mohawk system 1 hydraulic pump repair

[Piper]

HI everyone

Long time since I've posted here... been busy.. (aren't we all)

I have a mohawk system1 10,000 lb 2 post lift. I bought it new and it's worked flawlessly over the past 5 years in a hobby (but pretty regular) environment. Yesterday I went to lift a vehicle and the motor seemed to stall a bit, then the pump kicked in and the lift arms raised a bit.. then the breaker tripped. I reset, tried again.. same thing. I drained the ATF from it, gave it a good cleaning and some TLC, split the motor from the pump and confirmed that the motor would start and is functioning as expected. There was a bit of gunk in the ATF which I felt lead to the stall. Anyway, all back together and new fluid installed I thought I'd be back in business but it's still acting the same way. I think if anything a bit worse and again I wonder if this is due to some gunk sucked up into the hydraulic pump. Interestingly when I had the pump part off I could spin it with my hand but I'm unsure how easy that should be. Anyway, I didn't take the pump apart, I don't know what's inside, have no parts explosion diagram etc.

I'm wondering if ppl have opened up one of these types of hydraulic pumps and any advice etc. Of course this happens on Easter weekend, luckily the car that was on I managed to get back off...

thoughts or advice welcomed !

 

[2nr]

Check the loadvalve or pressure relief for cleanliness. Not familiar with BV the brand but is it single or double cylinder?

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[Piper]

it is a 2 cylinder, 2 post lift, exactly like this one.

http://www.mohawklifts.com/wp/automotive-lifts/2-post-lifts/system1/

 

[pstnbly]

Sounds like the run cap in the motor went south.

 

[jav]

I'd call Mohawk and ask... they've always been very helpful and they have a great warranty. Please do post back with the results.

 

[rburke65]

I have an older System 1 9,000# lift and I will be watching for a result and your fix. And as said, Mohak folks were pretty helpful when I called.

 

[Piper]

thanks fellas for your comments. I 100% agree with the customer service at Mohawk. I've had a couple of other instances when I need some help and they were fantastic.

I'll contact them tomorrow and follow up here. Just hate having a free day and no lift to use

 

[Piper]

Sounds like the run cap in the motor went south.

Actually I'm pretty confident the capacitors are in good shape. The motor when detached from the hydraulic pump starts and runs as it should, no stalling or excessive heat etc and the caps don't have the typical hot-to-touch or leaky characteristics that I've found when other motors pooch out. It's a Baldor motor as well and we all know the reliability on them... I'm still thinking it's some clogging within the hydraulic pump... dunno which is worse tho!

 

[tonycastec]

Just ask Mohawk for a trouble shooting guide for your issue. Whenever I have called them they have been 100% correct, and very helpful. One of the hidden benefits of buying a Mohawk.Mine is well over 30 years old and works great !

 

[rburke65]

I was told when I bought mine that it was 24 years old, so now....almost 30! Is yours a single hyd. line?

 

[tonycastec]

Yup and it works great - used it today .
Interesting that Mohawk splurges on materials - all that extra steel costs very little extra to the Manufacturer but has great benefits to the user. And it allows Mohawk to justify a hefty premium price. I wonder what it will be like trying to get "Factory" service and advice on a Chinese lift 30 years from now ?

 

[jav]

Any update?

 

[Piper]

Hi everyone

So here's the scoop. The motor on the system 1 is a 2.5hp baldor. Good motor no doubt. After talking to Baldor and Mohawk they all suggested that the start cap and possibly run cap were bad. I replaced both - no change. I pulled the end of the motor off (the non-shaft end) where the internal switches are installed, hoping that they'd be messed up. Regrettably they too were in good shape. So, the start winding is the culprit. I've managed to get a replacement motor that's identical and new ($880 .. ahem) and am getting a quote for how much to repair the current one so that if this ever happens again I'll be able to do a swap. I suppose for the 9 years I've had the lift (said 5 earlier..oop) it's worked pretty hard. It's the little ups and downs on the lift that are the toughest for the motor - and a lift has tons of those...

So, FWIW, that's my report gents. I get the new motor tomorrow and have $3000 worth of new parts to replace on an 07 Ridgeline the next day... beerz anyone??!

 

[rburke65]

Piper....is your lift a single hyd. line or two? Thanks and good luck with he motor. Let us know the result.

 

[jav]

Thanks for the update piper! I've got an older system 1 that I'm rebuilding and Mohawk has been awesome to deal with.

R Burke- if his lift is only 9 years old- it's a 2 line. They stopped the 1 line (which is what I have) about 20 years ago.

 

[Piper]

yes it's a 2 hydraulic line lift.

So I got the motor today and installed it. I'm back "up" as they say. The original motor has a slightly different casing but the new one was a perfect fit. The place I got the replacement motor from in Ontario Canada was called Garage Supply http://www.garagesupply.ca/

They usually stock 2 of these replacement motors but ironically had sold 2 this week. The guy I was speaking with there (Shawn) offered to pull one of the motors on a new system 1 lift off and give to me so I could get back up and running. Super service and honestly not something I would have asked if he'd consider. Anyway, I've filled the reservoir back with fresh ATF and run the lift up and down a couple of times with perfect results. Glad to have this behind me. I'm now going to have the old motor's primary winding replaced so that if/when this happens again, it's a minor piss-off instead of a lost work week.

Cheers fellas... lotsa work to catch up on.