In ground lifts?

[Badasssapper67]

I've got a line on an in ground lift from an old service station. It is operated by an air compressor pressurizing the hydraulic oil.

The seller bought out the whole old service station and has been selling things off for a while. There were two lifts in the ground and he installed one in his shop and it works fine. He says he inspected the other one and the piston looks good and when he hooked it up to air it extended but there was no weight on it.

Anyone out there know the ins and outs of these old lifts? Are they reliable, are parts still available? What's a good price if it is in good shape?

What Im really worried about is safety. He says it has no locking lugs or safety stop so I'd have to put tall jack stands under it in case a seal blew out or what ever. Is the reason they quit making these because they were unsafe?

 

[Rogue1987]

Subscribed because I've got a friend with a few similar rotary brand lifts and I'm looking for information.

Ive been told these are damn reliable and simple to work on if they need anything. A shop I go to occasionally for inspections has two lifts like that that have been in daily service since the 60's and they work great.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The housings corrode thru and the hydraulic fluid leaks out into the earth and you have an EPA remediation problem.

In THIS THREAD the OP shows how he restored an old '30's inground Rotary lift. Its a huge thread and very quickly looking I found some of the lift restore at about post #181. I'll let you go thru the thread and find it all, I'm too lazy this morning.

Charles

 

[575cat]

Leaker,s

 

[tgj7]

Why do you want an old inground lift? To save money or it would just be cool?

If it's to save money, I don't think it will work out. Labor involved in removal, restoring, and installation will be far more then a new 2 or 4 post lift. As well as the safety concern. (If you buy one, buy American.)

No doubt, an old in ground lift is very cool, just not practical. (I have my share of cool/impractical stuff that I would not part with.)

Charles has a point, unless it's restored, it could leak, and no ones wants that. Also that was a good link.

Now if you do restore it, post some pictures.

 

[walrus]

I've got a line on an in ground lift from an old service station. It is operated by an air compressor pressurizing the hydraulic oil.

The seller bought out the whole old service station and has been selling things off for a while. There were two lifts in the ground and he installed one in his shop and it works fine. He says he inspected the other one and the piston looks good and when he hooked it up to air it extended but there was no weight on it.

Anyone out there know the ins and outs of these old lifts? Are they reliable, are parts still available? What's a good price if it is in good shape?

What Im really worried about is safety. He says it has no locking lugs or safety stop so I'd have to put tall jack stands under it in case a seal blew out or what ever. Is the reason they quit making these because they were unsafe?

Depends on what kind of lift. Rotary, weaver, globe, Wayne etc. Parts are available for some. Casing rusting out biggest issue. Speedy dry around cylinder will scratch post and make it so even new seals don't seal. They are safe, used for years but like everything else it's up to the operator.

 

[bobmulry]

Hi,

I don't know if you have worked under a single post in ground lift??????

I have and they are a pain in the ****.....

Anything in the middle of the vehicle such as exhaust system, transfer case, transmission is blocked and has to be worked around...

The dealership that I worked in removed all of the single post in ground lifts (they kept the twin posts) and replaced them with above ground twin post lifts.

At first they installed some with the tread plate between the posts, but the techs hated them because the transmission jacks and any roll item get hung up on the tread plate, We ended up with mostly open floor above ground twin post racks.

Just my thoughts,
Bob


PS:

If you use an in ground lift make sure that you place a stand under it while the vehicle is in the air.....

 

[lostmind]

Would you buy a rotary land line phone because it's cheap or neat?
Same difference. They replaced them with a better design for a reason.
Only thing they are good for is oil change and tire / brake work.
You can do that with a scissor lift a lot cheaper and safer.

 

[Badasssapper67]

My "shop" has to serve a lot of different purposes. Having above ground posts would seriously limit what needs to be worked on.
I have looked at twin in ground lifts in those fiberglass cartridges but they are seriously expensive. Yes they would be best, yes you get what you pay for, if you think I should go with the really expensive in ground dual post lifts, I'll take donations.
With the old lift, I was thinking I could get/make lift pads to access the underside of the car/truck. I do have a 4x4 but don't expect to be working on it's transfer case on a regular basis. I do have a 99 Mustang Cobra that I want to put headers on and rebuild the IRS and put on a tubular k member but those things seem like I could get to them, but wasn't sure.
I should have said, it's not for a commercial business, I'm a hobbiest.
The lift is a weaver it's 3 ton and he wants $600 for the whole set up. After thinking about the replies Im wondering if I shouldn't just save up for one of those movable one post lifts or make something out of an old forklift boom.

 

[c39er]

I have an in ground and it's my favorite lift to use for all suspension work. I have a couple other new lifts too.
Yes... the casings can leak.

A friend had some land work done. A hydraulic line broke on a big D9 dozer... quite a mess.
I think it all got covered up with excess dirt.

 

[tgj7]

If space is a big concern, Google Maxjax.

@Lostmind, I would, but only because I also have a cell phone .

 

[jgorm]

2 post overhead > 2 post with the ground bar > 4 post > scissor lift > in ground single post. I wouldn't take an in ground single post even if it was free. If it came with a free install, I would consider it, but I'd still have to buy a 2 post.

 

[sberry]

Not for me, not for free.

 

[wssix99]

I have looked at twin in ground lifts in those fiberglass cartridges but they are seriously expensive.

If this is a concern for you, then the environmental liability related to the old style lift should be also. You could loose more money (on your property value) the minute the old lift touches your dirt than the new, environmentally friendly lifts, would cost you.

I understand many municipalities do not delineate between the old style in-ground lifts and any other in-ground petroleum tank. (That is the case in my area and I would expect Oregon would have similar leanings.)

 

[dave*99]

I used an old single post in ground lift when I worked at a service station 30 some years ago. They also had a 2 post in ground lift for transmission work. One post under the rear axle and one under the front.
No thanks. As sberry said: Not for me. Not for free.

 

[Cyberbear]

I opted for a single in-ground lift that was only six months old when I bought it used back in 1995.. The lift company installed it and the total cost was $1.000.00 for everything. I had mine put in so it would just lower down below the shop floor level and had diamond plate doors that hid it from sight when not in use. The best part for me was having an uncluttered floor when I was not doing any lift work.

 

[Cyberbear]

Forgot to mention that my unit came with a fiberglass shell to prevent leakage and pole rusting. I also welded several 55 gallon drums end to end and created a metal sleeve that I coated with roofers hot mop tar to also prevent rust damage, that the lift slid into and sat on the underground concrete base.