Preparation for MaxJax

[wachuko]

Wachuko,
Exactly.......FAR EASIER to work under a lift.

As far as the epoxy goes....how or why would you use it if the anchors pull up as part of the embedment process? If you epoxy the anchor...it will either not allow the seating (pull up) or the bond will break. Are you stating to expoxy the anchors in and set the anchor flush with the surface instead?

Epoxy takes time to dry... pour the epoxy, drop the anchors, install the towers, tighten those bolts, raise a car, tighten those bolts, let it dry.

And if they set below the concrete surface I would try to pour epoxy to fill the gap (tricky as you don't want epoxy to fall inside the threads...)

 

[427HISS]

Someone mentioned here, to use the epoxy to keep the concrete from breaking apart (just a little) in time and if the edges of the floor was not exactly 4" but maybe 3.5" to 3.75". Mine are all 4" thankfully. I figured it couldn't hurt if all went well.

wachuko- thanks for the complement. Now get out and race at Sebring !
That makes me jealous !

 

[Hardware]

Epoxy takes time to dry... pour the epoxy, drop the anchors, install the towers, tighten those bolts, raise a car, tighten those bolts, let it dry.

And if they set below the concrete surface I would try to pour epoxy to fill the gap (tricky as you don't want epoxy to fall inside the threads...)

Raise a car? im assuming to set the posts with weight?

 

[wachuko]

Raise a car? im assuming to set the posts with weight?

Correct... based on my install, that is what I would recommend. Set the post, tighten, and then put some weight on them and check the bolts again. Lower the car and let the epoxy dry.

 

[427HISS]

I went ahead and used the epoxy on the second post. This time around, I had all the holes drilled, epoxy in and anchors set in apx. 1/2 hr. I had more confidence so, it want fairly fast. I don't know if I'll be able to complete the install and raise my cobra, it's raining today.

I figured I will lift the car just enough to take the load of the suspension and check the width of the top of the posts, if all seems ok, then the tires up 1" off the ground and measure again. Let it sit for bit, then raise it to to half the height, check it again then to the top. I'll take some pics when it's done and post them.

Can't be too careful.

 

[nate379]

I just think it's pointless when my truck is just under 7' foot tall, as well as my Jeep and Blazer. Factor in a 9 ft ceiling minus the opener (about 1 foot) and I'd be able to lift something a foot, maybe 2 if I position it just right.

Ok there are no jackstands in the way, but the posts of the lift and the arms sure do get in the way.

 

[427HISS]

First of all, my 427 Cobra, Dakota truck and my wifes 300M will work out great.

Second of all,...... don't buy one then !

 

[chrislehr]

I wonder how deep my slab is. Dang it.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I just think it's pointless when my truck is just under 7' foot tall, as well as my Jeep and Blazer. Factor in a 9 ft ceiling minus the opener (about 1 foot) and I'd be able to lift something a foot, maybe 2 if I position it just right.

Ok there are no jackstands in the way, but the posts of the lift and the arms sure do get in the way.

This isn't pirate4x4 ffs. Most of the people here have cars or stock height pickups, which would work fine.

Hell, there are people on this board with 9' ceilings and doublestacked cars.

 

[wachuko]

I just think it's pointless when my truck is just under 7' foot tall, as well as my Jeep and Blazer. Factor in a 9 ft ceiling minus the opener (about 1 foot) and I'd be able to lift something a foot, maybe 2 if I position it just right.

Ok there are no jackstands in the way, but the posts of the lift and the arms sure do get in the way.

Gotcha. Agreed, in your case it makes now sense. In my case it does, with the smaller cars I have, I can raise them 48" and use my roller seat.

If it wasn't because my wife would kick my ***, I would drill holes in the driveway and use it there to power wash the underside of the cars

 

[427HISS]

chrislehr- drill a small test hole in your floor. I'm positive you'll have at least
4". I'm also pretty sure, that's the code across the nation, and I would be curious if anyone said any less.

 

[PAToyota]

I just think it's pointless when my truck is just under 7' foot tall, as well as my Jeep and Blazer. Factor in a 9 ft ceiling minus the opener (about 1 foot) and I'd be able to lift something a foot, maybe 2 if I position it just right.

For me, as I've said elsewhere, my ceilings are ±10'-6" and I just cannot fit a full-sized lift into the shop. I built my shop before the idea of a lift in a home shop became popular, so I never really had considered it to be a possibility. So the MaxJax allows me to have a lift.

No, it won't lift my vehicles (even the cars) high enough to walk under them. But it does away with jacks and jackstands, making the process of lifting a vehicle a lot easier for me.

The other thing is that I can set up a "station" outside on a concrete pad to further expand my possibilities. With weather conditions, I'd never consider permanently installing a lift outside but with the MaxJax I can drag everything back inside when I'm done.

If you have the room for a fullsize lift, there is little reason for a MaxJax. If you get by fine with a jack and jackstands, that is not a problem. I just see that the MaxJax increases the options out there for people - which is rarely a bad thing.

 

[C.Plavan]

Has anyone just considered going the Mid rise lift route?
I considered the Max Jax but the mid rise lift won out of convinence and piece of mind.

The benefits of a mid rise lift out weigh the MaxJax benefits. (Subjective to me)
- It hides under the car when not in use
- You do not have to worry about concrete thinkness and bolts.
- The mid rise just gives you more room in your garage to work/park and much less hassle.
-I can have my race car on the lift and still park other cars next to it. This is a standard 3 car garage-all without having to remove pillars to park or to maximize space.

 

[nmk_61802]

Has anyone just considered going the Mid rise lift route?

I believe Wachuko had a midrise that he sold to get the Max Jack.

 

[PAToyota]

For me, the issue with a mid-rise lift is that it is under the vehicle and would get in the way for RWD transmission work, exhaust work, and such. A four post lift has a similar issue.

Each has its benefits and drawbacks and will find its niche based on what someone wants to be able to do with it and any limitations of their situation.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Has anyone just considered going the Mid rise lift route?
I considered the Max Jax but the mid rise lift won out of convinence and piece of mind.

The benefits of a mid rise lift out way the MaxJax benefits. (Subjective to me)
- It hides under the car when not in use
- You do not have to worry about concrete thinkness and bolts.
- The mid rise just gives you more room in your garage to work/park and much less hassle.
-I can have my race car on the lift and still park other cars next to it. This is a standard 3 car garage-all without having to remove pillars to park or to maximize space.

I went with a midrise after looking at everything carefully for several reasons:
1. Was not sure about my concrete thickness and psi rating; did not want to chance it....have already had too many close calls on my life in my 52 years..
2. I have a partial wall down the center of my 30X30 and the placement of the inner post would not have permitted me to move from the front of the vehicle once the lift was installed. Yeah, I could have torn down the wall, but a lot of hassle with electrical and support issues to resolve.

I got the Bendpac midrise back in Feb for about $1800. I have a car on it about every day doing some type of repair that was very difficult using jackstands. As someone has already stated, any lift is better than no lift.

From the threads about the MaxJack that some of the guys are getting and having parts and customer service issues, I'm glad I didn't go with the MaxJack. Looks like Bendpac has slipped somewhat from their past excellent customer service. I don't need that kind of hassle right now.

 

[nmk_61802]

Did everyone else have a cart that was offcenter? My pump cart is offcenter toward the handle side, I have not mounted my pump yet to determine if it was designed as such to counter act the weight of the pump.

 

[PAToyota]

Do you mean it sits towards the back instead of level?

A few have mentioned that they got the 3" wheels like on the column assemblies instead of the 4" wheel as called for in the inventory list. That would keep the cart from sitting level.

 

[wachuko]

I believe Wachuko had a midrise that he sold to get the Max Jack.

Correct. And don't regret it one bit... This is what I wanted all along.

I can work under the car to get easily to the shifting rod, transmission, steering rack, fuel pumps, engine, bleeding the clutch slave cylinder, etc. without having the lift be in the way.

Hated the ramps and that bulky piece of metal in the middle of the garage. Now, when I am done, I put everything away and I have all my garage back... easier to clean the floor as well.

Don't get me wrong, before the MaxJax was available, that mid-rise got good use from me and my friends. But I only got it because I could not fit a two-post.

Enjoy your weekend folks!

 

[wachuko]

Did everyone else have a cart that was offcenter? My pump cart is offcenter toward the handle side, I have not mounted my pump yet to determine if it was designed as such to counter act the weight of the pump.

Yes. But once you mount the pump it balances out.

 

[nmk_61802]

Do you mean it sits towards the back instead of level?

A few have mentioned that they got the 3" wheels like on the column assemblies instead of the 4" wheel as called for in the inventory list. That would keep the cart from sitting level.

That is what I mean, right now the stand will not even sit upright. I will have to check the wheel sizes. My boxes, and the associated inventory lists were all destroyed during shipping.

 

[volvo]

.
A quick search over at clubcobra, another site that ran the MaxJax special group purchase, Not a word about any problems or how they like it or deliveries. No comments or posts after the contest. Odd ???

 

[Axis11]

That is what I mean, right now the stand will not even sit upright.

That's completely normal. It should want to fall back towards the handle direction before you add the pump asm. It's designed that way to counterbalance the weight of the pump. If it sat up straight before you bolted the pump/valve assembly on it would fall over once you did and damage the pump.

My boxes where beat up as well. that's the shipper's fault, not danmar's.

 

[nmk_61802]

My cart will not currently stand up at all, and I am afraid even with the pumps weight, it will still want to fall over backward. I can confirm that it does not have 4" wheels as per the inventory list, but 3" wheels. I still have not had a chance to assemble everything yet, to those that said this is normal, does your cart have 3" or 4" wheels?

 

[427HISS]

Mine was the same way until I assembled the cart completely, and now it is stable. You should do the same.

As a side note-

I do have one problem. When I raised the lift to the top, and went to lower the arms on the safety bar, one off the holes was covered half way. I think the factory assembled one of the slide blocks 180 degrees off where it should be.

I'll have to take out the very heavy piece and turn the block to match the other side. I'll defiantly need another strong man to help me or, take out all five anchor bolts, lay the column down, remove the block and turn it then, reassemble.

 

[nmk_61802]

Mine was the same way until I assembled the cart completely, and now it is stable. You should do the same.

To be clear, when you say same way, you mean your cart did not have the specified 4" wheels installed, but the 3" wheels like the columns?

 

[427HISS]

Sorry about the confusion. I was talking about my stand with everything installed, has no weight distribution problems.

The lift block's in the column, seem to be different heights on each side. Like if you drilled a hole not, in the center of a block, but slightly off center. If you marked the top height of the bar say, 3", then spun the block 180 degrees, it may now be 4". So, if I spun mine the 180, I hope the safety holes line up. I did start another thread on my problem.

 

[nmk_61802]

No confusion, what I am asking is when you said that your power cart sat the same way as mine prior to mounting the pump did your cart also come with the 4" diameter wheels as specified in the manual, or did it come with the same 3" diameter wheels that are on the columns.

 

[427HISS]

Mine are 3".

 

[PAToyota]

Does anyone have the 4" wheels on the cart?

 

[427HISS]

Mine are 3" on the lift and the cart. I'm surprised you're having problems with the cart and wheels.

 

[Axis11]

As a side note-

I do have one problem. When I raised the lift to the top, and went to lower the arms on the safety bar, one off the holes was covered half way. I think the factory assembled one of the slide blocks 180 degrees off where it should be.

I had the same problem, I noticed one of the blocks was 180 degrees when I was putting the piston in. After I had assembled the two towers I noticed the lift arms on one tower where higher than the other because the hole in the center of the block is drilled off center.

I'll have to take out the very heavy piece and turn the block to match the other side. I'll defiantly need another strong man to help me or, take out all five anchor bolts, lay the column down, remove the block and turn it then, reassemble.

Your best bet is to lay the tower on it's back, and slide the arm out and spin the nylon block 180 degrees.

I had metal shavings between my nylon block and the channel it rides in from when they reamed out the mounting holes in the base; so I had to pull the bearings out anyway because the shavings where scratching everything up.

No problems now though.

 

[PAToyota]

Mine are 3" on the lift and the cart. I'm surprised you're having problems with the cart and wheels.

As you say, with the power unit on the cart it balances out with the 3" wheels. Just that the manual calls for 4" wheels and it would sit level with the extra half inch.

 

[427HISS]

Yep, I guess I'll take the post down.
Metal shavings are bad anywhere ! eek !

 

[427HISS]

Well, I finished installing the lift this morning, raised my 427 Cobra up a few inches, checked it over, the 1/2 way up then to the top. It went very well and I'm very excited as it works perfectly !

From the frame to the floor is 4' so I can use my Pneumatic stool, on my knees or on my back. I will be selling my engine & ****** soon and I'm building a aluminum 427 side oiler punched out to 482 cu. with apx 625-650 HP & TQ. Now I can take my time with removing the ****** and motor and not at my buddy's shop. Woo-Hoo !

 

[wachuko]

Cool!!! Please tell me you took photos and are uploading soon.

Well, I finished installing the lift this morning, raised my 427 Cobra up a few inches, checked it over, the 1/2 way up then to the top. It went very well and I'm very excited as it works perfectly !

From the frame to the floor is 4' so I can use my Pneumatic stool, on my knees or on my back. I will be selling my engine & ****** soon and I'm building a aluminum 427 side oiler punched out to 482 cu. with apx 625-650 HP & TQ. Now I can take my time with removing the ****** and motor and not at my buddy's shop. Woo-Hoo !

 

[427HISS]

I will but, with the understanding, the garage is a freaking MESS !
And,.....the car is FILTHY !!!

I'll be back with some quick photo's.

 

[427HISS]

My MaxJax-

The next plan is to finish the garage,.......finally !
Flooring will be the interlocking tiles from "Swiss Trax" ,like the "Race Deck"

I will be having a "Group Buy" on "club cobra" ,if any of you would be interested, just let me know.

 

[chrislehr]

Maxjax people - question - my g/f weighs approximately 110 lbs. She works and wrenches on her VW bug for routine maintenance (and more if we had a lift, I think)

She typically calls me out for heavy lifting... and im curious.. the setup/teardown portability of this.. will she be able to do it (and not hurt herself) or is this something I will still be doing to help?

 

[427HISS]

She should not have any problems. The columns have dolly wheels and the safety bar that is used to rest the lift arms on, can also be used in the very top holes as a handle bar for moving the columns. You do have to go slow when you're tilting the columns back. The rest, is very easy to move and store. The arms themselves are fairly heavy (don't recall how much) but, I believe it would be manageable. This whole unit was made,......to be portable and it is ! I'm very happy with mine.