Low rise lift hydraulic ideas

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Penstarpurist

Penstarpurist

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So, I bought a low rise lift a couple years ago. The hydraulic pump went out. Looked into options to repair or replace the parts as the lift is pretty sturdy overall. It's not like the quick Jack's, it's very heavy, stationary and meant to be anchored to the concrete. As I've got a nice 9k two post lift in my shop, with plans to put in a second bigger two post in I've been not really doing anything about the low rise. I paid like $500 for the lift, so I don't want to put a bunch of money into it. I would buy a new low rise before I did that. And not working I can't get much for it if I sell it. Does anyone have experience with air powered lift rams? I've seen the rams advertised, I know they have the capacity to lift heavy loads and seem pretty affordable to buy. I have a two stage 80 gallon compressor, so air isn't a problem. I am just curious as to what pros and cons they might have from personal experience. I am not sure what brand the lift frame is, but its burly and does have lock outs, so once it goes up, it's not dependent upon a pressure holding it up. Only to lift to lock outs and to lift to get off the lock outs. My kids keep telling me to scrap it, but I see that as a waste of potential.
 
Is it a scissor? Youll need to do some math to get the ram capacity. If it has lock outs you could use either I suppose, but youll have to factor the diameter of the pneumatic cylinder or else youll have a jack that wont be able to be driven onto as the nested cylinder will be ~18 inches round!

Here is some high school achiever math for you:

"Consider the angles — If the cylinder in an application deals with linkages or has a force transfer angle or other pivoting member, allow for force losses in those angles. The force actually transmitted to the system is equal to the net force multiplied by the sine of the transfer angle:

Ft = Fn × sinθ Ft may equal 6000 lbs. (common low lift capacity)
6000 = Fn X sin (transfer angle looks like maybe 30?) or 1/2? so perhaps you need a 12000 lb cylinder....Im just spit ballin here.

where Ft= force applied to the load, Fn = net force, and θ = the transfer angle.

The force absorbed by the pivot is equal to the net force multiplied by the cosine of the transfer angle:

Ft = Fn × cosθ"
 
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pishta said:
Is it a scissor? Youll need to do some math to get the ram capacity. If it has lock outs you could use either I suppose.
Click to expand...
No, it's not a scissor style. When it lifts the ram pushes the platform up and back. Then lifts up to like 30" off the ground.
20191112_135157.jpg
 
assuming the lift angle ends up at 30 degrees, it still needs to support say 6000 lbs. It would take a 39 inch round pneumatic ram under 100 psi to lift that? 200 psi would half that area at 27 inches diameter. Id stick with non compressing hydraulic if these are correct as the cylinders are much slimmer. An HF 8 ton long ram may work if these dimensions work.
Maximum Lift Height (in.)
44-1/2 in.
Minimum height (in.)
24 in.
Shipping Weight
35.28 Lbs.
Size(s)
8 Ton
Stroke length (in.)
19-1/4 in.

Its a pumper so youd have to plumb it to a pump somehow.
 
I was wondering about a HF ram for it. I'll get some measurements and see if that will fit.
 
I don't think you could easily convert it to straight pneumatic. I hope you are not confusing air/ hydraulic pump. Rams are pretty simple. You take the diameter of the piston, figure the square inches, and using the line pressure, you can figure the "push" the ram delivers. You would have to duplicate that with a pneumatic ram, and it would have to be MUCH larger, because you are operating with about a 10:1 pressure drop from hydraulic to air
 
I may need to do some more research on what I am wanting or thinking about. I was thinking about a straight air ram style. But I think it's probably like you're saying that it needs to be a fluid hydraulic ram over an air only.
 
pishta said:
assuming the lift angle ends up at 30 degrees, it still needs to support say 6000 lbs. It would take a 39 inch round pneumatic ram under 100 psi to lift that? 200 psi would half that area at 27 inches diameter. Id stick with non compressing hydraulic if these are correct as the cylinders are much slimmer. An HF 8 ton long ram may work if these dimensions work.
Maximum Lift Height (in.)
44-1/2 in.
Minimum height (in.)
24 in.
Shipping Weight
35.28 Lbs.
Size(s)
8 Ton
Stroke length (in.)
19-1/4 in.

Its a pumper so youd have to plumb it to a pump somehow.
Click to expand...
You know a while back HF used to have that ram in a air over hydraulic, just plug in your air. I thought about on for my engine hoist. That's if my memory is correct :)
 
Stephen Mulkey said:
You know a while back HF used to have that ram in a air over hydraulic, just plug in your air. I thought about on for my engine hoist. That's if my memory is correct :)
Click to expand...
I did a quick look at Northern Tool and they have a 115v auto lift power pack for under 370. Didn't look too bad.
I also have a two post and would love to find an older one of those low lifts. I think it would be handy and the older units are generally heavier.
 
How far is your big lift from the low lift? You could?? put a two way valve out of the pump off the big hoist and use that pump to operate the smaller. Or put the thing on wheels/ a cart and two pair of quick connectors
 
67Dart273 said:
How far is your big lift from the low lift? You could?? put a two way valve out of the pump off the big hoist and use that pump to operate the smaller. Or put the thing on wheels/ a cart and two pair of quick connectors
Click to expand...

Ok i had to go get a picture of just that setup.
My lift came from a dealership and was a 3 ph motor. I didn't want to pay the 1200 dollars for a 1ph motor so i took the whole hydraulic power system and put it in a cart with a 1ph motor.
Plumbing the lift ram for disconnects and now it also powers a hydraulic tube bender. Later it will run my press. My cart is a mess so only a closeup of the drive.

20191112_181314.jpg
 
The spot where my two post is at is next to the area where I have the deep footings poured for my second two post to go, so I wouldn't want to tie up that area. Plus, I've been really wanting to pour a 12x24 maybe 12x30 six inch pad out in front of my shop off to the side to put it on. Then I can put an r.v sized metal roofed carport over it. Then it can be sided on the wind/rain driving side. Especially since it's something that would probably only get minimal usage. Brakes, shocks, etc. The two posts are always the go to lift it seems.
 
I was thinking the same thing about the shared hydraulic pressure source. Just isolation valves off a T? Maybe even a line in the slab off to the RV shed. That remote control would be sketchy though. My HF friend tells me a few of their hydraulic pumps come back defective so they sell them in their parts corner. Turns out the pick up tube comes out of the pump and is found at the bottom of the reservoir. That's all that is wrong with them.
 
Stephen Mulkey said:
Ok i had to go get a picture of just that setup.
My lift came from a dealership and was a 3 ph motor. I didn't want to pay the 1200 dollars for a 1ph motor so i took the whole hydraulic power system and put it in a cart with a 1ph motor.
Plumbing the lift ram for disconnects and now it also powers a hydraulic tube bender. Later it will run my press. My cart is a mess so only a closeup of the drive.

View attachment 1715422612
Click to expand...

I cannot get any perspective on that thing, looks BIG. Mine I could lift if I had to, I'd guess about a 3/4hp 24V single phase married to an integrated pump/ control valve. It mounts up on one post
 
If it is not working I would have to take it apart and see why it is not. It may only need seals or o rings which will be obvious when you tear into it. We have a business called Power and Rubber that can get almost any seals for pretty cheap. If I am thinking about scrapping it when I get through it will either be working or for sure scrap.
 
red67gts said:
If it is not working I would have to take it apart and see why it is not. It may only need seals or o rings which will be obvious when you tear into it. We have a business called Power and Rubber that can get almost any seals for pretty cheap. If I am thinking about scrapping it when I get through it will either be working or for sure scrap.
Click to expand...
I took the unit to a hydraulic shop and had them look it over. They said it was so worn out, (pump, ram and hoses fittings) that they wouldn't even rebuild it. They said they wanted $1200 for a new system that would still use my structure. At that price I could buy a new one dang near. They had dismantled the ram, pump etc. said it wasn't even able to be reassembled. So all I have is a pile of parts and the lift structure. So it's just sat in the driveway in front of my garage. My kids park on it, lol. If I can get it going again for a few hundred bucks I would. Otherwise it will just sit and eventually end up as parts or scrap.
 
67Dart273 said:
I cannot get any perspective on that thing, looks BIG. Mine I could lift if I had to, I'd guess about a 3/4hp 24V single phase married to an integrated pump/ control valve. It mounts up on one post
Click to expand...
Yeah it's on the big side. I skid mounted the motor and pump. Put it in a heavy four wheeled cart that i could build a tank on if need be. Sometimes overkill.
 
Harbor freight air over hydraulic pump. Cheap. Then just get a Hydraulic cylinder or cylinders off of something that has the same length. Porta power or jack. There are plenty of sources out there. they are cheap new do a search. I wouldn't put air back on your asking for failure again. Hydraulic will push more weight. We put one of those pumps on this 10 ton frame puller. It works better than the one it came with.

10,000 PSI Pneumatic Hydraulic Pressure Pump

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hiltex-1...47731041&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=98124798290&wl4

DSCN0460.JPG
 
That's a cheap solution for sure. I'll look around for a decent used ram or a harbor freight ram if they have one in the right size. Thanks for all the good info.
 
Oldmanmopar said:
Harbor freight air over hydraulic pump. Cheap. Then just get a Hydraulic cylinder or cylinders off of something that has the same length. Porta power or jack. There are plenty of sources out there. they are cheap new do a search. I wouldn't put air back on your asking for failure again. Hydraulic will push more weight. We put one of those pumps on this 10 ton frame puller. It works better than the one it came with.

10,000 PSI Pneumatic Hydraulic Pressure Pump

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hiltex-1...47731041&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=98124798290&wl4

View attachment 1715422674
Click to expand...
Oldmanmopar, thank you for the picture of a piece of a sexy rear (panel that is). I'm a bad boy ;)
 
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