Single post lift

1944bgardner · Jan 6, 2016

I am renting a building that has an old Joyce single post underground
lift. I was inspecting the safety latch, does it look complete?
Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks

Sean Feeney · Jan 6, 2016

Looks to me if you steped on the flat piece and lowered it a inch or so the hole would engage and be your safety

hd6gtom · Jan 6, 2016

yep that is right used 1 similar for 15 years.

1944bgardner · Jan 6, 2016

That's what it looked like to me but I wasn't sure. The safety post only has 2 holes almost to the top of its travel. I might make a hole about mid travel for tire rotation and brake work. So you should lift it up past then lower down to hole. Thanks for the replies.

Mike M · Jan 6, 2016

I worked in an old GM dealer right before the bailout. They had those type of lifts but I could not tell how the safteys were because they didn't have any left in working condition. The hoist in the body shop settled down and that fellow had blocks of wood he could stick under it of different length. So much for OSHA or EPA they never came around to inspect anything.

mite-help · Jan 6, 2016

Only problem I see is How you gonna stand on it & operate controls @ the same time? are they foot operated also? ones I use to work with had air valve waist high, outside working area.

retired farmer · Jan 6, 2016

I used to repair them back in the early seventies but don't remember what kind of a latch they had, that one looks like it might have a spring under it to hold in the closed or released position while you raise or lower it.

mite-help · Jan 6, 2016

Saw a car come off of one these back in the 60's. think it was pulled too far forward. big Lincoln as I recall. my buddy had just raised all the way up & was bleeding front brakes. I was under a hood in bay across, heard a noise & turned around to see that car sliding, tilting downward. I watched guys first instinct was to throw his hands up, trying to hold off him, than I ran. nose thumped hard on concrete, slid too darn close to where I had been. ran looking for buddy, he was ok, had run around post & out the open overhead door. shop got no work done the rest of the day.

mite-help · Jan 6, 2016

ok--I bet the lift frame sets down on that pad--prob. spring loaded to make that pin ride on post? designed to pop in at max height, step on another pad to release? [thinkn out loud]

sotxbill · Jan 6, 2016

designed to have a "high center" so that it will flip either way and stay there till you move it...

If you flip it to the safety position, the weight will hold it against the pole till the hole lines up and then fall in...

When lowering, you raise it a tiny bit, flick the safety over and then you can lower it.

used one just like it for years as a mechanic...

Andy Martin · Jan 6, 2016

My lift is Rotary, different style lock. My lock kept hanging up, so I took it off. The air in the system cannot leak out all at once. Even with a total line failure it's a slow decent. I've used mine that way for thirty years, and it leaks a little now. A car left up on it will settle a couple of inches a day, normally I don't leave one on it so the little leak is not yet an issue. It will be if it is a leak that is letting the hydraulic fluid out.

By the way, make a piece of plywood with a 2x2 frame to fit over the lift. Makes a great loading dock to get things into and off the truck. We also used to pull engines with one arm.

1944bgardner · Jan 6, 2016

I just need to blow out the crud around the
latch so it flip/flops and it should be OK.
In the building there is also the platform
already made to use as a loading dock.
Thanks for the tip or it might have been cut
up and used elsewhere.

Sprint 6 · Jan 6, 2016

That "safety" wouldn't stop a darn thing. Cast pin in a hole won't stop a sudden load of several thousand pounds. Don't let people tell you they always drop slow when they fail. If they have a hydraulic failure, they are headed for the ground. I have seen it happen on an old twin post Rotary. These lifts were safe when new, but after being buried for 50+ years, think what soil and ground water does to untreated steel. That is what happened to the one I saw drop, casing failed. It didn't slam the ground, but came down fast enough to make me never want to use one of those dinosaurs again. When it was dug out, the bottom of the casing was rusted to the thickness of paper and just blew out.

sotxbill · Jan 7, 2016

Actually it does stop the load... every time you lower the lift and forget to flip it over.. it stops and supports the load. Had to raise it back a bit and then trip it. So yes.. they work very well...they were tested several times a day due to forgetfulness.

Andy Martin · Jan 7, 2016

The key is that the load is on the safety if you use it right, it is not designed to catch a falling load.

I've never seen one fail as you describe. Seen lots of them get pinholes and start leaking. Kind of wonder if the catastrophic failure happened during an overload.

JOHN908 · Jan 10, 2016

I could never work with the lock engaged because I am to short,.When lowering them I would see them drop 2 feet and sort of bounce.I was glad when they got the new style that can lock at any height.

Single post lift

1944bgardner

Member

Sean Feeney

Well-known Member

hd6gtom

Well-known Member

1944bgardner

Member

Mike M

Well-known Member

mite-help

Member

retired farmer

Well-known Member

mite-help

Member

mite-help

Member

sotxbill

Well-known Member

Andy Martin

Well-known Member

1944bgardner

Member

Sprint 6

Well-known Member

sotxbill

Well-known Member

Andy Martin

Well-known Member

JOHN908

Member

Similar threads