A local shop is selling their 10K Forward and 9K Rotary 2 post lifts. Both around 20 years old. Maintenance has been done on them and still in service; only problems were pumps, cylinders, hoses, and stuff like that. My question is does a lift have a service life? They lift autos all day, every day for over 20 years! If I bought one it would be like putting an old horse out to pasture as I wouldn't us it like they do!
Lift Service Life?
- Thread starter bfr57
- Start date
finn
Well-known member
Cables, sliders, shieves, bearings, hoses, motors, cylinders, and seals all wear with not only use, some age with time.
It’s probably not uncommon for some shops to replace such equipment when, or before, downtime affect productivity.
It’s probably not uncommon for some shops to replace such equipment when, or before, downtime affect productivity.
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
As long as they were maintained I'd have no problem using one in a home garage. Would probably takes years to equal just a week of shop use.
housewolf
Well-known member
I bought an old Ammco (Challenger) lift from a dealership when the company I was working for at the time was doing a renovation. These lifts were old. I installed it myself. Some of the slots for the locks had Issues so I repaired those. I probably cycle it once a week and I’m okay with it. In fact my car is on it now, I pulled the trans this morning.
Took this pic before they took them down. It’s sure not pretty but it suites my needs and I spent almost nothing on it. In fact I bought two and sold one for almost as much as I gave for both of them.
Took this pic before they took them down. It’s sure not pretty but it suites my needs and I spent almost nothing on it. In fact I bought two and sold one for almost as much as I gave for both of them.
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4yrs ago I was searching up used lifts. Most were dismantled and sitting outside. Hard to tell if its complete or even functional.... Most were priced higher than a new China lift too. I went with a China one delivered for inder $2k back then. Very happy with it and today the same lift is over $3k.
You have a service record, parts are available and if I could see it operate I would go for it, if the price is right.
You have a service record, parts are available and if I could see it operate I would go for it, if the price is right.
housewolf
Well-known member
That’s a very good point. I was there when these were taken down and loaded on my trailer so I knew they worked. It would be entirely different if they were sitting on a floor in a warehouse. I gave $800 for two of them. It worked better for the people selling them too though. They didn’t have to transport, unload, store, then load again for a future buyer. Only thing I kind of screwed myself on was I sold the one I had cherry picked for myself.
Thanks all. Yes, they are still using them. The 10k has a small leak that's a hose fitting; easy enough. This shop is moving into a brand new building and the owner wants no downtime moving equipment like this, so bought new and selling the old.