Lift service

[MackMan]

Well I got a response from Eagle regarding the issue I had with my safety catch, and that looks like a simple fix. I also asked about getting my lift checked out since it's about 5 years old, and I don't have any history on it. One of their installers quoted me $190 to check it and make any adjustments needed.

So here's my connundrum

A) I like having a professional check it out and tune it up to make sure everything is 100%. I did just sell an air compressor and have some "extra" cash right now.

But B) $190 is still a stretch for me, and the lift goes up and down fine, everything seems to work OK other than that safety catch that should be a 5 min fix.

Is there anything a "pro" is going to do to a functioning lift that's worth $190? I was hoping for a service call at <$100 but I guess that's a little optimistic. Other than lubricating the moving points, adjusting tension in cables and making sure the anchors are correctly torqued is there anything that really needs to be "serviced" on a working lift?

Thanks!

 

[pattenp]

To me it just common sense things you need to check. Worn parts such as cables, glide pads, pulleys, leaking fluid seals, bolt/fasteners for tightness, and so on. If you think you know what to check, save your $190.

 

[MackMan]

To me it just common sense things you need to check. Worn parts such as cables, glide pads, pulleys, leaking fluid seals, bolt/fasteners for tightness, and so on. If you think you know what to check, save your $190.

That's about what I was thinking. I've got enough other things that I know I need to work on. I'm just a little extra cautious with the lift since it's kind of a major safety item.. but it's also a reasonably simple system.

One question for those "in the know", when I lower the lift the off-side makes some groaning noises (it has the hydraulic ram on both sides). Is this normal, or would that indicate needing to be bled or something?

 

[alberto]

My view on this is assuming this guy really know what he's doing, isn't your safety/peace of mind worth having a professional take a look at it? One comment though, $190 seems a lot for maybe what, 2 hours worth of work?

 

[MackMan]

My view on this is assuming this guy really know what he's doing, isn't your safety/peace of mind worth having a professional take a look at it? One comment though, $190 seems a lot for maybe what, 2 hours worth of work?

1hr, plus travel time.

And that's exactly what I was thinking on both counts. I did use a lift at work on a daily basis about 10 years ago, but didn't have to maintain them.

If it was under $100 I'd do it in a heartbeat, but at almost $200 it's easier to figure out on my own.

 

[pattenp]

My lift groans sometimes on the way down but it seem more related to how cold it is. As part of my spring cleaning, I wipe clean and put new grease on the columns where the carriages run.

 

[Kennybill]

Knowing the history makes a difference also. I've had my lift 6 years. Maybe 40/50 times used. Some just high enough to do a brake/rotate wheels. But a commercial lift could be used that much in a week. Use would determine professional inspection vs my own judgment. Ken

 

[6768rogues]

I don't think the price is too high for a trained person who knows what he is doing. After all, they have a truck, wages, insurance, Obamacare..........

 

[MackMan]

I don't think the price is too high for a trained person who knows what he is doing. After all, they have a truck, wages, insurance, Obamacare..........

Not arguing that it's out of line for a professional service... just out of line with what I (and my budget) were hoping for.

 

[Aahz]

I have plenty of customers that complain about the cost of lift inspections. (Believe it or not, OSHA requires lifts to be inspected on an annual basis by a qualified lift inspector.) My usual response is, "Feel free to bring the lift into the shop and I'll inspect it for free!"

We folks in the lift business are not trying to rip people off, but it does cost money to send a truck and employee out to do an inspection. A "qualified" lift inspection is a document that is anywhere from 10-14 pages long and must be completely filled out an signed by the "responsible party" or owner of the equipment. It doesn't just involve the lift, it also involves any accessories, the floor inspection, the bay inspection and the maintenance journal inspection. (If you have an ALI/ETL Certified lift, it came with an owner's manual that includes a journal of maintenance so that if there ever is an accident, the owner is protected).

Unfortunately, liability in our business is very close to being similar to the liability in the elevator business. (If an elevator car falls with you inside you're just as dead as having an elevated car fall and crush you underneath). We cannot make a distinction between a homeowner and a professional auto garage when it comes to safety. I don't care if you use the lift once a week or 10 times a day, I wouldn't put my company's reputation and liability on the line without doing the inspection correctly and unfortunately, that cost money.

Inspections actually cost us more money than we make, most of the time. I would prefer to have my service techs out fixing someone's lift, selling parts, etc. than doing the inspections. Don't get me wrong, the inspections eventually lead to additional business, but the time spent doing them initially is a wash at best.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm ragging, but I just had this conversation 2 or 3 times today before I read the post and sometimes, I just gotta' let it out....

 

[MackMan]

I have plenty of customers that complain about the cost of lift inspections. (Believe it or not, OSHA requires lifts to be inspected on an annual basis by a qualified lift inspector.) My usual response is, "Feel free to bring the lift into the shop and I'll inspect it for free!"

We folks in the lift business are not trying to rip people off, but it does cost money to send a truck and employee out to do an inspection. A "qualified" lift inspection is a document that is anywhere from 10-14 pages long and must be completely filled out an signed by the "responsible party" or owner of the equipment. It doesn't just involve the lift, it also involves any accessories, the floor inspection, the bay inspection and the maintenance journal inspection. (If you have an ALI/ETL Certified lift, it came with an owner's manual that includes a journal of maintenance so that if there ever is an accident, the owner is protected).

Unfortunately, liability in our business is very close to being similar to the liability in the elevator business. (If an elevator car falls with you inside you're just as dead as having an elevated car fall and crush you underneath). We cannot make a distinction between a homeowner and a professional auto garage when it comes to safety. I don't care if you use the lift once a week or 10 times a day, I wouldn't put my company's reputation and liability on the line without doing the inspection correctly and unfortunately, that cost money.

Inspections actually cost us more money than we make, most of the time. I would prefer to have my service techs out fixing someone's lift, selling parts, etc. than doing the inspections. Don't get me wrong, the inspections eventually lead to additional business, but the time spent doing them initially is a wash at best.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm ragging, but I just had this conversation 2 or 3 times today before I read the post and sometimes, I just gotta' let it out....

Well you're right the legal aspect of this hadn't occurred to me, though usually that would have. I expect there is some liability with signing off on a lift and installation.

Thanks for the thoughtful response, though like I said my problem wasn't with thinking the cost was unreasonable, just that it's higher than what I was hoping.