Rotary Lift questions

[Douggainey]

I've got a Rotary 4 post lift from 2003... can't remember the model # but I believe it's got a 12-14,000lb cap. Just a simple drive on lift used for oil changes. It's recently begun squealing very loudly when raising and lowering. I've kept the cables smothered in grease from day 1 and have only needed to replace them once throughout the years. I've never found any grease fittings, though. Does anyone know if and where they would be?

Also have heard to add Hydraulic Oil Additive to help, but would seem odd that an additive would fix a squeal that comes and goes randomly.

 

[pattenp]

Do you keep the columns greased?

 

[finn]

Consider draining and replacing the fluid, although you really have to identify if it’s a mechanical interference, mechanical vibration, or hydraulic induced noise.

Diagnosis of a noise is difficult ult on a visual media like a computer or cell phone screen.

 

[boatshoes]

The squeal could be from the guides rubbing inside the columns, or it could be stiction on the cylinder seals. The additive helps with the cylinder seal noises. Lubricate the columns first and see if the noise goes away, then try the additive https://parts.cat.com/en/catcorp/1U-9891.

 

[Douggainey]

Do you keep the columns greased?

Yep

 

[pattenp]

Yep

How about the sheave axles? Does the squeal occur only with a vehicle loaded? Can you get your ear on where the squeal is?

 

[Douggainey]

How about the sheave axles? Does the squeal occur only with a vehicle loaded? Can you get your ear on where the squeal is?

I keep the columns and cables covered in grease, not sure where else I could apply grease - nowhere obvious. The squeal is so loud it's hard to pinpoint with the echos through the metal, in the shop, etc. Loaded or empty, it doesn't matter. There are days where it doesn't do it at all. There's no pattern though

 

[zkdiesel]

One of your pulleys is siezed most likely.

 

[Douggainey]

One of your pulleys is siezed most likely.

How would I check for that? I don't have any issues outside of the random squeal. It's usually taken up and down around 75-100 times daily, so would seem odd for a pulley to be seized part of the time, no?

 

[quickfarms]

Forklifts can do the same thing when the rollers need grease

 

[c39er]

I would find out..locate Exactly where the noise is coming from...
What corner, pulley, cable, hydraulic cylinder etc.
Might take two people to do this.
Locate noise...fix problem.

 

[finn]

If you truly cycle the lift 100 times per day, it’s probably worn out and time for a professional service call.

That many cycles daily over a few years would lead me to pull the pulleys and inspect the bushings or bearings as the source of an unusual noise.

You cycle your lift more in a week than a hobbiest does in ten or fifteen years.

It’s worn out.

 

[pattenp]

I keep the columns and cables covered in grease, not sure where else I could apply grease - nowhere obvious. The squeal is so loud it's hard to pinpoint with the echos through the metal, in the shop, etc. Loaded or empty, it doesn't matter. There are days where it doesn't do it at all. There's no pattern though

But how about oiling the cable pulleys axles?

 

[racecougar]

If you truly cycle the lift 100 times per day, it’s probably worn out and time for a professional service call.

That many cycles daily over a few years would lead me to pull the pulleys and inspect the bushings or bearings as the source of an unusual noise.

You cycle your lift more in a week than a hobbiest does in ten or fifteen years.

It’s worn out.

Agreed. That is a TON of cycles! If it has been run that hard for nearly 20 years, it absolutely is time for a tear down to inspect/repair/replace.