When installing a two-post lift, what is more important, having plumb columns or frame contact pads that are level with one another?
- Your options would be as follows: Install the lift on the sloped floor and shim only as necessary to plumb the columns. In this case, your lift pads would be one inch off – right to left. ...
- The correct leveling procedure would be as follows: Loosen the anchors on both columns ...
- Before Shims After Shims ...
How should I install a two-post lift?
BendPak recommends installing the columns of a two-post lift in a manner that will result in the frame contact pads being level with one another. If the floor is perfectly level, then by all means, pay attention to the column plumbness. But again, always confirm that the frame contact pads are equal.
Are the columns of a two-post lift supposed to be level?
BendPak recommends installing the columns of a two-post lift in a manner that will result in the frame contact pads being level with one another. If the floor is perfectly level, then by all means, pay attention to the column plumbness.
Are two post vehicle lifts any good?
Two-post vehicle lifts are one of the most useful items that you can have in your home garage or repair shop. Every repair shop has one and it goes without saying that automotive repair is easier (and safer) with a hoisted vehicle. Installing a 2 post lift requires professional help.
How do you position a car with an above ground lift?
On a two-post above ground lift, do not position the vehicle to the front or rear of the posts just so the door can be opened easier. Refer to asymmetric lift loading to determine a car's offset for door clearance.

How do you adjust a 2-post car lift?
0:271:4490 Second Know How: 2 Post Cable Adjustment - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipKeep tightening until the cable is taut with minimal resistance you should be able to squeeze theMoreKeep tightening until the cable is taut with minimal resistance you should be able to squeeze the cables. Within a 1/2 inch to 3/4 of an inch of each.
How thick should concrete be for a 2-post car lift?
4 inchesThe recommended thickness for a car lift concrete slab is 4 inches minimum for most two-post lifts and four-post lifts.
How thick does the floor need to be for a 2-post lift?
Pre-Existing Minimum Floor Requirements:TWO‐POST MODELSMIN. THICKNESSMIN. COMP. STRENGTHXPR‐10 SERIES MODELS4‐1/4"3000 PSI / 28 Day AgingXPR‐12 SERIES MODELS6 1/2"3000 PSI / 28 Day AgingXPR‐15 SERIES MODELS8"3000 PSI / 28 Day AgingXPR‐18 SERIES MODELS8"3000 PSI / 28 Day Aging14 more rows
How do you center a car on a lift?
0:182:19How to use a 2-post lift - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow push the button on the power unit to raise the arms until adapters make contact with theMoreNow push the button on the power unit to raise the arms until adapters make contact with the vehicles lifting points then slightly lift the vehicle until the wheels are off the ground.
How tall should a ceiling be for a 2 post lift?
12-footCeiling Height Typically, a 12-foot minimum clearance, floor to ceiling, is required for your general two-post lift. Higher ceiling height is required for some of the four-post storage lifts and anything designed for larger trucks.
How do you reinforce concrete for an auto lift?
1:257:20Concrete Requirements for 2 Post Auto Lifts - Tutorial - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipShould be minimum of 4 inches thick and 3,000 psi tensile strength with steel or fiber meshMoreShould be minimum of 4 inches thick and 3,000 psi tensile strength with steel or fiber mesh reinforcement. For the record I like to see customers use both fiber mesh and steel.
How thick of concrete do you need for a lift?
four inchesThe concrete slab also needs to be at a certain depth to safely install a car lift. A minimum of four inches of reinforced concrete is the standard, however, ideally, you should have at least six inches, and as much as twelve.
How do car lifts not tip over?
Question: What keeps it from tipping over‐there's no top crossbar? Answer: The concrete anchors actually secure the lift to the floor and keep it from tipping over.
Is 4 inches of concrete enough for garage floor?
A standard garage slab should be at least 4 inches deep, depending on the subgrade condition (100 mm). You can raise the thickness to 6-inches if the garage has heavy machinery in it or heavy shelving loads. The concrete slab should be at least four inches thick. When heavy machinery sits on it, it needs to be thicker.
How far from the wall should a 2 post lift be?
If your lift has asymmetric arms, then we recommend the center of the columns should be set about 9-10 feet off the front wall. If your lift has symmetric arms, then we recommend that the center of your columns should be about 12 feet off the front wall.
How far from the wall should a car lift be?
As a rule of thumb, with a symmetrical lift, try to leave at least 12 feet from your posts to the back wall. If you have an asymmetrical lift to install, nine to 10 feet should be adequate. If you have more space available, think about how you can efficiently use that space.
Are 2 post lifts safe?
Two-post car lifts are some of the most popular lifts in the world. They're safe and reliable when used correctly, and they have high lift capacities.
How much does it cost to install a 2 post lift?
$300 to $500Installation costs for two-post lifts maybe $300 to $500 while four-post lifts can run from $700 to $1,000. Installation of scissor and parallelogram lifts is about $1,000 to $1,500. Another cost that may occur during installation is adding extra kits like high-lift equipment, which is usually around $800.
Where should a 2 post lift be placed?
If your lift has asymmetric arms, then we recommend the center of the columns should be set about 9-10 feet off the front wall. If your lift has symmetric arms, then we recommend that the center of your columns should be about 12 feet off the front wall.
When installing a two-post lift, what is more important, having plumb columns or frame contact pads that are level with one another?
BendPak recommends installing the columns of a two-post lift in a manner that will result in the frame contact pads being level with one another. If the floor is perfectly level, then by all means, pay attention to the column plumbness. But again, always confirm that the frame contact pads are equal.
How to install a column on a sloped floor?
Install the high-side (right) column on the floor surface, and then elevate the low-side (left) column an additional one inch with steel shim plates . Plumb both as required. In this case, even though the floor is sloped one inch, the columns would be installed plumb and the lift pads would be equal.
How much does a moment load increase?
Assume the lift has an arm that measures 45.1” to the center of the lift pad from the main column centerline when loaded. Due to 1.78" horizontal shift at full height, the moment arm would increase from 45.1” to 46.9”, or an increase of 4.0%. Therefore, the moment applied to the column and transmitted to the base plate will increase 4%. A 4% additional moment load would increase the anchor bolt tension load from 2,772 lbs. to 2,882 lbs. (A single Wej-It 3/4” anchor bolt embedded 5” deep in 3,000 psi concrete has a rated tension capacity of 12,000 lbs. or more.) Considering the fact that our columns and other main structure components have safety factors exceeding 400%, they would be virtually unaffected by a 4% increase in moment loading.
What if there is a slight pitch in the floor?
What if there is a slight pitch in the floor? Most garage floors will be sloped at least to a slight degree. If you plumb your columns to a sloped floor, your pads are going to be unlevel. This is very unsafe. More important than plumbness, the columns need to be parallel and the pads should be as close to level with one another as they can be.
When installing a two-post hoist, what is more important, having plumb columns or frame contact pads that are level with one another?
BendPak recommends installing the columns of a two-post hoist in a manner that will result in the frame contact pads being level with one another. If the floor is perfectly level, then by all means, pay attention to the column plumbness. But again, always confirm that the frame contact pads are equal.
How far off the floor should a hoist be?
Install the hoist on the sloped floor and shim only as necessary to plumb the columns. In this case, your hoist pads would be one inch off – right to left. Depending where your arms are positioned on the vehicle and the distance between pads, that one-inch could translate to dramatically sloped loading and a very dangerous condition.
How to install a column on a sloped floor?
Install the high-side (right) column on the floor surface, and then elevate the low-side (left) column an additional one inch with steel shim plates . Plumb both as required. In this case, even though the floor is sloped one inch, the columns would be installed plumb and the lift pads would be equal.
How much does a moment load increase?
Therefore, the moment applied to the column and transmitted to the base plate will increase 4%. A 4% additional moment load would increase the anchor bolt tension load from 2,772 lbs. to 2,882 lbs. (A single Wej-It 3/4” anchor bolt embedded 5” deep in 3,000 psi concrete has a rated tension capacity of 12,000 lbs. or more.) Considering the fact that our columns and other main structure components have safety factors exceeding 400%, they would be virtually unaffected by a 4% increase in moment loading.
What if there is a slight pitch in the floor?
What if there is a slight pitch in the floor? Most garage floors will be sloped at least to a slight degree. If you plumb your columns to a sloped floor, your pads are going to be unlevel. This is very unsafe. More important than plumbness, the columns need to be parallel and the pads should be as close to level with one another as they can be.
What is a 2 post lift?
As everyone knows, the 2 post car lift is one of the most useful items that you can have in your repair shop or if you are a DIY’er in your home garage. Every repair shop that you go to will always have one these items in their shops because it is easier to fix a car while you are standing up than it is laying down underneath a car ...
How long does it take to install a car lift?
You should be equipped to install your own lift. It should only take you a couple of hours to install this lift, and believe it or not, it's rather simple.
How to test a lift arm?
Always test the lift arm by moving it from left to right and make sure that it can hold up your weight before placing any cars on top of it.
How long before a forklift arrives can you pick it up?
Just make sure that whoever is delivering the lift calls you 24 hours prior to them coming so that you can have the forklift ready. If for any reason you can’t find a forklift, tell the distributor to ship the car lift to the nearest freight terminal and pick it up from there.
How to install a snap ring on a lift?
This is usually a very simple procedure. All you have to do is just place the lift arms in the correct position and slide the head pins in. And once they are inside and through the holes in the Arm Assembly, install the Snap Ring into the groove in the lift the head pin on the underside of the lift head.
How to find a good car lift installer?
You can find a good installer by calling JMC Automotive Equipment at 877-298-7730.
How long does a lift hold cars?
Remember, this is the part of the lift that picks up the cars and holds it for several hours at a time .
What is a car lift adapter?
You now pay attention to the lift’s adapters, which provide a grip to the car lifts to elevate the vehicle properly. Choose the adapters according to the type of vehicle, where there are unibody, frames, and other adapters depending on the car’s body.
How to move reclined swing arms?
Move the reclined swing arms under the vehicle to the manufacturer’s indicated lifting point. Most new model cars have an arrow that points to the area to put the adapters when you stretch the swing arms. This is the lifting point.
How to check if a car is stable?
Once the wheels are somewhat raised from the ground, inspect it to see if it is level. Then move to the front or rear of the vehicle and try rocking it to see if its stable. Again, the wheels must be a few inches off the ground before rocking it, so that if it is unstable, there won’t be any occupational hazards.
How to lower a vehicle after working on it?
After working on the vehicle, you may lower it down. Start by raising the lift from its lock, then lower it. The lifting platform should be clear to avoid accidents.
What is a 2 post car lift?
The 2-post car lift is standard in racing and auto-sporting circles, where they lift the racing cars for inspection and maintenance. The four-post lift is also popular, though the 2-post is way common due to the ease of use with smaller vehicles. The 2-post layout is just as its name implies, featuring a post on either side ...
What is a car lift?
The car lift is one of the most revolutionary equipments that you will find in a garage. It comes in handy when you want to lift a vehicle for washing, inspection, or repairs, among other reasons. One of the most popular types of car lift is the 2-post lift. You should know how to position a car on a 2-post car lift in your mechanical practice, ...
Why should a lift be firmly erected on the ground?
The region should be level and easily accessible. During installation, the lift should be firmly erected on the ground to keep occupational hazards at bay. There are also portable or movable lifts to consider, which come with the pros taking minimal storage space, ease in installation, and flexibility.
What is the advantage of a 2 post drive on 2 post lift?
An advantage to the wheel contact drive-on 2 post lift is the quick setup time to drive the vehicle onto the lift without setting any lift arms to the lifting points. These lifts provide quick setup for quick services like oil changes but are more expensive with the addition of runways and jacks to get the wheels free. The runways also provide a means to be level for wheel alignment service.
What is hydraulic equipment?
In the automotive shop environment, hydraulic equipment is used for lifting vehicles and heavy parts. Most automotive shops have hydraulic or electric / hydraulic lifts for lifting vehicles high in the air for convenience and better productivity when they are worked on. Hydraulic jacks are used for heavy parts and will be covered in a separate document. The focus for this document will be on car lifts.
What is an in ground lift?
They are the in-ground lift and the above-ground (surface mount) lift. When the lifting mechanism is located below the floor , the lift is an in-ground lift. In-ground lifts were the dominant lift type used until the 1980’s.
How many volts does an electric motor need?
The electric motor requires 220 volt power on a 30 amp circuit. Most shops will prefer to drop the power down from the ceiling for hookup to the motor switch box as per local code. The hydraulic pump is mounted between the motor and the reservoir tank. The pump is equipped with valves that have preset pressure limits to prevent lifting over the rated capacity. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST THE FACTORY SETTINGS OF THE PRESSURE VALVE. When the up button is pressed the fluid is pressurized and sent along the hoses to the cylinders to provide lift to the carriages and arms. The pump also has a lowering valve that is activated by the down lever. The down valve allows the fluid to return to the reservoir tank while lowering the lift.
Why do you need to train to lift a car?
When a vehicle comes down by accident, this is usually due to carelessness, misuse, or neglected maintenance.
Why is a surface mount lift easier to maintain?
A surface mount lift is also easier to maintain or repair because it requires no excavation. Surface mount lifts are also less likely to leak oil into the ground (an environmental concern). The most popular style of surface mounted lifts is a two-post, drive through, frame engaging type.
How deep do you need to be for a lift?
Most surface mount lifts require a minimum of 4” depth concrete with a minimum compressive strength of 3000 PSI to support the anchor bolts. Lifts with higher rated capacities can require a minimum of 6” depth of concrete.
