Car lift - 7,000lbs

[SenorNoob]

You can subscribe to thread as well. On PC it's at the top the page. I have a few things I get notifications for.

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

@SenorNoob , I have set all of my TRS settings to notify me when anyone replies in any of the threads I'm watching and everything else I could think of still sometimes don't get notifications.
Sometimes I wonder if it's just my phone.

 

[SenorNoob]

I will say that sometimes the server seems to not catch new posts (at least for e-mail notification) until around 11pm central. Maybe whatever jobs sends the e-mails only runs every so often?

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

See like just now when you @SenorNoob posted this last post I got the email notification but not the other notification with the little bell symbol.

However I got a bell symbol notification for my thread, " I'm sure I got a short " because @alwaysFlOoReD liked 1 of my posts in that thread.
I'm sure it was most likely the last post I posted.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Lift is off the trailer and into its semipermanent spot. Will have to wait for ground thaw before placing permanent. But at least it parked and I can connect power, get it working, make sure the safeties are good, and figure out the controls.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I took a look at the electrical of my new to me lift. It used to be a 3-phase 3hp electric over hydraulic system. The manufacturer shut their doors on 1984! So no manuals to be found as yet.
The farmer that sold it to my boss put in a 220V 5hp Baldor. The motor starter has been bypassed. The safety at the top of the column is bypassed. The wiring was done by a farmer...
So I will fix the connections and wire the safety cut-off back in at the top of the column. The unit was working when it was set up at my bosses place so I don't believe I need the motor starter.
Then I have to figure out what fluid slopped out of the reservoir. Probably hydraulic jack oil but....

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I haven't touched the wiring up top yet. I decided to hook up a plug and see if the motor works... And it does! That makes me happy. I'll sort out the wiring up top next, but probably after I get over the cold/flu that I'm in the middle of.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I went back out and removed what I thought was a small bolt holding a large washer. I wanted to see in the tank and try to figure out what type of fluid is in there. I know someone suggested in a different thread that its most likely aw32 hydraulic fluid, and that makes sense to me, but I want to confirm it by seeing and feeling what's in there.
Anyway, that bolt ended up being a dipstick! And nothing shows on it...
And as luck would have it, I drove past a car lift repair place 4 blocks from me. I'd never been down that road before... So I stopped in and chatted the lady in the office. I'll stop in tomorrow and talk to the mechanic and see if he has any advise.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

@Rick W
Talked to the lift mechanic and he didn't have anything bad to say about how I've done things or my plan on using it.
He said to make sure its plumb on both sides, which I would do anyway.
He also confirmed the **32 hydraulic fluid, or transmission fluid. Trans fluid would potentially leak quicker as its thinner, and in my head would be more expensive. I'll find hydraulic...
When I asked about replacing the old fluid he suggested using suction to get as much fluid out as possible and replacing. Similar to what I've done on power steering system in my pontiac.

 

[Rick W]

@Rick W
Talked to the lift mechanic and he didn't have anything bad to say about how I've done things or my plan on using it.
He said to make sure its plumb on both sides, which I would do anyway.
He also confirmed the **32 hydraulic fluid, or transmission fluid. Trans fluid would potentially leak quicker as its thinner, and in my head would be more expensive. I'll find hydraulic...
When I asked about replacing the old fluid he suggested using suction to get as much fluid out as possible and replacing. Similar to what I've done on power steering system in my pontiac.

Hey, no worries, I love it too! I think you’re on track with everything, and I’m so jealous. I want one so bad.

I don’t mean to sound like a know it all, I’ve just been around a lot, and I get more forceful when safety is involved.

Obviously, I agree with your friend to make sure it’s all plumb and square. I guess my underlying point between the lines is the incredible forces at work when you’ve got a 4- 5000# vehicle up in the air and the wind is blowing. In all things, never do exactly what I say (or what anybody else says), but understand and take to heart WHY I’m saying it. If you put a vehicle up there, and it’s off center with the engine being too far out, you’ll already have a good preload. And if the wind hits it from the other side…

Perhaps the best advice is to simply use a couple of poles under each end once you get the thing up in the air. Each time it will only take you a minute, and every time it might save your life. I’ve been around long enough to see the impossible happen several times, and I’ve discussed it with the survivors…

What was it I said in the first response? We don’t need any squished members. Now, run with it!

Oh, and I’m jealous, when can I use it?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Hey, no worries, I love it too! I think you’re on track with everything, and I’m so jealous. I want one so bad.

I don’t mean to sound like a know it all, I’ve just been around a lot, and I get more forceful when safety is involved.

Obviously, I agree with your friend to make sure it’s all plumb and square. I guess my underlying point between the lines is the incredible forces at work when you’ve got a 4- 5000# vehicle up in the air and the wind is blowing. In all things, never do exactly what I say (or what anybody else says), but understand and take to heart WHY I’m saying it. If you put a vehicle up there, and it’s off center with the engine being too far out, you’ll already have a good preload. And if the wind hits it from the other side…

Perhaps the best advice is to simply use a couple of poles under each end once you get the thing up in the air. Each time it will only take you a minute, and every time it might save your life. I’ve been around long enough to see the impossible happen several times, and I’ve discussed it with the survivors…

What was it I said in the first response? We don’t need any squished members. Now, run with it!

Oh, and I’m jealous, when can I use it?

Yep, a tripod support on front and back is in the plans.
I still don't think wind is going to have much, if any effect on a vehicle while on the lift. And in any case prudence suggests that I will lower a vehicle down when not working on it...

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

Sometimes I wish it would let us do more than 1 kind of like.
I would give @Rick W for his post #40 of this thread a like, a love and a haha.

 

[Rick W]

Sometimes I wish it would let us do more than 1 kind of like.
I would give @Rick W for his post #40 of this thread a like, a love and a haha.

Thank you, I’m humbled, seriously.

Usually, when I run on like this, most guys wanna give me a cork for the pie hole!

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

I find that a person's perspective on something has a lot to do with how they think and feel about things.
From my perspective it seems like you truly do care about the other person ( @alwaysFlOoReD ) whom's thread you're posting in.
I tried my best to always have a good positive perspective in life.
Doing 20 years in prison for a lot of guys gives them a bad perspective on life.
But I found its way better to have a good perspective because it makes life a lot easier no matter your situation.

I too seem to ramble on and on and on and on.
I'm sure there's a lot of guys that would like me to shut up a lot of times. Lol.

Okay there's my two cents.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'm always open to some honest feedback. I know all too well that sometimes I don't think things thru, or someone else may have a better way of doing things. I've trained a lot of people to do siding over the years, and I think I have learned from every one of them... Most a different, better way to do something, and a few how to NOT do it! One in particular sticks in my mind, I caught him putting a round rock under a ladder leg as support. He got fired.
And you know you've done a good job as a teacher when your student surpasses you...