Lift modifications Thread- Lets see them!

[Ign]

Found here

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363448

Used this again recently on my new little 5x8' and a 16' car hauler (the latter shown):

 

[audioworks04]

Just thinking how great it would be to be able to lift my 4 wheelers and motorcycle with my 2 post lift. Has any one modified theirs to accomadate those types of vehicles?

Started as a $100 striped camper frame with a good axle and straight frame. Added some floor braving,decked it and added lift arm specific spots on the frame to allow keeping the tires on. When I need use the lift I I lower the trailer, hook up to it with the truck or tractor and move it over a bay and do what I need on the lift.





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[WaterBoyz]

This isn't a good pic but, here is my hose reel, trouble light and pull down ext cord that I added.

You do know they make bigger computer monitors now right??

Nice touch the nightstand lamp.

 

[86turbodsl]

At my previous house I converted my 2 post hoist into a motorcycle lift.

This is a great idea. I'm tempted to try it myself.

 

[MrSurly]

That is a sweet setup!


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[flyt100]

I added a second button in series for safety. Now both buttons need to be pressed to operate. I had a button stick once, and this will prevent that exciting experience from happening again...

 

[mmb617]

I wanted to make an adapter for my 2 post that could raise motorcycles. I looked on youtube and stole another guys basic design. What I made isn't pretty as it's made from scraps I had around but it works great and is plenty strong.

It works well with my Sportster as well as with my son's Gunner.

It's very compact and easy to store.

 

[MrSurly]

I wanted to make an adapter for my 2 post that could raise motorcycles.

I like it! Tell me about the tubular bits. are there pins or bolts dropped into the holes to index with the arms?

My own version of HD adapter for only one arm

 

[MotoCARR]

Any of you MaxJax guys modify these pin handles? My doors keep hitting the "T" part and makes it a super tight squeeze to get in/out of the vehicle.

 

[LX-Markham]

I added a second button in series for safety. Now both buttons need to be pressed to operate.

At least you didn't put the buttons at opposite corners

 

[WaterBoyz]

I added a second button in series for safety. Now both buttons need to be pressed to operate. I had a button stick once, and this will prevent that exciting experience from happening again...

I've heard of that.

Seen some people install a panic shut off button. And some of those use that button to keep their grandkids or tourist from operating the lift.

 

[WaterBoyz]

I added a second button in series for safety. Now both buttons need to be pressed to operate. I had a button stick once, and this will prevent that exciting experience from happening again...

I've heard of that.

Seen some people install a panic shut off button. And some of those use that button to keep their grandkids or tourist from operating the lift.

Where did you get the matching buttons?

 

[WaterBoyz]

I added a second button in series for safety. Now both buttons need to be pressed to operate. I had a button stick once, and this will prevent that exciting experience from happening again...

I've heard of that.

Seen some people install a panic shut off button. And some of those use that button to keep their grandkids or tourist from operating the lift.

Where did you get the matching buttons?

 

[mmb617]

I like it! Tell me about the tubular bits. are there pins or bolts dropped into the holes to index with the arms?

That's the bottom view and those pieces of pipe fit pretty snuggly into the holes on the ends of the lift arms to ensure the adapter can't slide off the lift arms.

I've seen some variations of this adapter where bolts are used to secure it to the arms but I didn't think that was necessary as there is no way it's going anywhere with those pins in the holes and the weight of the bike pushing down on them.

The round stock that spans the two ends is just the right size for the hooks of a ratchet strap as extra insurance the bike doesn't tip over although it's pretty stable even without that.

 

[flyt100]

I've heard of that.

Seen some people install a panic shut off button. And some of those use that button to keep their grandkids or tourist from operating the lift.

Where did you get the matching buttons?

When the button got stuck originally, DirectLift sent out a new switch/button. I examined the old one and found how it got hung up and by bending some of the metal/adding a washer for a spacer, etc. I got it to where I didn't think it would hang up again. I re-used it as the 2nd button. I just drilled a hole in a knockout to fit it, and I can reach both no problem with one hand.

 

[WaterBoyz]

When the button got stuck originally, DirectLift sent out a new switch/button. I examined the old one and found how it got hung up and by bending some of the metal/adding a washer for a spacer, etc. I got it to where I didn't think it would hang up again. I re-used it as the 2nd button. I just drilled a hole in a knockout to fit it, and I can reach both no problem with one hand.

 

[Richard D]

If the debate whether it was safe to store a car on a 2 post was settled and decided to be safe by all, I would say this is the design that I would want. I would just add casters to roll the sled wherever I wanted.

I haven't read all 12 pages yet so someone may have the same idea, but how about hangin it from the ceiling ove the lift when not in use?

 

[lakeroadster]

I added a second button in series for safety. Now both buttons need to be pressed to operate. I had a button stick once, and this will prevent that exciting experience from happening again...

The issue is those momentary buttons are pretty much junk. Adding another junk button is an interesting approach.

Adding a kill switch is a better approach.... something obvious.

 

[kbuhagiar]

The issue is those momentary buttons are pretty much junk. Adding another junk button is an interesting approach.

Adding a kill switch is a better approach.... something obvious.

That's what I did on my DirectLift.

Added bonus is the lockout feature.

 

[WaterBoyz]

That's what I did on my DirectLift.

Added bonus is the lockout feature.

 

[swissguy]

To lift you need to push 2 buttons on mine. To lower you need to push 2 buttons plus the security handle. Cant lower the thing with one hand only.

 

[Oldbear]

Mine also requires two buttons to lift and one plus the lever to lower. The one button energizes the lockout solenoid. So it won't move up or down without.

 

[aarcuda]

Ok! Looks like we have emergency switches covered, emergency shut off switches covered, Dual activating switches covered and Dual lowering switches covered.

Now lets move on to OTHER lift mods!!

I put up three centering aids- a mirror on the front wall to let me see the tire and the lift arms on the drivers side, a hanging stuffed duck to show me the center of the lift and a spray painted outline on the floor where my front tire needs to be.

 

[MrSurly]

Ok! Looks like we have emergency switches covered, emergency shut off switches covered, Dual activating switches covered and Dual lowering switches covered.
Now lets move on to OTHER lift mods!!

Hear, hear!

a hanging stuffed duck to show me the center of the lift and a spray painted outline on the floor where my front tire needs to be.

Reminded me of this device:

Parking stop mat

 

[MrSurly]

I welded a bolt to my lift to mount my air line. Does this make me die?

 

[fnieto]

I had shared this back in 2014 when I first put the lift in service. I believe it to be a good improvement to any floating reservoir. I also built some frame cradles for lifting truck.

Made from one piece of 1/8" scrap. The gussets where added mainly for looks.

The self tapping #12 screws for mounting where laid out to prevent any contact with the inner moving parts.

The frame saddles where made from 3/8" CR and bent on the iron worker.
The pins where also turned from CR.

The shoulder on the pins provided a nice area for a single pass fillet at 250 amps.

A piece of rubber was glued in the base of the saddles.

 

[MrSurly]

^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^

is why I don't show y'all my junky stuff, here

 

[WaterBoyz]

I had shared this back in 2014 when I first put the lift in service. I believe it to be a good improvement to any floating reservoir. I also built some frame cradles for lifting truck.

Made from one piece of 1/8" scrap. The gussets where added mainly for looks.

I'm looking at the first pic and said to my self.......
"That is one HUGE bracket. How could that even be used on a lift??"

 

[WaterBoyz]

^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^

is why I don't show y'all my junky stuff, here

Yeay.......way tooo neat.

 

[lakeroadster]

I had shared this back in 2014 when I first put the lift in service. I believe it to be a good improvement to any floating reservoir. I also built some frame cradles for lifting truck.

Made from one piece of 1/8" scrap. The gussets where added mainly for looks.

I like it.. but why not run the steel all the way up to protect the reservoir? I hate the plastic reservoirs... imagine banging into it and dumping gallons of fluid on the slab

FWIW... Here' what I did.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I'm looking at the first pic and said to my self.......
"That is one HUGE bracket. How could that even be used on a lift??"

Post of the day Laughing so hard my eyes watered..

 

[fnieto]

I like it.. but why not run the steel all the way up to protect the reservoir? I hate the plastic reservoirs... imagine banging into it and dumping gallons of fluid on the slab

FWIW... Here' what I did.

The bottom of the reservoir no longer floats and is supported snugly by the added bracket. No need to encapsulate the entire reservoir.

 

[zollster]

Yup, for sure MrSurly, according to the "experts" by welding to your post it will fold, collapse, and you will die! Lol Lol Lol !

 

[Rod N]

Not a mod really, but I've used this method to get my engine in and out of my bed a couple of times.

 

[WaterBoyz]

Not a mod really, but I've used this method to get my engine in and out of my bed a couple of times.

I read your comment but didn't see your pic..........my mind went somewhere that my mother would have disapproved of

 

[TheShrine]

Dang...this is an old thread....but I don't come here much anymore.
This is what I did to my 9K.

 

[MWitte]

I added LED lights to the inboard lip of the runways on my four post lift. I found a set of strips that were meant to be used in vending machines. They each have three four foot lengths with magnets on them. I put them in some over sized white vinyl siding J channel and hot glued clear acrylic strips over them to keep most of the mess out of them. They sit on the inboard lip of the runways, out of the way of the bridge jacks. The magnets make them easily movable if they are ever in the way. I also made up a bracket with a light switch that fits between the pump assembly and it's mounting point. No drilling or welding on the lift was required.

 

[ndm]

Dang...this is an old thread....

You hurt my threads feeling! Lol.....

Bumping it up to the top.

 

[kabinenroller]

I use my four post lift to lift my project car body so it can be mounted or removed from my rotisserie. I raise the lift then position the car under the lift, then I lower the lift so it just clears the roof on the car. I then use chain to connect the lift cross bars to the rotisserie mounts and raise the car to the correct hight. Then install the rotisserie, I can do the whole operation by my self with no heavy lifting and no damage to my project car.

 

[Oldbear]

On my Bradbury Wheel Free 4 Post, the ramps are to be bolted to the floor and are separate from the smaller ramps that fill the gap and act as wheel stops when it is up in the air. I can't safely drill holes because I have in-slab heat and I don't want the ramps to be in the way when the lift is up.

So I welded hinges (because that's what I had on hand) between the gap. I plan on picking up some actual weldable hinges later. This allows the ramps to act as one piece but still fold up and out of the way when the lift is up.

I also didn't want the metal scraping my concrete or wearing thin - so I used some scrap puck board I had around (I copied what we have on our Rotary Lift at work. Cut and dado bladed it to fit over the leading edge. Counter-sunk machine screws to hold it on. If it shifts I'll epoxy it too.

So far I'm happy with the mods.