Every car enthusiast dreams of having at least one automobile lift in their garage. However, different types of lifts serve various purposes. Let’s explore some key aspects of car lifts to help you determine which one might be best for you. You can browse our selection of car lifts on our website.
Why Do You Want an Automotive Lift Repair Florida Car Lift?
First, consider the primary reason you want a lift. Are you looking for additional storage space to accommodate another vehicle? Or are you seeking a more convenient way to work on your cars? Perhaps you need a combination of both? For storing a car, a single post or four post lift would be ideal. If your focus is on working on vehicles without using the lift for storage, a two post lift is the better choice. For a lift that provides both storage and a workspace, a four post lift with options to facilitate car maintenance might be the best solution.
Can an Automotive Lift Repair Florida Car Lift Fit in Your Garage?
Most homeowners looking to install an Automotive Lift Repair Florida lift in their garage plan to use it primarily for storage, favoring single post or four post lifts. To determine if a lift will fit, you need to consider ceiling height. Measure the height of the two cars you plan to stack and add ten inches to account for the deck height and the locking positions of the posts to securely hold the upper car. Be mindful of any potential obstructions such as garage door openers or ceiling lights that might need to be moved. Typically, the height of a four post lift isn’t a major issue since the posts are not excessively tall. However, you should check the length and width of the lift to ensure it fits comfortably alongside your other vehicles.
If you’re considering an Automotive Lift Repair Florida two post lift for easier vehicle maintenance, you’ll need to measure your ceiling height carefully, as the posts will be quite tall. Depending on the design, the lift might have a connecting bracket either across the top of the posts or running along the floor. A top-mounted bracket requires you to be cautious not to hit it while raising the car (though some lifts have switches to prevent this). A bottom-mounted bracket may obstruct movement of tools or stools between the posts. Regardless of the design, the connection is crucial for ensuring the lifting arms operate in unison.
Step 11
In step 11, you’ll need to hang the power unit. We recommend having two people for this task to prevent accidentally dropping the unit and causing significant damage. Pre-install the top two hanging bolts into the power unit to facilitate hanging it onto the slots on the mount found on the tower. This method avoids the difficulty of aligning and securing the bolts while holding up the unit. Once the power unit is in place, tighten the bolts securely.
Step 12
With the Automotive Lift Repair Florida power unit hung, proceed to install the hydraulic lines, hydraulic fittings, and the safety shutoff switch wire. Follow the routing instructions in your manual and connect the lines according to the diagram below. Since these fittings are either flare fittings or o-ring fittings, thread sealant is not required. Use Gorilla Tape or zip ties to secure any excess hydraulic line material at the top of the lift to prevent it from bunching up inside the towers, which could obstruct the carriage movement. Complete step 12 by routing the safety shutoff switch wire down to the power unit, following the same path as the hydraulic cables.
Pro Tip: When installing the Tee fitting into the tower, adjust it so that as little of the fitting as possible protrudes inside the tower. Excess protrusion can cause the carriage to strike the fitting during operation, leading to damage.
Step 13
Now, install the equilibrium cables according to your manual. The diagram below illustrates the cable routing for the TP9KACX. After installation, secure the cables with 2 nuts on each end. This double-nut system locks the cables in place to prevent loosening.
Step 15
Next, hang the arms onto the carriage using the carriage pin. Applying a little grease to the pin will make this task easier and help prevent squeaking during operation.
Step 16
Insert the lifting feet/pads into the arms, ensuring that the flat side of the threaded pad mount aligns with the tab welded to the lift arm.
Step 17
Install the Automotive Lift Repair Florida arm restraints to fully engage the teeth on the arm, ensuring there is minimal play in the assembly to prevent the arm from swinging left or right while restrained. Also, install the spring, washer, and cotter pin underneath the carriage to ensure the arm restraints are spring-loaded.
Step 18
Connect the hydraulic line from the power unit to the tower and fill the power unit reservoir with the fluid specified in your manual. Generally, 9K-11K lifts require about 3 gallons of fluid, while 12K-15K lifts need around 4 gallons. In this example, we are using ISO32.
Step 19
It’s time to wire the power unit. Refer to your manual for the wiring diagram and consider hiring a professional electrician for this task. Manufacturers often require proof of professional wiring to warranty a faulty power unit. For the TP9KACX, install a 30 amp 220V breaker, which provides two 110V power lines. One line connects directly to the power unit, while the other runs through the limit switch (overhead safety shutoff switch). Connect the ground wire to the power unit housing to complete the installation.
Step 20
At this stage, adjust the Automotive Lift Repair Florida equilibrium cables. Raise the carriages using the power unit until they are a foot or two off the ground, but do not lower them onto the safety locks. Tighten the cable using a wrench or electric impact, ensuring the carriage on the opposite side of the lift is raised. Repeat this process from side to side until both carriages are level and the cables are taut, but not overly tight.
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