Bill-banger
Active member
My Cayman jacking points are 54" apart F-R and 57.5" distant side to side.
Maxjax Installs: Post Here
- Thread starter G-force
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plain garage
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- Mar 9, 2014
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- 198
I mock placed the columns at 125" (have yet to drill my anchors), and the arms can reach the described points with a couple inches of extension, assuming even front/rear weight distribution (cayman FTW!
)My lifting pads are round, so I'm not sure the same applies to the (earlier?) square pads. But there's no knowing whether the arms swing will be blocked by the tires.
Bill-banger
Active member
I finally received my MaxJax today, after it having traveled from CA to GA, back to CA and finally to AL. I got everything put together with no problems, even though the instructions leave out a few things. I've read enough on here plus viewed several videos of the assembly process so that was easy. A few fasteners were missing but I had replacements or made do to get everything together. I will start drilling the holes in the floor tomorrow, have a brand new Bosch 7/8" bit for that. One column is perfectly vertical, the other is slightly off but the shims will make up for that just fine.
Several things have changed from the pics posted here, wheels on the columns are black plastic, look cheaper than the white nylon ones previously supplied. Lots of sharp edges on the main columns, gotta watch out for that. The paint was scratched in many places, probably partly due to the extra round trip it made. I also ordered a rolling shop seat and it is bent pretty badly, I'll have to call tomorrow about getting a replacement for it. All the fittings with the exception of the hoses had teflon tape already on them, and there was no mention of using it on the hose end that screws into the flow divider, but I used it anyway. The baseplates have a cut all the way through each hole to the outside of the plate, not sure exactly why this is,but all 10 holes have them.
I hope the rest of my installation goes a smoothly as it has so far, I am anxious to use it. Once again, thanks for all who have gone before , the tips and suggestions have been invaluable.
Several things have changed from the pics posted here, wheels on the columns are black plastic, look cheaper than the white nylon ones previously supplied. Lots of sharp edges on the main columns, gotta watch out for that. The paint was scratched in many places, probably partly due to the extra round trip it made. I also ordered a rolling shop seat and it is bent pretty badly, I'll have to call tomorrow about getting a replacement for it. All the fittings with the exception of the hoses had teflon tape already on them, and there was no mention of using it on the hose end that screws into the flow divider, but I used it anyway. The baseplates have a cut all the way through each hole to the outside of the plate, not sure exactly why this is,but all 10 holes have them.
I hope the rest of my installation goes a smoothly as it has so far, I am anxious to use it. Once again, thanks for all who have gone before , the tips and suggestions have been invaluable.
Vegaman_Dan
Well-known member
If the holes have been changed to slots, it will make it easier to install since the holes will have a bit more wiggle room to work with.
Bill-banger
Active member
The holes weren't changed to slots, just a cut was made from each hole to the outside of the plate. I'll try to take a pic and post.
Bill-banger
Active member
I finished installing the anchors a few minutes ago, I put them in epoxy and will let it set until Saturday afternoon which is the next opportunity I'll have to get out there anyway. The drill I borrowed made short work of the holes, almost like drilling through pine 2x4's. Some of the wejits didn't pull up the recommended 1/8" below grade, but they were TIGHT and just wouldn't pull up any more, but I think they will be OK. I can hardly wait to try it out.
Bill-banger
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plain garage
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- Mar 9, 2014
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^^ Look the same as my base plates. One of my posts also required shimming (floor is perfectly flat). Did you get the rounded lift pads as well?
Bill-banger
Active member
Yeah, round lift pads. My floor is also flat, the base plates on the columns rock a little back and forth, so they are not true. Shimming will correct that though. I've been gone the past two days so the epoxy has had plenty of time to cure, I'm about to go out and bolt it down and power it up. Here's hoping everything works as advertised.
BellyUpFish
Well-known member
Would any of you guys be comfortable using the MaxJax as a storage lift and parking under it?
Bill-banger
Active member
OK, one slight problem. I got the posts tightened, and I only had to use two shims on one side of one post, the other one is practically vertical both ways. Bleeding was pretty easy, and after raising it up and down several times it works fine, both sides raise and lower in tandem. However, that post only has 4 bolts holding it down. One hole is JUST enough off center that I cannot start the bolt in it. I recall reading somewhere in the 49 pages of this discussion that someone else had this problem, but I don't remember what the remedy was. Obviously, I need to enlarge that one hole just a smidge so the bolt will go in the anchor, and I will not be raising a car on the lift until that problem is solved. I guess I need a really heavy duty drill to I can enlarge that hole by 1/8" or so, but how? The base plates are really thick, and when I worked in the oil distributorship and we were mounting a sign base that didn't line up we just fired up the acetylene torch and cut the hole a little bigger, but that won't work here, or at least I'm not going to do it that way. Trying to enlarge it with a drill bit will just wedge the bit into the hole so what is the best way to get the job done?
TurboCup87
Well-known member
carbide burr on a air powered die grinder should do the trick. You might want a bigger washer under that bolt.
Bill-banger
Active member
So just use the burr to enlarge the hole like I would use my Dremel tool on smaller stuff? Yeah, the bigger washer is a must. Thanks.
Bill-banger
Active member
I couldn't find a carbide burr at my local Lowe's, but I did get a rasp that fits on my reciprocating saw and that worked fine, if a bit slower than a die grinder would have been.
I can't get both sides to lift together, one side is 2" lower than the other. I've bled it in every position and all the air is out but I have to keep the button down until the lower side catches up with the higher one, putting strain on the pump. I've read through a lot of posts and tried all the suggestions I could find but it still does this. I guess I'll be calling on Monday morning to see if I can get some help. Yes, both posts are true and vertical.
I can't get both sides to lift together, one side is 2" lower than the other. I've bled it in every position and all the air is out but I have to keep the button down until the lower side catches up with the higher one, putting strain on the pump. I've read through a lot of posts and tried all the suggestions I could find but it still does this. I guess I'll be calling on Monday morning to see if I can get some help. Yes, both posts are true and vertical.
Got my install finished . I put first set of anchors in driveway. I will be installing another set in garage.
The first vehicle up was my sons GMC Canyon. I trust my install but the Camaro was not going to be the guinea pig. lol
I got all the anchors to grab ok, but one ended up being 3/4 inch below the surface.
I ordered some 5/8 inch nylon set screws to put in the holes to keep debris out when they are not in use.
I may try the epoxy type anchors for the set that goes in the garage
The first vehicle up was my sons GMC Canyon. I trust my install but the Camaro was not going to be the guinea pig. lol
I got all the anchors to grab ok, but one ended up being 3/4 inch below the surface.
I ordered some 5/8 inch nylon set screws to put in the holes to keep debris out when they are not in use.
I may try the epoxy type anchors for the set that goes in the garage
Attachments
Bill-banger
Active member
I kept raising and lowering the lift, and the slow side switched, then finally they both started raising and lowering together. I didn't get any more air out but I did release a good bit of fluid. Everything seems to be working great now, I put my Cayman up and replaced the under tray that I'd left off after doing the water pump a few weeks ago, too hard to do under the Norco lift I was using. I'm going to like this lift!
chicknfeet
Member
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- Jun 18, 2013
- Messages
- 6
I do... I hoping the 8.2 mag earthquake doesn't happen LOL
BellyUpFish
Well-known member
How long do you typically keep a vehicle on it?
The price is close enough that a 4 post may just be a better idea..
chicknfeet
Member
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- Jun 18, 2013
- Messages
- 6
if you have room 4 post it... (just my opinion) the MaxJax has bars that lock the lift.
Bill-banger
Active member
Safety requires you to use the locking points, but I've left a vehicle on the MaxJax and my former mid-rise overnight with no leakage, unless something happens it will hold fine and there is no damage to the lift, but if you're working under it prudence demands you lock it in place.
Bill-banger
Active member
I've used my MaxJax several times, and yesterday after lowering my Cayman I noticed a small puddle of fluid at the base of one hydraulic ram. One of the fittings is leaking, so I'll have to dismantle everything and re-tape the fittings. Also, I lifted my wife's 535i today and one side was markedly higher than the other, getting more so the further up it went. I had to keep the power button down until the low side caught up so it was level. I've bled and bled, but they still don't raise evenly every time. Think I should contact Garage Equipment?
I've recently left my Porsche 911 for entire week w/o any issues.
Bill-banger
Active member
Someone posted on here about getting some socket hex plugs to put in the anchors when not using the lift, I've searched all over the internet with little success. I can find a lot of sizes, but not any 5/8"-11 pipe plugs, except a whole bag for $50 or so. Where can I find just 10?
Bill-banger
Active member
Great suggestion, found a bag for under $12, should last me! Thanks.
demoderbydave
Well-known member
if you have room 4 post it... (just my opinion)
BUT you cant disassemble a 4 post lift and tuck it in the corner in a few minutes...
I have had mine for 3 years and love it!
Bill-banger
Active member
The plugs arrived a little while ago, already have them in the anchors. Ain't the internet grand!
mitchtr25068
Well-known member
Be forewarned to definitely put in the safety bars as quickly as possible after raising your car and to really keep your eyes on the fittings that the hoses connect to at the bottom of each maxjax column. A couple of weeks ago I was raising my 1968 triumph and it had just gotten to its peak when I heard a loud pop, and fluid started pouring out the bottom of one column. Before I knew it that side had come down, And the car was at nearly a ninety degree angle resting on the front and rear drivers side tires, with the rocker panels being crushed in by the two pads at the end of each arm on the maxjax.
I was luckily able to get two friends to help drop the car back down. Turns out the last coupler that goes into the column at the bottom of that unit had blown out at the seams. The danmar folks sent me a new fitting, but I decided to use a different brand from the local hydraulic shop instead. Given the stories I've read about leaky fittings, my sense is these are not top-quality hydraulic fittings. Of course, if I had been under the car or it had rolled over things would have been far worse. Very scarey and depressing. I'll use the maxjax again, but I'm really going to be mindful of getting those safety bars in very quickly. Beware and be forewarned it could happen to you too if it happened to me
I was luckily able to get two friends to help drop the car back down. Turns out the last coupler that goes into the column at the bottom of that unit had blown out at the seams. The danmar folks sent me a new fitting, but I decided to use a different brand from the local hydraulic shop instead. Given the stories I've read about leaky fittings, my sense is these are not top-quality hydraulic fittings. Of course, if I had been under the car or it had rolled over things would have been far worse. Very scarey and depressing. I'll use the maxjax again, but I'm really going to be mindful of getting those safety bars in very quickly. Beware and be forewarned it could happen to you too if it happened to me
This is where I got mine
http://www.zorotools.com/g/5 8-11 Flat Point Nylon Socket Set Screw/00146183/
2.00 for 5 plus shipping. I ordered 20. 10 for in the garage and 10 for the anchors in the driveway.
Bill-banger
Active member
After lifting my 535i the other day I noticed both cylinders were leaking fluid out the bottom. I guess I'll have to take both down and remove all the teflon tape and use pipe dope instead. I'm considering getting some better fittings as well and just replace all the ones supplied by Dannmar.
Bill-banger
Active member
Update to the leaking. I talked with Miguel at Dannmar last week and after determining the uneven lifting was within spec, he is sending me out a replacement cylinder as I discovered one was not leaking from the fittings but from the cylinder itself. I'm getting good at taking these things apart! I replaced some of the supplied fittings with brass ones I bought locally, couldn't find the one that screws into the bottom of each cylinder and has a 3/8" female on the other end so I kept the one that came with the lift.
In My Garage
Well-known member
It may not be the tape, but the el-cheapo fitting from Dannmar.
In my case, it was the fitting whose threads were not cut deep enough into the fitting. Note the threads on the male fitting as well...proof they were trying to cut new threads.
Dannmar supplied fitting on the left. Locally sourced fitting on the right.
I replaced all the fittings and have not had a single drop of hydraulic fluid leak since doing so. That was almost 18 months ago.
Just an fyi. Menards has the Maxjax portable on sale for 2199.00 in their current sale ad.
They also have a few other lifts on sale. Free shipping to home.
http://www.menards.com/main/flyer.h...stmanufacturing&getGoogleKey=true&flyer=flyer
They also have a few other lifts on sale. Free shipping to home.
http://www.menards.com/main/flyer.h...stmanufacturing&getGoogleKey=true&flyer=flyer
jchetty
Well-known member
Costco is $1999 with shaping included until 6/30.
thanks for the heads up
http://www.costco.com/Dannmar-MaxJax™-2-post-Portable-Auto-Lift.product.11731656.html
http://www.costco.com/Dannmar-MaxJax™-2-post-Portable-Auto-Lift.product.11731656.html
petee_c
Well-known member
I got mine at Costco a few years ago, and the process was painless. I set up a time over the phone suitable for delivery, cleared a spot in my garage, and I had my parents come over to the house to let them in. They showed up on time, or a couple minutes early. My parents opened the garage door for them and they set the skid down in the garage.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
I had the same experience about a month or so ago. Site said 4-6 weeks, which I wanted, ended up getting it within one via con-way. Other than it coming way sooner than I wanted, they delivered to my garage all the way from the street on a pallet jack. Costco was painless shipping.