Major FAIL!!!! By davec (Read 844 times)

[davec]

Remember when I was posting and talking about that ATV lift from harbor freight.
Well, I went and got it last Sat and got it put together today

It is pretty solid, and easy to assemble

I was worried the size of the wheel holder things weren't gonna be wide enuf as my tires are wide, but no problem, fit perfectly

I was worried they tire holder thingys wouldn't go out far enuf to reach each rear wheel, but, surprise, they did.

Everything fit perfectly.

I got the jack set up, under the wheels (actually drove the trike back onto the lift.)

I started to pump the foot pedal as best I could.
Slowly it rose, then nothing.
Pumped some more, nothing.
Hmmmm says me, ???
Rolled the scoot off the lift, pumped it again and sure nuf, it worked perfectly
Rolled the scoot back on the lift, pumped,nothing.
So, I said 'self, ???"

Then it hits me, lemme see, this lift is rated at 300 lbs
My trike weights 576, hmmm, 576 is more than 300!!!!!

I was hoping that the 576 would have been evenly distributed, but,no, it seems, all 576 lbs is all in the rear end, axle, engine, diff, wheels, must all be more than the 300 this lift will lift.

So, Now I got me an $80 paperweight.
Guess I can go buy a riding lawnmower so I can use it.

So, hopefully no one else bought one based on my mistake.

I guess I can try to replace the 300lb bottle jack with a 500 lbs one, fabricate new mounts, etc, but how much will that cost.
Oh well, life goes on.
Live and learn

But, it sure does look impressive just sittin there

Carry on
Life is still good

Dave

[Bashan]

They're really good about taking things back Dave, even if you've used them. And there's always Craigslist. The first time you use it outside of how you got it from HF, it's yours, so I wouldn't do the bottlejack. See..the bottlejack could be a dance and...ahem. Night. The Great Stinky

[jct842]

What kind of resistance did you get when pumping to raise the scooter? What I am getting at there may be some air in the pump, or it be low on oil. What I would expect when lifting more than rated is a very hard to pump condition. I just wonder what it will do with just 300 lbs on it, maybe you can find a fat guy to sit on it!

25 years ago I lifted and leveled a small house with a 1000 lb bottle jack, it was hard as hell to pump and I bent a pipe/handle doing it.

[davec]

Apr 2, 2014 0:56:55 GMT -6 jct842 said:

What kind of resistance did you get when pumping to raise the scooter? What I am getting at there may be some air in the pump, or it be low on oil. What I would expect when lifting more than rated is a very hard to pump condition. I just wonder what it will do with just 300 lbs on it, maybe you can find a fat guy to sit on it!

25 years ago I lifted and leveled a small house with a 1000 lb bottle jack, it was hard as hell to pump and I bent a pipe/handle doing it.

1. I did get medium to heavy resistance when pumping. It will start to raise, about an inch, then nuttin'.
2. I thought of low oil, just haven't verified that yet.
3. It will raise and lower with no weight on it, so it does work 'somewhat'.
4. I just didn't think the trike had over 300lbs on just the rear wheels. WRONG!!
5. I hate returning stuff. I'll do what I can to make it work. I'll try to fabricate a different mount for a heavier jack. Why? Because I like the rear wheel idea of the lift. Now just gotta make it work for me.

[jvino]

That's a bummer Dave c sorry that that didn't work out for you. The only thing possible I think you can do is possibly put bigger hydraulics on it. But no one is perfect why not just return it and do some more research. If you can't use it its just taken up dead space and a hole in the wallet use the money after a return towards something that will work for you.

[davec]

Apr 2, 2014 8:26:53 GMT -6 jvino said:

That's a bummer Dave c sorry that that didn't work out for you. The only thing possible I think you can do is possibly put bigger hydraulics on it. But no one is perfect why not just return it and do some more research. If you can't use it its just taken up dead space and a hole in the wallet use the money after a return towards something that will work for you.

I think I can make it work with a heavier rated jack.
May have to find a welder to make a better base, and the top shaft has a hole in it to attach to the frame of the lift.
It won't be that big a deal to modify.

I've looked everywhere and nothing else like this.
I do have a motorcycle lift that I used, and it worked fine, just wanted something more designed to do what it won't.

But, , I've made bigger and more costly mistakes, and this mistake ain't that big a deal.
I'll be more satisfied when I get it to work right

Thanx

Dave

[jct842]

I still think the hydraulic cyl has a problem. Unless it was rated wrong in the first place.
a valve in side may be leaking too.

edit: oil is non compressable. If the lever is moving with out the cyl moving some thing is either compressing or leaking.

[davec]

Apr 2, 2014 13:20:34 GMT -6 jct842 said:

I still think the hydraulic cyl has a problem. Unless it was rated wrong in the first place.
a valve in side may be leaking too.

edit: oil is non compressable. If the lever is moving with out the cyl moving some thing is either compressing or leaking.

I'll check the oil level before i get out the bigger hammer