4 Post Ramp Refurb and fitting

[Gizmo.Y]

Ive been offered a 4 Poster Ramp, 3.5ton SWL for my Unit.

I have seen it work, about 5 years ago, then the bloke packed up and has this stored in his Garage at home, as you would of though, it dominates a rather large space.

Now, Its not the best looking of ramps, its had its fair use so id like to paint it to make it look nice, i was thinking just some Aerosols to make it look nice againt, or do you think it would need some tougher paint? is it will be used quite alot.

Second question, he also mentioned the Cables need replacing, As they were due for replacing when he shut shop and removed it from his Garage. How expensive are these cables? can you DIY them? or is a certificate needed etc (Insurance purposes?).

Third question, He said it will need fitting to the floor, how, i dont have the kind of heavy duty tools he was saying needed to secure it to the floor, how much would it cost to have this ramp secured and hooked up?

Many thanks for replies!

 

[tigler]

Firstly I would personally avoid 4 post ramps, they don't allow as convenient a work access as a 2 post and are much more difficult to install, maintain and repair.
Can't say how much it would cost to replace the cables but if they have worn to the extent of needing replacement the whole ramp will need careful inspection.
Installing is not that much of a problem, it would just need the floor drilling to take suitable anchor bolts and connection of the wiring, could be single or 3 phase.

My advice would be to get a 2 post lift, I would not be without mine.

 

[James325]

The cables stretch. There is a minimum thickness, Our bradbury four post has the cables measured every year by the insurance company. It was an old ramp when we bought it and the cables were still ok. Had it 10 years and still getting the thumbs up from Norwich Union.

The bolts may need to be epoxy bonded into the floor as well.

 

[brightspark]

is it 3 phase or single .they dont like being run of a converter if its a 3 phase unless u allready have the 3 phase supply

 

[Chickenjohn]

Never mind insurance, and making the lift look nice- I would think of your personal safety first!

I would get it checked by a garage lift engineer. I know of a chap in the Morris minor club who's 2nd hand lift collapsed damaging his lovely Minor van.

Luckily, he wasn't under it at the time!

He scrapped the lift and replaced it with a safer one. The van was repaired.

 

[Gizmo.Y]

Im looking to start a Business in my Unit.

The Unit has Single and 3 Phase supply (Well, it will when EON fix the Electric, as Pikeys broke in and stole JUST the copper wiring, Not got the place running off Batterys just for the CCTV and Security to catch the b******s in action.

But yes, im looking to start a Business, im looking to get a 4 Post AND a 2 Post Ramp.

He tells me there is a "3 year Rule" regarding cables for Ramps, hense the question.

 

[Hitch]

It will need to be inspected, probably every 6 months or maybe a year, for insurance purposes.

If it needs new cables, how about getting it blasted while its all in bits. Repaint, then rebuild, new cables etc.

 

[madkayaker]

inspection is not an insureance thing any more. LOLR89 is a stataty requirement for lifting equipement and it gives inspection fequancy intervals for classes of equiment normaly 6 months for man lifting and 12 months for other things. these inspections are often carried out by enginners working for insurance companys but there are indipents that can do it. another consideration is if its an old machine will it meet the machinary directive requiments as a old machine in a new install needs to meet the same requrments as a new machine

 

[NeilH]

if its cheap, and you want it, then buy it.

cables are a replaceable item. regarding the paint, id hammerite it.

for a 4 post ramp then securing it is not as big a deal as it would be for a 2 poster.

as long as the concrete is 4 inches thick, with re-bar, it will be fine.

your only taking his word for it that they need replacing, get it installed and serviced/inspected by a lift engineer, they may be fine.

if his "3 year rule" for cables means that they need replacing after 3 years then thats total rubbish, sorry.

 

[Bsmith]

You can get a price quote for cables from Garage Equipment Direct online. I had new nuts for my 2 poster from them.

 

[drivewasher]

Our lift has to be saftey inspected every 6 months, we have to keep paperwork on hand to colaborate this. When the guy checks it he does a report that we keep. Any minor faults or adjustments are done there and then but are recorded. He has different classes if you like of faults, minor ones are noted and he does them or we do them asap. Major ones like toe gaurd bars brocken then thats an imediate prohibition of use,. If we don't fix it or don't let him do it there and then IE if he leaves with it unfixed he HAS to inform the HSE. I'm not sure if he informs the HSE even if its fixed there and then that it was prohibition.
Obtw he does torque check all the main bolts etc including the floor fixings

 

[michael1703]

You only need it inspected if you are an employer, I have a 4 poster and as a sole trader I dont get health and safety visits or my insurers wanting certificates.

I managed to get an instruction book for mine which gave an installation guide, it gave safe distance from walls/marking out points for bolt holes/wiring etc etc.

I've had a two post and didnt get on with it, I spent more time on my hands and knees trying to find a suitable place to put the pads to safely lift the car, lift it a foot and decide I didnt like where I had put the pads, lower it again and so on.

Two post ramps have lift nuts which are brass and mine needed replacing which were £180 per side to replace as there are 4, 2 lift nuts and 2 safety nuts.

My 4 post is a 3.5 ton but the heaviest car I will ever have on it is 2 ton, this should help give the cables longevity.

The cables for my ramp are £250 per set, I ve seen other brands priced up to £400 so you get a rough idea of the cable price

 

[rtbcomp]

......and as a sole trader I dont get health and safety visits ....

.....

You will. Being a sole trader doesn't exempt you from HSE visits.

I KNOW because I had one.

The "can of worms" thread is here

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=23636

 

[madkayaker]

being a sole trader doesn't exempt you from health and safety regulations

 

[michael1703]

oooo blimey

better have a sweep up!

 

[madkayaker]

don't forget pressure vessels should be inspected (14 months i think)

 

[brightspark]

don't forget pressure vessels should be inspected (14 months i think)

lol glad im only down as an electrician and they have no say over private gear

 

[madkayaker]

most months we have some kind of bloke wandering around inspecting something or other

 

[NeilH]

DING DONG :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-post-lift-need-installation-/260745944383?pt=UK_Lifting_Moving_Equipment&hash=item3cb5ab5d3f