Finally installed my 2 post lift....

thrashingcows

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Well I finally got my 2 post lift installed in the shop...well that was about a month ago now. ;) It's a 9000lbs off shore unit but I only paid $1100 for it I think...that was almost 5 years ago now. Bought it before I even built the shop and was tarped up outside for several years, then once the shop was built it was moved inside.

So once I got it dug out from it's hiding spot I had to figure out how to disassemble it from it's packing cradle...after some pondering I figured the new engine picker, that I bought over a year ago when on sale and have not used as of yet....would be the ticket!

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Hooked up the picker and it turned out the hydraulic cylinder was shot and would drop as soon as I stopped pumping...but through frantic pumping and sketchy maneuvers I managed to get the columns apart.

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When I had the shop built I had already planned on the 2 post lift so I had extra concrete and rebar installed where the lift would be positioned. I had enough forethought to take pictures and measurements of where the rebar was positioned before they poured the slab. So I was able to mark out the approx location of the rebar in the floor so I wouldn't run into it when drilling the holes for the anchors. You can see the lines on the floor for where the rebar was located. Then I stood up the columns and positioned them and spent several hours measuring, marking, checking and rechecking until I had everything set up.

Once they were marked out it was time to drill the holes...Then set the anchors....I don't like the stud style anchors so I went with the drop in and set style.

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Then due to the drill bit walking a bit I had to massage the openings in the base to align with the anchors.

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All bolted down...I went with grade 5 bolts and hardened washers since the shear for grade 5 and grad 8 are pretty close, but a grade 5 will stretch before it snaps unlike the grade * that just goes Ka-Ting and it broken!

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Then run the cables and hydraulic lines....Had to get the hydraulic line between the column shortened since it was about 2" to long and would have been rubbed by the cables under the plate.

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And again since I knew where the lift was going to be positioned I installed an outlet in the ceiling, so I just had to run some armored cable down to the pump and then drill and tap a couple locations on the column to secure it.

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Pretty much all done and ready to go....

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Now I knew what I was getting when I bought the off shore unit, and the construction and welds are what I expected....no perfect but serviceable. I will be diligent about inspecting it regularly to make sure there is no stress or cracking showing in the assembly and welds. But over all it seems like a pretty decent unit!
 
And again since I knew where the lift was going to be positioned I installed an outlet in the ceiling, so I just had to run some armored cable down to the pump and then drill and tap a couple locations on the column to secure it.

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Pretty much all done and ready to go....

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Now I knew what I was getting when I bought the off shore unit, and the construction and welds are what I expected....no perfect but serviceable. I will be diligent about inspecting it regularly to make sure there is no stress or cracking showing in the assembly and welds. But over all it seems like a pretty decent unit!
Thank you for the post.
This will inspire me to get my 4 post lift up this year!
 
No turning back now. Laying on your back to even change the oil will seem like, no can do.
Welding up all the chassis stiffening on my Barracuda was a PITA without being able to use the lift.
 
I need one of these badly and probably would already have one if the existing floor was ready for it….
 
It has already come in handy....I picked up a "new to me" an 11' - `1979 Vanguard camper and due to no camper bars on my truck had to load it on my trailer. Then I had to figure out how to get it off when I got home. Would have been 100x's harder without the lift.

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Carefully backed it between the columns...

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Got the rear jacks on the ground then used the front arms to lift at the forward jack mounting points...

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Then just pulled the trailer out from under it...

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Pretty quick and painless!:thumbsup:
 
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