Hey folks I've got an autokato 8k midrise lift that's stuck up now. It was stuck up 6" from the ground with my car on it. With lots of wood and tomfoolery, I got the car off and started playing with it to figure out the issue. Now it's stuck higher up. When you press the down button, it will raise up to clear the locks then just kind of rest there. I did notice one side was a little lower than the other but they're connected left to right. Others said piston seals probably out but now I can't get to the pin because it's blocked by lift arms. So if it's a bad seal my assumption is it would be the side that was a little higher. Question is what's the best way to proceed safely as a one man operation. I need to get it down for now so I can get my car back in the shop. Thanks!
Midrise lift stuck up
- Thread starter blackgold
- Start date
The photos show the wood I used. Car is off the ramp.
? but it is now on the blocks.
how do you get it off the blocks?
a wooden ramp. not the lift's ramp.
or use a car jack to lift each wheel off the block that it is on back onto the ground, do it for the front wheels first.
then drive the car forward and make the rear tires sit atop the blocks.
then use car jack again to lower each rear wheel to the ground by removing the blocks.
cosmokenney
Well-known member
I think it is just waiting for you to put on some proper boots while working on the car.
Wood on the back. CR ramp on the front. I drove it off. You can see it in the picture.
Those are the new Bluetooth safety flipflops.
ericm
Well-known member
I think leaking seals would just cause fluid to leak out of the cylinder past the rod. A leaking piston seal would not prevent the cylinder from retracting. If it leaked more than the pump delivers then you would not be able to raise it.
If it was me I'd put jacks under the lift, get it off the locks and ensure that the locks do not re engage, and then disconnect the cylinder from the valve. On normal lifts you raise the lift up to get it off the locks and then open a hydraulic valve to let fluid out of the cylinders and lower the lift. It sounds from your description of the down button that there's not a physical valve to open? Maybe whatever opens the valve is not working properly. If disconnecting the hose allows you to lower the lift with the jacks then you know that it's not the cylinder.
If it was me I'd put jacks under the lift, get it off the locks and ensure that the locks do not re engage, and then disconnect the cylinder from the valve. On normal lifts you raise the lift up to get it off the locks and then open a hydraulic valve to let fluid out of the cylinders and lower the lift. It sounds from your description of the down button that there's not a physical valve to open? Maybe whatever opens the valve is not working properly. If disconnecting the hose allows you to lower the lift with the jacks then you know that it's not the cylinder.
And be sure to have a bucket handy.
My Bendpak mid rise has air actuated lock releases...I've had a leaky air line that caused the lock not to release. Just used a pry bar to lift the lock over the catches until near the bottom then fixed the air line.
So my suggestion would be check the locking mechanism is releasing fully
So my suggestion would be check the locking mechanism is releasing fully
Cruzan80
Well-known member
Not the same brand, but I have one that is doing this. Best guess so far is that it is hydro-locked and fluid got around the seal somehow. Used a buddies forklift to disconnect the cross-members from the ram, still stuck outwards due to not able to get the ram off the bottom of the frame. Once I do, going to take it apart and replace seals.
ericm
Well-known member
Single acting cylinders have a vent in the side that does not get fluid. Otherwise the trapped air would prevent full motion or blow the rod seals. If fluid is leaking past the piston, it would come out the vent once there was enough of it.
Cruzan80
Well-known member
Not sure what to say. Mine looks to have only a single port, but it rose under its own power, but didn't return. Even with some pressure from forklift tongs on top to "start" it going. Now the uppers are released, and the rod is still stuck in the out position (has been for some time). May be the piston seal is covering the vent port, or other debris got in there?