Repair And Fix it

An engine lift, also called a hoist, is a heavy-duty piece of equipment used to lift automobile engines out of the chassis so that mechanics can work on or replace them. Engine lifts are manufactured by numerous companies, but designs are generally the same with similar parts. A typical engine hoist is composed of a stand, a jack, (also called a hydraulic ram) and a boom with chains and hook attachments.

The Stand

The engine lift stand, also called the legs or frame, is a foundation that stabilizes the lift and bears the weight of the engine when the lift is loaded. A good engine lift stand is made of steel or other sturdy, durable metal. Many engine lift stands are equipped with pivoting casters with locking brakes so that the entire lift can be easily and safely moved or repositioned.

The Jack or Hydraulic Ram

The jack or hydraulic ram composes the vertical, central portion of an engine hoist, and is the part of the device that does the actual lifting. The hydraulic jack functions similarly to a car jack, and is equipped with a lever operated by manually pumping it to raise the engine incrementally. All hydraulic rams should be equipped with a safety device to control how quickly the lift lowers the engine, and to prevent it from slipping or dropping.

The Boom, Chains and Hooks

The boom is a long, horizontal arm, usually equipped with chains and hooks, that is mounted onto the hydraulic jack. A boom is designed to balance load forces so that a loaded engine lift will not tip over. Once the hooks are attached to the engine, the boom rises incrementally as the hydraulic jack is pumped, lifting the engine free of the chassis. The chains allow the engine to dangle from the boom with some horizontal motion, which makes it easier to maneuver the engine.

If you use your pickup truck for heavy hauling and dont need a full-blown commercial vehicle, a Tommy Lift gate lift is a useful accessory for elevating heavy goods in and out of the truck. The installation of a Tommy Lift gate is a bit technical. It requires some mechanical know-how as well as some automotive electrical work to power the gate.

Instructions

1

Recruit a partner to help with handling the heavy parts. Use an engine hoist and chain for lifting if you cant find someone to help you. Remove the tailgate from the pickup truck. Disconnect the safety cables on both sides of the truck door. If the door sits in a cradle hinge, position it at its halfway point of descent and lift it up to disconnect it. If it is bolted in, use a socket wrench and pliers to disconnect the door hinges.

2

Have your partner hold one side of the lift assembly while you carry the other side of the gate so it wont drop or be awkward to install. If you cant find a partner, use an engine hoist to suspend the lift until it is in place. Install the main door/ramp component of the Tommy Gate to the back of the truck by lining it up with bolt holes in the internal side walls of the end of the truck. Drill the holes with a power drill if they dont already exist. Use metal rods to hold the gate onto the truck until you are ready to insert the bolts -- taper pins work well for this purpose.

3

Connect the motor/pump assembly that comes with the kit. Lift the engine with both hands carefully as it is heavy and can hurt your foot or body part if dropped. Tighten the two long kit bolts per the kit instructions so that the engine is engaged with the gate mechanism. Bolt the engine assembly to the gate to keep it in place. Use vise grip pliers to keep the lift bracket and the truck wall together until youre done attaching the bolts -- this makes it easier to line up the holes.

4

Attach the hydraulic hose connections from the gate to the motor. Connect the drive part that pushes the gate up and down, as instructed.

5

Engage the electrical connections to the vehicle by connecting the red and black wires to the truck wiring for a car battery power source. Use a wire snipper/crimper tool as necessary with wire connectors to splice and attach the wires to each other.

6

Prime the hydraulic system with new hydraulic fluid. Make sure there is no air left in the tubes by keeping one hose open and draining it until all that comes out is fluid. Have the fluid pour into an old container so it doesnt contaminate the ground. Recycle it later on. Seal the last hose when the air is bled and complete the hydraulic fill by connecting that hose to its junction point right away -- otherwise air will get back in. Using a screwdriver, check all the hoses to make sure their connecting clamps are in place and tight.

7

Turn the truck on. Turn the Tommy Gate Lift motor on and test the gate. Make sure to run the gate at least five times up and down to make sure everything is working correctly. Rebleed the hydraulic lines and refill them if the motor works fine but theres not enough pressure to operate the lift.

The BendPak equipment company was founded in 1965 under the name "Quality Machine and Associates." The BendPak name was introduced in 1979 as the brand for a hydraulic tubing bender. Since that time, the BendPak name has been applied to other equipment, including two-post and four-post hydraulic vehicle service lifts.

Floor

The specifications of the floor area are important for a BendPak lift installation. Vehicle lifts frequently hold several tons of weight, and an improper floor can cause a significant safety hazard. Before a lift can be installed, the concrete must be inspected to ensure it is free of defects or cracks. The floor must be level, it cant have more than three degrees of slope. The concrete floor is required to be at least four inches thick and must be rated for at least 2,500 pounds per square inch (PSI). New concrete must cure for at least 28 days before a BendPak lift can be installed.

Anchors

A BendPak lift must be securely anchored to the floor for safety. The holes drilled for the lift anchors are required to be 4 and a half inches deep, with a width of 3/4th of an inch. For these holes to be properly made, a hammer drill with a masonry bit is required. Metal anchors that are rated for use with concrete must be used. They must be tightened securely before the BendPak lift is used.

Air

BendPak lifts require a compressed air source at the installation location. A reliable compressed air feed is necessary to operate the safety locks of the lift. This compressed air must be regulated to a maximum pressure of 125 pounds per square inch (PSI). If compressed air at a higher pressure is used, the air lines and connections can be damaged.

Electricity

The installation site for a BendPak lift must be equipped with single-phase power. This electricity is required to be between 208 and 230 volts at 60 hertz. The electrical circuit must be set up for 25 amps. If several BendPak lifts are installed in the same facility, a separate circuit breaker must be used for each lift. Standard 110-volt power cannot be used for an installed lift; it will cause damage to the motor of the hydraulic power unit.

Until the 1990s, Benwil lifts were the featured car lift for General Motors and Chryslers garage equipment program. Although Benwil is no longer in business, thousands of Benwil car lifts can be found throughout the United States. Benwil lifts are a popular and inexpensive option for car enthusiasts who want a quality car lift at an affordable price. Although spare parts are no longer available from Benwil, you can purchase parts from generic car-lift parts suppliers. Each of Benwils 29 car lift models has its own installation instructions, but an overview of the set-up methods for the TP-7 model will provide you with a general guide you can apply to your particular installation.
Instructions

1 Assemble the lift arms. Insert the inner bar restraint into the arm rest. Insert the arm rest into the snap ring and bolt it with the arm lock fitting pin to the main lift arm. Introduce the inner slide arm into the long arm extension. Screw the steel support into the inner slide arm. Place the rubber arm pad on the steel support and attach it with four round-head screws.
2 Erect the lifts columns. Attach the motor, valve parts, cables and pulleys. You will need two cables for each car lift model. Introduce the sheaf shaft into the column and connect it through the lift cables and into the cable sheave spacers.
3 Assemble the column cylinder. Connect the chain wheel to the chain bracket with the chain wheel shaft, the snap ring and the roller assembly. Attach the chain fitting plate with the socket head cap bolt and cover the assembly with the cylinder seal panel.
4 Connect the lifts three phase motor to the release valve and to the cylinders chain wheel. Fix the lift arms to the cylinder carriage.