Suggestions wanted on taking down and moving a Mohawk Lift

[Shadowdog500]

I may have a lead on a used Mohawk System 1. If I do get it I will probably be loading in onto a car trailer with myself and one other guy. What is the best way to take those towers down and load it in a car trailer? I may not have access to a crane or fork lift, so this should be interesting.

I see some people have clever ideas on moving heavy stuff, and several may have moved a car lift before, so I may not have to reinvent the wheel.

I am all ears, any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks.

Chris

 

[mhm993]

Harbor fright engine lift. Or a couple latino laborers from the local gathering place.

Probably cost the same, but you get to keep the tool if you go HF.

 

[nehog]

I have used an engine hoist, and a heavy duty hand truck to move the columns around. But realize that lowering them to a horizontal position is tough, and you gotta be really careful you don't hurt yourself. Suckers are heavy!

 

[Iroc-Z]

Two guys is not enough to take this down safely. I have removed and installed lifts a few times and it takes at least three guys to take them down. You have to lift the column off of the studs before lowering. I would say find one or two more friends just to be safe. It will make life allot easier.

 

[Rentawrench]

Whats the ceiling look like we used old style chainfall .Lifted off the studss ,But you can raise it up a lil an cut them off with sawzall.

You could use a comealong , Id use a chain one an a Safety chain ,its along way down to get it flat So LONG chainfall is Best . Also chain the arms an slides in one place before trying it. Pump side Up an on top of thefirst one.

These are HEAVY.

Tools needed Two Tall step ladders,chain, chainfall,an use plywood on trailer if steel deck. Milk crate to put misc parts off the arms an Cyl in .

I used forks to get mine off ,Now its in pile covered with tarps on Skids till Snow melts ( too good a deal for the one I got $900.00 )


Good Luck Mike

 

[JOHNMAN]

I took down and re-installed my Rotary lift by myself using my foldable engine crane and a ladder.

It would have been easier with two people, but I did it. It can be done. Go slowly and it isn't too difficult. I also used a folding 2-wheel dolley (with 4 wheels) to move the columns. A floor jack was also handy while blocking and un-blocking things.

You will probably need a manual to set it up in the new location.

 

[krooser]

I bought my lift and took it down and reinstalled it the same day. the shop owner who sold it had a few guys help me take down the columns and we lowered them onto my trailer.

When I got home I got a few friend to help me raise them up... we walked them up right off of the trailer deck. Mind you these columns on my old Weaver are very heavy... 1/2" and 3/4" thick steel with 4" diameter hydraulic cylinders and lots of heavy chain (no cables). But we didn't have any problems.

I'd suggest you take pix and lots of measurements to get it reinstalled exactly as it was before. Pretty easy job after all is said and done...

 

[Piper]

I just installed the same lift. We used 5 guys go go from level on the ground to upright (1 at the base to make sure it didn't slide, 2 on either side to push the top end up). The posts weigh 900 lbs without the lift arms on so, while I think obvious, remove the lift arms (they're 250 lbs each). Luckily the posts are bottom heavy so going from the upright position down shouldn't be like moving say a compressor which is top heavy. If possible, the anchors could be hammered down into the ground. The install manual suggests drilling a deeper hole for this very situation. I'd try that before automatically thinking you have to lift the post off the anchors. Make sure you plug the hydraulic reservoir as the cap is a breather style and will leak once the post is lying down.

Good luck!

 

[Shadowdog500]

I just installed the same lift. We used 5 guys go go from level on the ground to upright (1 at the base to make sure it didn't slide, 2 on either side to push the top end up). The posts weigh 900 lbs without the lift arms on so, while I think obvious, remove the lift arms (they're 250 lbs each). Luckily the posts are bottom heavy so going from the upright position down shouldn't be like moving say a compressor which is top heavy. If possible, the anchors could be hammered down into the ground. The install manual suggests drilling a deeper hole for this very situation. I'd try that before automatically thinking you have to lift the post off the anchors. Make sure you plug the hydraulic reservoir as the cap is a breather style and will leak once the post is lying down.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone, I'm lining up a few people and will try to get my hands on a portable crane.

I was thinking about labeling and capping everything. do you know what caps are required for everything? I'm going out to the boonies to look at this thing, and I dont plan on running all over to get caps once I get there.

The nuts that hold the arms on are verry big. do you know what size they are so I can get a couple of tools in that size?

Thanks,

Chris

 

[SteveU]

the nuts that hold the arms on are 1-3/8-12NF lock nuts which are like 2.188 across the flats. Looks like 2-1/16" for that size, they used a 3/4" impact to run mine down with & manual calls for 1000 ft lbs of torque.

 

[the forgotten man]

Ive got a rotary 10K lift, i took it down with the help of another guy and a fork lift, how ever the guys who put it up again, (had it done) didnt use any lift or forklift, they just stood the columns up by hand.
getting the columns off the studs, we just took a big punch and large hammer and popped those bolts down into the concrete and layed the columns over with the fork lift.
just be careful not to get hurt.