Magazine for the auto service professional
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Courtesy of Mohawk 46 | September/October 2014 lift should always be slightly raised a few inches, at which time the technicians should also jounce the front or rear bumper to make sure the vehicle is securely resting on the proper lifting points. Lift maintenance tips – Inspect each lift daily. – Grease columns at least once each month (some brands, but not all). – Inspect cables for signs of corrosion, kinking, fraying, cutting, etc. If abnor- mal wear is found, replace the cable immediately. – Inspect all moving parts for cleanliness and wear, including locks, arms, arm pivot points, arm telescoping sections, lift posts and pads, etc. – Visually inspect all welds for signs of faults. If a weld crack or separation is dis- covered, stop using the lift and contact the manufacturer. – It may seem inconvenient, but you should perform a daily check for fastener looseness, including the bolts that secure the lift to the foor. Check tightness of bolts that secure the overhead lateral brace (if so equipped). – Clean the lift regularly of any contami- nants such as grease, mud, dirt, etc. This not only keeps the lift looking presentable, but more easily allows you to inspect and discover wear and faulty components. – Schedule a certifed inspector to inspect all of your lifts on an annual basis. A trained expert can often discover problems that you may have missed. – Inspect the hydraulic reservoir and lines for signs of fuid leakage. If any hydraulic fuid leak is discovered, however minute, immediately stop using the lift until the problem has been corrected. – If the lift is equipped with a pressure gauge, pay attention to the gauge, especially when placing a heavy-ended vehicle on the lift to prevent overload- ing the lift and/or to prevent overloading one end of the lift. However, simply looking at the weight gauge can be deceptive. Pay attention to weight distri- bution. On a heavily loaded job truck, the rear may be severely overloaded. – When performing a visual inspection, try to remember to place a bubble gauge on each vertical post. While shifting is unlikely, any change in the vertical can indicate a poten- tial foor fastening issue, which must be addressed immedi- ately. Be sure to check level at both the side and front or rear of each post. Any lean condi- tion is especially critical with a twin-post style lift. A slope indicator is available from many lift makers that attaches to the lift post. This not only aids in adjusting the lift during installation but provides an indica- tor of any changes. – Lift arm pads generally feature rubber cushions. Keep the rubber surfaces clean. Oil/grease contamination will reduce the frictional capability of the rubber. Also, imbedded debris (rocks, metal chips, small The Tech Bench Even though total vehicle weight might be within the rating of the lift, if a commercial vehicle is rear-heavy, due to the weight distribution, the lift may be dangerously overloaded.