one for the mechanics

[AndyStobbs]

Sun SVL3100 scissor lift. Opinions on.

2 second hand on a certain auction site now for very reasonable money when weighed against a new Chinese jobby at 1.5 x the price.
Veeeery tempted, but is there much I should look out for?

 

[dan.taylor.1]

Do you mean sunn (double n?) As they make then snap on units so can't be that bad!!

 

[AndyStobbs]

I've always thought it was one n, but yes those are the ones to which I refer.
Its a 14 year old lift so I'm not expecting perfection but it would be handy to know if there are specific service items on them.
Similar to buying a 2 poster only to find you need 2 load nuts.

 

[dan.taylor.1]

I think bushes and pins would be a point to start. Only used a scissor lift for quads (was a 1500kg one mind) also check the maintenance record as most businesses with them would have to have a biannual check for insurance.

Dan

 

[Fazerruss]

I'm no expert but if you can fit 2 post lift in your garage then that would be better in my opinion. Even if you can't lift the car up fully due to ceiling height you will still have better access under the full area of the car.
Was it your thread not too long ago regarding the posibility of altering your garage roof to accommodate a 2 poster? The posts are 2.5M high on my werther lift.
Just my two peneth...

 

[Spark plug]

As above bushes and pins also the hydraulics for leaks and loosing height etc. look for brown rusty deposits coming from coming from pins and bushes, pivot points etc. this is a sign of lack of maintanance.

 

[AndyStobbs]

I've got a 2 poster up already, and a 4 poster also in storage. I don't want to sacrifice the additional floor space on a second 2 poster. So looking at a flush fitted scissor lift.

 

[Fazerruss]

I've got a 2 poster up already, and a 4 poster also in storage. I don't want to sacrifice the additional floor space on a second 2 poster. So looking at a flush fitted scissor lift.

Appologies my mistake, must have been another member I was thinking about.

 

[doubleboost]

They are very good for most jobs
I use one for front wheel drive clutches all the time
As long as it has been inspected & serviced should be fine

 

[AndyStobbs]

Bit of a treck to Northants if they turn out to be in bad shape. Will look into it though. A few times recently I've tied the two poster up with a long job and had to work on my back instead. Might as well just splash out and make life easier but it will be a squeeze getting to the second lift with an immobile vehicle on the first.

 

[premmington]

I took all our four poster ramps out. Replaced them with 4000kgs hydraulic two posters seven years ago. We MOT over a ATL pit lane!

But truthfully I am thinking about buying a heavy four poster. We are doing so many vans and twin cab 4x4 trucks.

Everybody hates four posters. But for heavy things and wheel alignment they can't be beaten.

If you only have space for one or two ramps you need to be buying two posters.

If you have space for a third. You need a mix of ramps!


Scissor ramps? My mate has a full lift one 3.2ton. They are easy to load with blocks on the sills. (I have never put anything but a car on one thou)

Years ago I worked in central London main dealer and they has single poster hydraulic ramps that popped out of the tiles flush in the floor.

Flush ramps. Digging holes is all "dealer". Maha have made a living bankrupting wanna be independents with credit for all this type of stuff.

Hydraulic 4000kg two posters are delivered off the net at £1500 (why would you want anything else?)

 

[normspanners]

Andy come over and check out the one I fitted in my mates, I fitted it flush he uses it every day and its been fine £1500
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ON-OFFER-...078?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19f897db6e

 

[normspanners]

I am not mentioning any names but my snap on guy went to buy one of 'his' scissor lifts and because he was a dealer they gave him x discount, he looked at a similiar one locally, but a different name,and he bought one, when it arrived it was EXACTLY the same unit as in his catalog, nearly £1000 cheaper.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Hydraulic 4000kg two posters are delivered off the net at £1500 (why would you want anything else?)

I'm not mad keen on 4T two posters that have no base plate and what I consider to be a very small ground contact area. Also the quality is shocking, some use an o ring as the main ram seal - I'm told by my local hydraulics man.
I'm just not into stuff made in China.

 

[premmington]

I'm not mad keen on 4T two posters that have no base plate and what I consider to be a very small ground contact area. Also the quality is shocking, some use an o ring as the main ram seal - I'm told by my local hydraulics man.
I'm just not into stuff made in China.

I have several of these 4T ramps, only problems we have had is motors! I have replaced most of them with Bosch Rexworth "hydro packs" from Southern Ireland. Bosch factory in Italy had a fire and there will be no more of these for a little while.

All hydraulic ramps have ratchet catch mech'. If you have a major fluid loss, the biggest problem is getting a car off the ramp.

Last time it happened to us! We used two fork lifts from each side of the ramp to lift the "lifting table" up off its stops. (if your ramp is situated next to a wall this would not work). It has to be noted, this was not a hydraulic ramp but a used Bradbury one, the thread bar snapped a week or two after an insurance inspection.

I like hydraulic ramps! I will never buy a used ramp ever again.

Another big question is? Ramp service life?

 

[AndyStobbs]

My tecalemit is from 88 and still going. I overhauled it when I got it two years ago. With new lift nuts, safety cable, oil dippers etc. It now needs a chain and sprockets also.

Your above post, proves that the inspection is not a guarantee of future service life.

 

[Cyberprog]

I'm looking at putting a lift in when I re-do my garage. However the scissors I've seen appear to be designed to lift the car between the wheels, while I'd rather something a bit bigger that will lift the wheels, and I can then put a beam jack between the beams similar to a 4-post lift. Anyone seen similar before?