down.

NOBODY wants to have to deal with those anymore. My friend has trhee in his station that he's going to get rid of soon. He's lucky, none of his leak.

Tommy

 

[txvwnut]

Could be a Globe or Rotary, many of those old single posts makers are gone and there's not a lot of info on the web about them.

 

[Steeg]

Thanks for the advice. I would still like to find out more about my lift. Someone out their mist recognize this one. It came out of oregon and was removed from a gas station or dealership.

I own a inground lift myself. In the past in my first home I installed one. In 1999. As far as I know it's still in there .they are not using it..it's dormant..it was built in 1996 and has fiblglass coated on the outside case..self contained. My second lift is older..a 1983 Rotary single post lift.. I requed it ,from an old closed up service station..it sat dormant for around 30 yrs this owner was in his 90 s he told me.. I tested it before it was pulled out.. with a portable air compressor..it worked and held air..over night..they dug it out and gave it to me..I restored it to almost new before I reinstalled it used truck bed liner on the case so it doesn't rust..these are photos of it.. model # FP 46H MK5.. I have many uses for it..a work table and a buffet table for lg gatherings..

 

[Steeg]

I need you assistance in identifying an in floor lift. I beleive it to to be 30 plus years old

I would like to find:

What brand / manufacturer

Lifting capacity

What maintenance needs to be done

Where can i get parts

Looks like a western lift..

 

[Steeg]

Looks like a western lift..

You can get parts from SVI Corp in Dekalb,IL. They make replacement parts and piston seals..call them ..if u have the plate information to give them..

 

[Steeg]

I own a inground lift myself. In the past in my first home I installed one. In 1999. As far as I know it's still in there .they are not using it..it's dormant..it was built in 1996 and has fiblglass coated on the outside case..self contained. My second lift is older..a 1983 Rotary single post lift.. I requed it ,from an old closed up service station..it sat dormant for around 30 yrs this owner was in his 90 s he told me.. I tested it before it was pulled out.. with a portable air compressor..it worked and held air..over night..they dug it out and gave it to me..I restored it to almost new before I reinstalled it used truck bed liner on the case so it doesn't rust..these are photos of it.. model # FP 46H MK5.. I have many uses for it..a work table and a buffet table for lg gatherings..

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

Could be a Globe or Rotary, many of those old single posts makers are gone and there's not a lot of info on the web about them.

A shop I used to work at has two in ground lifts and are still in use. They are Ford-Smith lifts and look very similar to the OP's but the flip up legs/stands are slightly different.

 

[rockbaron1]

I use an in ground lift at work that’s filled with vegetable oil. Our building was the first car dealer in Monmouth county NJ and came with 2 in ground lifts when my boss moved in. He removed one lift and rebuilt the other one before I started working there so I don’t know any details other then it is possible.

 

[Steeg]

A shop I used to work at has two in ground lifts and are still in use. They are Ford-Smith lifts and look very similar to the OP's but the flip up legs/stands are slightly different.

Hi Ford smith and globe are same company..same parts..there's a company in Dekalb,IL that makes parts for all lift companys ..called SVI Corp..u can look them up on line or call them..I just bought a piston seal from them for my inground Rotary lift..and a new oil valve..I think inground lifts are much more reliable in value..if there installed right ..and good ground conditions..when I installed mine I made Shure to brush on truck bed liner..on outer casing..before we put back in the ground..and my oil tank is now above ground as well cleaned up sandblasted and painted. New oil line..as well ..as well as I did brush truck bed liner on pipe..no rust out .I'm in Florida..so we hand dug out the sand 8ft 3 in . The none roter pipe housing I sand blasted as well painted ,truck bed liner as well ..a 3 mounth project..but worth it in gold..now..wife happy there no above ground posts in garage....a clean open floor look.. again SVI Corp still builds Globe ingrounds ..and bought out all parts from lift company s..so they build parts for all lifts out there ..keep your old super stuckor..top. for any lift .they ,ll build u a new piston case to mach up your bolt patterns..that will save u 3 thousand bucks..if u choose to go new ..

 

[Garcky]

I started out working under that type of lift. They're wonderful, really. Relatively silent, which is a big benefit, and smooth in their action. Today's lifts are very noisy.

The other type I remember were the two post hydraulic lifts. One post was stationary, but the second one could be shifted back and forth. There was a pair of low places for the rear tires. Then, you'd use a lever to move the front post back and forth until it was positioned under the front lifting points of the vehicle.

The two-posters gave you access to the drive line and engine oil pan. They could be a PITA, but were very useful.

In many ways, the old lifts actually made life easer for the mechanic. Best of all, though, was how quiet they were. No safety stops clacking into place loudly.

Later, in the fleet shop where I worked, we had an early two-post electrical lift that used drive screws and nuts to raise the car. Those couldn't go down unless the drive screws were turning, so the safety was automatic. They did require more servicing, though, and changing the drive nuts when they were worn was a major pain in the ****.

 

[Steeg]

I started out working under that type of lift. They're wonderful, really. Relatively silent, which is a big benefit, and smooth in their action. Today's lifts are very noisy.

The other type I remember were the two post hydraulic lifts. One post was stationary, but the second one could be shifted back and forth. There was a pair of low places for the rear tires. Then, you'd use a lever to move the front post back and forth until it was positioned under the front lifting points of the vehicle.

The two-posters gave you access to the drive line and engine oil pan. They could be a PITA, but were very useful.

In many ways, the old lifts actually made life easer for the mechanic. Best of all, though, was how quiet they were. No safety stops clacking into place loudly.

Later, in the fleet shop where I worked, we had an early two-post electrical lift that used drive screws and nuts to raise the car. Those couldn't go down unless the drive screws were turning, so the safety was automatic. They did require more servicing, though, and changing the drive nuts when they were worn was a major pain in the ****.

Hi ..my dad owned 5 ingrounds back in day 1 double post a Rotary..1990 model 4 single 3 of them fram concate...last one a drive on..all GLOBE s..from 1959 to the yr 2000 ..we never ever had one issue with inground s..they are vary reliable..if cared for..the only thing we did is change out piston seals every 15 yrs or.so. But il never own a above ground for those reasons..
I love my 40 yr old Rotary inground I restored..and just put in my home shop..

 

[Garcky]

Hi ..my dad owned 5 ingrounds back in day 1 double post a Rotary..1990 model 4 single 3 of them fram concate...last one a drive on..all GLOBE s..from 1959 to the yr 2000 ..we never ever had one issue with inground s..they are vary reliable..if cared for..the only thing we did is change out piston seals every 15 yrs or.so. But il never own a above ground for those reasons..
I love my 40 yr old Rotary inground I restored..and just put in my home shop..

In-ground hydraulic lifts fell out of favor some time ago. First, they were expensive to buy and install. Second, they were more or less permanent, so you couldn't move them if you wanted to rearrange your shop floor. Third, they required some maintenance, although really not that much. Finally, you needed a good shop compressor, but every shop had one, to run the pneumatic tools.

So, pretty much nobody installs new ones these days. They still have lots of things in their favor though, including the things I mentioned above. I like them. I've never owned one, though, but I did once dream of having one installed in my driveway, outdoors, for working on my own vehicles. Never did it, though, and I'm too damned old to consider it now.

 

[Steeg]

In-ground hydraulic lifts fell out of favor some time ago. First, they were expensive to buy and install. Second, they were more or less permanent, so you couldn't move them if you wanted to rearrange your shop floor. Third, they required some maintenance, although really not that much. Finally, you needed a good shop compressor, but every shop had one, to run the pneumatic tools.

So, pretty much nobody installs new ones these days. They still have lots of things in their favor though, including the things I mentioned above. I like them. I've never owned one, though, but I did once dream of having one installed in my driveway, outdoors, for working on my own vehicles. Never did it, though, and I'm too damned old to consider it now.

Mine is a 1983 Rotary model # FP 46 H mark 5

 

[Garcky]

Mine is a 1983 Rotary model # FP 46 H mark 5

Oh, nice!

 

[Skyman]

I recall those lifts very well. The gas station I was wrenching in back then had three single-post in-ground lifts, one of which had a dropped mid-section for access to driveline components. And the Ford dealer that I wrenched in had dozens, including a few of the two-post in-ground set-ups.

Yeah, they were quiet until you discharged the air to let them down. That was not a quiet activity.

 

[markrenner371]

nice ideas

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

I recall those lifts very well. The gas station I was wrenching in back then had three single-post in-ground lifts, one of which had a dropped mid-section for access to driveline components. And the Ford dealer that I wrenched in had dozens, including a few of the two-post in-ground set-ups.

Yeah, they were quiet until you discharged the air to let them down. That was not a quiet activity.

The ones I used had the exhaust plumbed outside.

 

[Skyman]

Ours at the gas station exhausted right by the control valves. Yeah, it was loud.

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

Ours at the gas station exhausted right by the control valves. Yeah, it was loud.

Yeah, it would be. That would drive me nuts.

 

[Skyman]

I was young then. Didn’t bother me. It would now.

 

[marinusdees]

I recall those lifts very well. The gas station I was wrenching in back then had three single-post in-ground lifts, one of which had a dropped mid-section for access to driveline components. And the Ford dealer that I wrenched in had dozens, including a few of the two-post in-ground set-ups.

Yeah, they were quiet until you discharged the air to let them down. That was not a quiet activity.

Well, you could put a muffler on the exhaust on the discharge pipe. Small engine mufflers helped, discharge into a 5 gallon bucket with the lid on helped, many more possibilities. A tin can full of cotton, I've used 'em all. I'd plumb it outside, but I used to work pretty late, liked my heighbors.

 

[Skyman]

They had a small muffler on them, but still were mighty loud.