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Lifting you to new heights

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What is a two post lift you ask... it is the center piece of most service and repair bays. As an integral part of vehicle maintenance and repair tasts, it is used more times every day than just about any other piece of shop equipment.

Two-post lifts feature single parallel posts that are spaced a certain distance apart. This distance dictates the width of vehicle you can lift. If you only ever work with small compact cars, you might select a narrow two-post lift that doesn’t take up much floor space. If, on the other hand, you lift large pickups and vans, you’ll need to choose a two-post lift with additional space between the posts.

The posts work in conjunction to lift both sides of the vehicle at the same time and at the same speed. This is critical, as a difference in speed would lift the vehicle at an angle, which could cause the vehicle to fall off the lift.

The electric drive motor and hydraulic pump is located in one of the columns (the powered column) and delivers power to the other column (the slave column).

In both baseplate and overhead two-post lifts, the lift arms are fixed to moving supports that travel up and down the posts. These arms can pivot and extend to

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allow for proper positioning at the front and rear of your vehicle for safe lifting. As you can see, so far, there is no difference in how baseplate and overhead lifts are designed or function.

Let’s discuss the two types of two-post lifts that are available, an overhead car lift and a base plate. Where the two types of lifts differ is how they are connected. The names themselves are quite descriptive:

The baseplate two-post lifts feature a large plate connecting the two columns at the base. With an overhead model (or as we like to call them Clear floor lifts), the connection between the posts is at the top. Since a two-post lift features one powered column and one slave column, the hydraulic power has to be transferred to the slave column so both can operate at the same time.

For both models, the connection (either at the base or overhead) is where these hydraulic lines pass between the two columns, as well as any electrical and control wiring.

This keeps these important lift components safe and secure from damage. It also means they aren’t running across the ground or in the air, where they can get caught or snagged.

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Two-post baseplate lifts are relatively easy to install. They require a flat floor and solid concrete base for bolting. A thick steel plate sits approximately one inch off the ground to cover the hydraulic lines and electrical cables.

While this low ramp is easy to drive over, it can make it difficult to move a dolly, jack or transmission hoist between the columns. One advantage of a baseplate lift is that the height isn’t limited by an overhead cross member.

The maximum height of your lift will be dictated by the capacity and design of the lift, height of the columns and space under your ceiling, although a baseplate-type two-post lift can accommodate tall vehicles with a canopy, light bars, roof racks and other roof-mounted features.

One disadvantage for baseplate lifts is that transmission work is made more difficult. When doing work on a car’s transmission it can be difficult to roll the transmission jack over the baseplate itself. In this case, if you are a business that often does transmission work, we recommend a two-post overhead lift.

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An additional advantage of the clear floor lifts is that there is no obstruction on the ground. If you spend a lot of time under a vehicle on the lift — either on a rolling dolly or with a jack — you’ll appreciate the clear, open floor space.

When there’s no vehicle on the lift, it’s also easier to use the space between your lift as opposed to the baseplate model, with its low but sometimes intrusive steel plate.

If you plan to lift tall vehicles (like trucks and vans), you need to choose an overhead lift with enough height. Because the overhead cross member is fixed, you will always be limited to that maximum height. Any hydraulic hose service and maintenance will mean climbing up a ladder to access through the overhead portion, which can be less convenient than with baseplate models and their hydraulic hoses running along the ground under the plate.

Scissor lifts are named as such because they raise vehicles with an accordion-like mechanism beneath the runways; a metal frame of Xs joined to raise the platform on which the vehicle is standing.

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Scissor lifts come in a variety of capacities and heights for both home and professional automotive repair shops, and are quite capable of lifting very heavy vehicles. From a low height of 791mm to anything beyond that. They are built as both wheel and frame engaging models. When the scissor lift is not lowered and in use, it is much more pleasing to the eye than the four-post lift, as it shrinks itself to the ground.

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Are you the kind of person that likes to work on your car for fun, odds are pretty good that you can put a vehicle lift to good use. While a lift isn’t a small investment, it has a lot of benefits for DIYers:

• A home garage lift will save time on many repairs• A home garage lift will reduce the stress and strain on your body that comes

from working bent over (or in cramped spaces)• A home garage lift makes it possible to complete jobs that would difficult or

dangerous otherwise

The problem with a home garage lift is that most homes can’t accommodate a 2 or 4 post lift. The solution? A low rise car lift.

Low rise car lifts get the underside of a vehicle 700mm off the ground, which provides enough clearance for someone to roll under the vehicle with a creeper, drop a transmission, replace an exhaust system, work on the underside of the motor, etc.

Low rise lifts are a compromise: In a perfect world, anyone that wanted to use a standard 2 post or 4 post vehicle lift could. But, since most home garages won’t fit a 2 post or 4 post lift because the ceiling is too low (and spaces too narrow), the low rise car lift is the compromise.

Benefits of Owning a Low Rise Car LiftLow rise lifts are popular with people who like to work on their vehicle because:

They save money. If your vehicle needs a repair that you can’t safely complete using jack stands and/or a set of oil change ramps, you have two choices:1. Pay a professional2. Rent a space with a lift

Obviously, both of these choices cost money. Not to mention, renting a space is no fun if you have to make trips for parts, tools, etc.They reduce aches and pains. One of the greatest reasons to get a lift is that they

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allow you to sit or lie down as you work. This makes a huge difference in terms of comfort and energy. It’s a lot easier to spend a day in the garage when you’re not stretching and bending the whole time.

They make a lot of work easier (or possible). If you don’t have a lift, it’s damn near impossible to swap a transmission. If you don’t have a lift, replacing an exhaust system is no fun. If you don’t have a lift, a differential gear swap can take a lot longer. If you don’t have a lift, replacing a set of brake pads is more time consuming (and more painful). Etc.

Lifts are obviously beneficial to anyone working on a car – that’s why every shop has them.

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The alignment automotive lift has runways which the vehicle is driven onto. It is a special type of lift because it comes with extra features that make it easier to perform alignment services on vehicles. Special turn-and-slip plates are built into the runways to allow the wheels to easily turn without resistance. This type of lift is also called a "wheel engaging lift".

Public or private parking benefit from parking lifts. The idea being that a single parking space – given enough room vertically - can be occupied by two cars.

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Lift safety precautions to help your shop operate incident-free:

1. Inspect your lift daily and make any repairs with original equipment parts.2. Don’t block open or override controls.3. Never load your lift beyond the manufacturer’s rated capacity.4. Positioning of the vehicle and operation of the lift should be done only by

trained and authorized personnel.5. Never raise vehicle with anyone inside it. Customers or bystanders should not

be in the lift area during operation.6. Always keep lift area free of debris.7. Do not hit or run over lift arms, adapters or axle supports.8. Position lift supports to contact the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended

lifting points and raise the lift until supports contact the vehicle. If you are working under the vehicle, the lift should be raised high enough for locking device to be engaged.

9. Note that with some vehicles, the removal or installation of components may cause a critical shift in the vehicle’s center of gravity. Use high-reach, supplementary stands to prevent instability.

10. Before lowering the lift, be sure materials are removed from under vehicle.

Vehicle lifts are valuable tools that assist technicians in performing repairs safely and efficiently. However, if used improperly, vehicles can fall from the lift and the consequences are too heavy to take lightly. Lack of training, operator error, rushing the operation, and neglected maintenance are among the things that may result in lift-related accidents. A vehicle falling from a lift can result in serious bodily injury, property damage, and liability claims.

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Vehicle lifts should never be operated without proper safety training, and manufacturer and facility safety guidelines should be followed at all times. Here are some helpful basic vehicle lift safety guidelines to help prevent a dangerous mishap.

Provide all technicians with proper training.

• Information on the maximum weight for each lift• Proper operation of all controls• Proper vehicle spotting methods• Lift safety features• Rules for safe lifting• Proper housekeeping procedures

The technician, once trained, has a variety of responsibilities when operating vehicle lift equipment. The following is a list of safe work practices:

• Maintain a constant awareness of the many hazards involved with lifting vehicles.

• Be aware of activities in the lift area during operation.• Never allow unqualified persons to enter the area.• Wear the proper personal protective equipment. Safety glasses need to be worn

when doing overhead work. In some cases safety goggles, face shield, and bump caps may be required.

• Never exceed the maximum weight of the lift.• Always use the proper designated vehicle lift points.• Check the lifting points and adapters for damage or corrosion, and for wet, oily,

or slick surfaces that may cause slippage.• Ensure the vehicle is properly centered and balanced. Position the vehicle so its

center of gravity lies well within the area bounded by the supporting points of contact between the lift and vehicle. Remove any item in the vehicle that could affect the normal center of gravity.

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• Raise the lift a sort distance and gently rock the vehicle to verify it is sufficiently stabilized before fully raising the vehicle to working position. For long-wheelbase or short-wheelbase vehicles, it is good practice to position high reach vehicle support stands under the vehicle.

• Ensure the lift locking devices (latches) are properly engaged.• Use high reach vehicle support stands to assist in stabilizing the vehicle if heavy

parts are to be added or removed. Never lower a vehicle onto the vehicle support stand.

• Never try to stabilize a falling vehicle — get out of the way!• Make sure the wheels are properly chocked on drive-on lifts. Only use

equipment provided by the manufacturer.• Make sure the area is clear of people, tools, and equipment when lowering a

vehicle.• Never try to alter or repair a lift. Immediately report any problems to your

supervisor. Only trained professionals are qualified and authorized to repair or modify the equipment.

• Never use the lift as a jack or for any other unauthorized purposes.

Making sure your staff goes home safely at the end of each work day should be a priority for your fleet maintenance facility. That’s why it’s important to complete

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daily safety checks on your lift before operating.

TWO-POST CAR LIFT AUTOMATIC ARM RESTRAINTS Because the various car lifting solution designs can be extremely different from each other, it makes sense that some safety features are specific to only one kind of car lift.Two-post car lifts employ swing arm assemblies that allow the operator to change the arm configuration to suit a wide range of vehicles. It is important that swing arm lifts employ restraint devices to prevent arms from shifting or dislodging after a vehicle is already mounted and raised.

FOUR-POST CAR LIFT RUNWAYS RAMPS AND CHOCKSAutomotive lift buyers should always consider their vehicle specific needs when considering runway style lifts. Special attention should be focused on ramp approach angles and chassis clearance of intended vehicles.Be sure your auto lift is equipped with manual wheel chocks as the primary means to restrain vehicles from inadvertently rolling off either end of the runways.Automatic stops on the approach end and fixed stops up front should be provided on runway lifts as a secondary means to restrain vehicles from inadvertently rolling off either end of the runways when raised. HYDRAULIC FLOW RESTRICTOR/SAFETY VALVEHydraulic car lifts that are designed with safety in mind use specialized hydraulic flow restrictors and velocity fuses integrated into the hydraulic cylinders or hydraulic circuit in order to control rapid and sudden descent in the event of a hydraulic component failure. These essential safety devices dramatically reduce or stop the downward travel in a free-fall situation due to a hydraulic system failure other than the cylinders themselves.

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When exploring lifting solutions, always make sure the design features these crucial components for consistently smooth operation and no surprises.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY LOCKSThese powerful load-holding devices automatically engage and lock the lift structure as the car lift raises, preventing sudden free fall in the unlikely event of a suspension component failure.Typically, after the lift is raised to the required working height, operators are instructed to lower the lift until it is resting safely on the locks, thus minimizing wear on suspension components. Once the locks are engaged, the car lift has to be raised slightly in order to release the safety locks.

SLACK CABLE OR SLACK CHAIN SAFETY DEVICEAs a redundant safety precaution, all professional-grade lifts that employ either cable or chain as a suspension component should incorporate a slack cable or chain device that causes automatic braking of the supported structure in the event a suspension component is broken or slackened.

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PROPER USE AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONSAlways be sure that your car lift is supplied with operation, inspection, service and maintenance instructions that include specifications of the lift, lift rated load capacity, significant lift and bay dimensions, power requirements (compressed air and/or electrical), foundation and floor structural requirements.

Car lift installation instructions should be clear, concise and with graphics illustrating full step-by-step assembly, exploded drawings with part numbers and descriptions, component packing list, site requirements, mounting and anchoring instructions, recommended clearance around and above lift, plan and elevation details of auto lift layout, final pre-check procedure for assembled lift, operational test and inspection and maintenance instructions.

www.integratedmarketing.co.za | 012 664 3445 | sales@integratedmarketing.co.za

Lifting Equipment available

IMW29004 Ton → Base plate manual releaseMin height → 100mmLifting height → 1900mmColumn height → 2826mm

IMW29104 Ton → Base free manual releaseMin height → 100mmLifting height → 1900mmColumn height → 3601mm

FL8224E4.5 Ton → Base plate electric releaseMin height → 90mmLifting height → 1930mmColumn height → 2824mm

FL8214E4.5 Ton → Base free electric releaseMin height → 90mmLifting height → 1930mmColumn height → 3892mm

www.integratedmarketing.co.za | 012 664 3445 | sales@integratedmarketing.co.za

FL8215E5 Ton → Base free electric release3 stage arms for VW crafterLifting height → 1900mmColumn height → 4451mm

SG45 Ton → Alignment lift with slip plates2.5 Ton → Aux jackPlatform lenght → 5192mMax lifting height → 1800mm

SS70004 Ton → Service & parking liftPlatform lenght → 4200mmColumn height → 2128mmWidth between columns → 2670mm

LR454.5 Ton → Low level liftMax lifting height → 791mmMin height → 80mmPlatform lenght → 1400mm

MR303 Ton → Mid Rise liftMax lifting height → 1000mmMin height → 105mm

Perfect for long wheel base Iveco van

RJ62 Ton → Hydraulic rolling jackIncludes a handpump