Hi,
This is my first post.
I looked at this forum when I did a search for tips or help on installing my new Max Jax
The anchors they gave me continued to spin and I knew that was not correct
It seems most older garage floors in SoCal are not even 3.5"
The anchors will not work if you drill through to the sand or gravel so I took a little bit of advice from different places and did it the right way
I used a diamond concrete blade on my skill saw and cut an 18" square hole. Rented an electric small jack hammer and broke out the concrete, pretty easy.
Then dug the dirt out to 20" depth and enlarged the bottom sides out to 24 " to create a mushroom shape when the concrete was poured
Next went to Lowes and bought 12" J bolt anchors with 5/8"-11 threaded ends and 2" flat washers. Then got 2"x 5/8"-11 threaded couplers. With the Max Jax you need a female thread in the floor
Assemble the bolt anchor with one washer at the bottom by the J.
Thread the nut that comes with the J and thread it down to where it will be about 1"into the coupler, place a washer on top of the nut and thread the coupler down to the nut and tighten the coupler down on top of the nut and washer
Make 10 of these, they are cheap.
Now go to your floor layout with the 18" hole and lay a 24"square 1/4" piece of masonite
And measure evenly around the hole and draw a pencil line around the 24"piece
Next draw a 18" square centered on the board and place your Max Jax centered in the square and mark the 5 hole locations. Drill 5/8"holes in the Masonite. Repeat for other side
Using the 5/8"bolts supplied with your Jax, bolt the assembled J bollt anchors to the masonite
So all five are hanging off the bottom of it
Place some rebar wire in the bottom of the hole and again in two more levels when you are pouring the concrete mix making sure the mesh is not in the way of the
J bolts when you insert them into the concrete.
Mix concrete about 20 bags, do the math!!! Or go get 1/3rd yd. of ready mix
Once filled to almost the top take the masonite withe bolts hanging down and moveng back and forth about an inch while pushing down untill the masonite is flat on the floor around the hole and line up your 24" pencil line
Wait two days and unbolt the board and remove it.tape the female threaded couplers to keep the threads clean. The concrete will be about a 1/2" below the surface. get a small bag of sand mix and finish troweling the cement smooth. Before cement hardens remove the tape and replace bolts. I found some little plastic push in caps at McMaster Carr that I use to plug the holes when not in use..
Hope this helps. One thing is for sure you will never have to think about the lift coming down on you while working under it. The money was well worth the peace of mind.
Total cost under $250 including jack hammer rental
This is my first post.
I looked at this forum when I did a search for tips or help on installing my new Max Jax
The anchors they gave me continued to spin and I knew that was not correct
It seems most older garage floors in SoCal are not even 3.5"
The anchors will not work if you drill through to the sand or gravel so I took a little bit of advice from different places and did it the right way
I used a diamond concrete blade on my skill saw and cut an 18" square hole. Rented an electric small jack hammer and broke out the concrete, pretty easy.
Then dug the dirt out to 20" depth and enlarged the bottom sides out to 24 " to create a mushroom shape when the concrete was poured
Next went to Lowes and bought 12" J bolt anchors with 5/8"-11 threaded ends and 2" flat washers. Then got 2"x 5/8"-11 threaded couplers. With the Max Jax you need a female thread in the floor
Assemble the bolt anchor with one washer at the bottom by the J.
Thread the nut that comes with the J and thread it down to where it will be about 1"into the coupler, place a washer on top of the nut and thread the coupler down to the nut and tighten the coupler down on top of the nut and washer
Make 10 of these, they are cheap.
Now go to your floor layout with the 18" hole and lay a 24"square 1/4" piece of masonite
And measure evenly around the hole and draw a pencil line around the 24"piece
Next draw a 18" square centered on the board and place your Max Jax centered in the square and mark the 5 hole locations. Drill 5/8"holes in the Masonite. Repeat for other side
Using the 5/8"bolts supplied with your Jax, bolt the assembled J bollt anchors to the masonite
So all five are hanging off the bottom of it
Place some rebar wire in the bottom of the hole and again in two more levels when you are pouring the concrete mix making sure the mesh is not in the way of the
J bolts when you insert them into the concrete.
Mix concrete about 20 bags, do the math!!! Or go get 1/3rd yd. of ready mix
Once filled to almost the top take the masonite withe bolts hanging down and moveng back and forth about an inch while pushing down untill the masonite is flat on the floor around the hole and line up your 24" pencil line
Wait two days and unbolt the board and remove it.tape the female threaded couplers to keep the threads clean. The concrete will be about a 1/2" below the surface. get a small bag of sand mix and finish troweling the cement smooth. Before cement hardens remove the tape and replace bolts. I found some little plastic push in caps at McMaster Carr that I use to plug the holes when not in use..
Hope this helps. One thing is for sure you will never have to think about the lift coming down on you while working under it. The money was well worth the peace of mind.
Total cost under $250 including jack hammer rental