Learn me some Lift

[MackMan]

Some of you may have seen my recent thread on purchase of a garage. One of the things I am most excited about here is that the garage already has a 2-post Eagle lift. Per my research here Eagle is a respectable, though not "high-end", brand lift.

I have used lifts in the past but never owned one, and wanted to get some info on basic things I need to know. Immediately some questions that come to mind
1) since the lift is already in the building, how can I confirm that the concrete is adequate for this lift?

2) I haven't been able to get to the lift to see if there are any markings on it, how will I be able to tell what "model" lift it is? I will have this opportunity in the next 30 days to inspect before purchase but the garage as it sits now is stuffed with stuff. Looks like the smallest lift Eagle makes is 9k which should be OK for me, but would like to know.

3) What is there that I can inspect to make sure that the lift is functional and safe to use?

4) Assuming everything checks out fine and I move forward with purchase, what do I need to know for maintenance and general safe operation of the lift?

5) Yall with experience let me know what I forgot to ask that I should know.

Thanks!

 

[pattenp]

1 - Bore a test hole to check thickness, usually 4 inch min.
2 - There should be a manufacturer data label on the lift
3 - Check for hydraulic leaks at the piston rams and at connections. Check cable wear such as frayed or broken wire strands. Worn/loose cable pulleys. Worn slide blocks on carriage. Arm pivot pins are tight, no slop. Check that locks engage fully at different lift points.
4 - Keep slide blocks greased. Maintain anchor bolts tight to at least 80-90 ft lbs.

 

[MackMan]

Thanks, sounds pretty straightforward overall. The lift looks fairly new, so hopefully it all checks out.

 

[Aahz]

Mackman;

Eagle is pretty much just a marketing / distributor company these days. Years ago (10 +) they manufactured some lifts in Texas, I think. If it is newer than 10 years old, there's a good chance that it's a Chinese product similar to Atlas or Tuxedo.

The one thing Pattenp forgot to mention is to look for signs of cracking around the anchors.

 

[Karl_B]

If you poke around, you might find the a test hole already. Another easy check is to see if the safety locks and cut off switch at the top are intact. If someone disabled those, there's no telling what other safety precautions they ignored.

 

[MackMan]

If you poke around, you might find the a test hole already. Another easy check is to see if the safety locks and cut off switch at the top are intact. If someone disabled those, there's no telling what other safety precautions they ignored.

Yes I thought there may be a hole already which would be handy.

How would I check the safety locks and cutoff switch you mention?

 

[sberry]

I really doubt a lift in a small garage has any wear on it. I would check the bolts in the base for snug, load it evenly.