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One of my favorite tools at my shop isn’t actually at my shop. Pretty much all my vehicle projects involve it’s use though.
I have a neighbor with a 4 post lift, proper spring compressor, and most of a snap on tool truck. We took down the fence between the properties long ago and have each other’s keys so it’s pretty much use whatever you want just so long as you fix or replace what you break. There are also some other rules like have your project done by the next appointment. I have to have everything planned out and ready to go before taking it all apart on the lift. My neighbor is the best… but he sold the property and retired in June.
He offered me first dibs on the anything before he sold it so I bought the lift. It cost me about a grand. I bought a few other things I could afford, but not too much. I didn’t expect to drop a few thousand on tools that week, but I ended up with the nice spring compressor and some other neat stuff. The lift is an old American Made Forward 12k lb model. It’s a bit beat up, but it should keep lifting my 2-5k lb vehicles for years to come
I had a couple weeks to remove it from his property. So, I wrangled some friends for a weekend and… that fell through. So, I found another weekend, and had to do some family stuff. You get the idea. I ended up having to do about 99 percent of the disassembly myself in 5 days after work and 2 days of weekend. I would also like you to take note, Tucson is hot as balls in June and the lift spends the entire evening in the sun.
There are no manuals for this type of thing, so first I took some notes and copious photos.
The treads came off simply, just lower them onto something
Then take apart one of these safety brakes and learn that if you pull the rod out this spring and the washer shoot across the yard. The other 3 were disassembled into sandwich bags.
This is also where I was running out of dollies and the parts were all more than I could pick up… or drag, or kick. My friend couldn’t be there at the times I had available, but he was nice enough to lend me his 10ft trailer and Kawasaki brute force quad. That made moving stuff across the yard a breeze in conjunction with my chain hoist. I didn't think I needed the quad, but it made for fewer 10 point turns, plus you can just sit on it backwards and back the trailer up.
The next step was to move the big ram thing on top. I had to make sure a friend was around. Not to help, I’m not insured for that, but someone needs to be able to tell the police what happened.
Optional step is to fix the lights on your friend’s trailer before he goes on a long hunting trip, so you aren’t the one who owes a debt. I always like to be a couple favors up on any friend.
Seriously… from the factory with these stupid connectors! That is some 1990's best buy stereo installation bs.
The next step, and this is crucial for any project of mine, is to wait 10 months for a pandemic that will give you a bunch of spare time.
Annnnd now it’s April 3rd.
Drew a box on the ground with 6ft long ruler and giant square, then did it again with chalk lines, then did some a squared plus b squared = I dunno that is close enough. Drilled holes, shimmed till plumb. At some point I lost 1 of the 16 anchors that came in the lift hardware kit I bought in June, as is tradition. Had to buy 10 more and have them shipped as none of this is essential activity.
Lift and align the big stupid scary thing.
Thread the chain into the cross pieces,
Blah blah, mount things, make cord to plug it into welder outlet, and get hydraulic fluid on everything. Now I have a lift.
Put tools away, open hammer drill box and FUUUUUUUCK, it’s the missing anchor.
I was planning on doing more restoration and painting, but honestly this thing has kicked my ass twice at this point. I lubed anything that moves assembling it, but everything else is going to be as needed. Hopefully I can get back to working on a car or two.
I love the markings on the front rail showing where to put it for which vehicle...
what a badass piece of history you kept running...imagine someone that bought that
property just having a scrap place come trash it. I love this.
and paint it over time...there's no rush...it's in there now and getting use!
Always love your posts and threads...keep on keeping on, man.
Congrats on being the owner of a new lift! Also you're a good guy for fixing his light .. if more people lived by that mantra, we'd be in a good place in this world
Thanks for removing those Yumcha. I have a cool sign on the wall that is the actual address of my shop. Smart guy right here.
Here are those last two photos slightly edited.
Originally Posted by 00TL-P3.2
Glad it all went back together & jealous of the lift. My micro Craftsman floor jack is in need of a replacement.
I just replaced mine after getting a quote on the manufacturer for parts (they only sell the whole power unit assembly for more than a new jack) Costco usually has a nice one for around 100 dollars.
Originally Posted by thoiboi
Dude this is amazing
I lost it at a squared + b squared =
Congrats on being the owner of a new lift! Also you're a good guy for fixing his light .. if more people lived by that mantra, we'd be in a good place in this world
I did do the math, I just don't trust my own math. I wish I could find a compass big enough to construct it. Also I don't do these favors out of philanthropy. It's purely to be owed one by people who have cool things to borrow.
I did do the math, I just don't trust my own math. I wish I could find a compass big enough to construct it. Also I don't do these favors out of philanthropy. It's purely to be owed one by people who have cool things to borrow.
A wise man once said to me... "No one is truly altruistic..." -Lao Tzu, Confucius... or maybe it was just @rockstar143
Nevertheless, it's never a bad idea to pass along good deeds
Most of what I wanna say would just echo what people have said in this thread so far. But further emphasis needs to be put on how interesting your posts are, keep them coming
Then take apart one of these safety brakes and learn that if you pull the rod out this spring and the washer shoot across the yard. The other 3 were disassembled into sandwich bags.
I have never taken apart a lift, but damn if I didn't relate to this all too well. Also can relate on the whole thing about projects taking way longer than expected...
Very jealous, the lift seems like it was a really good deal, and it makes everything so much easier.
I don't care what anyone says, the fact that you still went as far as sorting out his trailer brake setup is beyond what most people would do. You and your neighbor sound awesome. Meanwhile I mostly talk to my neighbors only if I have to, like when the damn fence collapsed last month due to record breaking winds.
I just shared the missing anchor with my wife, I swear this happens to every project I do. Down to the very end and I'm missing one screw so I go to the store, come home, and immediately find the missing screw.
Great job!! That's work that I would not have undertaken
Originally Posted by Stapler
The next step, and this is crucial for any project of mine, is to wait 10 months for a pandemic that will give you a bunch of spare time.
Originally Posted by 1StGenCL
I just shared the missing anchor with my wife, I swear this happens to every project I do. Down to the very end and I'm missing one screw so I go to the store, come home, and immediately find the missing screw.
04-08-2020, 12:13 AM
Every. Single. Time.