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MG MGA Is this the ultimate small garage hoist? BBS discussion at MG-Cars.net
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MG MGA - Is this the ultimate small garage hoist?
| A new distributor was displaying this vehicle hoist (low profile scissor lift) at Sandown raceway last weekend. Seems to me the best scissor lift on the market so far. $A1900. The picture does not do it justice as fails to show mechanical safety ratchet and power pack. Made by the world's biggest jack maker - has anyone experience with these hoists. I think they trade in the US as Big Red Jacks. www.tongrunjacks.com has the complete catalogue on their website (beware a large file!) Mike  |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| Mike..who is the oz distributor...and there are two types shown in your attachment ..which one is $1900? |
| Neil Ferguson |
| Mike I purchased a scissor lift in the UK. I have not yet got round to using it with the car on it although I have tested its operation. Some of the things you need to consider are width (will it slide between the wheels), lift height and weight. The one you show will slide under but only lifts a metre. Is this enough for you? When not in use how will you store it? These things are not light. Mine requires 2 people or some sort of hoist arrangement to tilt it on its edge for storage. Looking at the advert I bet the quoted price is for the basic kit and you then have to pay extra for your desired lifting power source. Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| Neil, The Oz distributor is www.bigredjackste.com.au Phone 03 93388646 (Tullamarine). The $1900 lift is the low profile model at the bottom of the picture. Steve, I reckon 1000 mm lift would be fine for an old man like me - allows good access to wheels, brakes and suspension. Maintenance down the centreline is usually for unit removal or oil changes so would not be under there for long periods. It is a heavy unit (400 kgs) but comes with small wheels that allows it to be moved. My thoughts are that I would leave it permanently in position and just drive over it each time. Quoted price is for the complete unit (power pack, etc) "Thank you for your interest in my scissor lift. Sizing and info attached. Price as show special $1,950.00 all in." Mike |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| Mike...Thanks for info.. With the progressive shrinking of cartiledge and the rounding of the shoulders I should be able to stand up underneath in 5 years time..... |
| Neil Ferguson |
| Mike I had assumed you were talking about the top one! On the bottom lift does it also allow the wheels to hang free so that you can do your front wheel and suspension work. You will be wise to leave it in place. Despite the roller wheels you will find it difficult to move around with one person. Mine is only 260kg and it is as much as I can manage. Picture of mine attached. It only just fits in between the wheels, so is impractical to leave in place unless I have a marshal with batons to guide me in! Steve  |
| Steve Gyles |
| Steve, Doesn't seem to be a problem with an MGA. Hoist tracks are 1780 mm outside and 860 mm inside where track of an A is 1420 mm. Wheelbase of an A is 2388 mm where as platform tracks are only 1400 mm long or 1920 mm to the end of the fold-down ramps that hang down at 45 deg. A few members of our Club are interested so we are going to take along a car a do a test lift (and hopefully negotiate a bulk discount!). Mike |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| Mike..look forward to comments on the trial. Can you adjust the spread of the ramps? |
| Neil Ferguson |
| Neil, You cannot adjust the spread of the ramps - you need 4 wooden blocks to marry up with the A chassis rails. Mike |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| I needed to buy a hoist that would lift a car about a metre (as I have restricted garage height). I intended to buy a new one but since I have no money I bought a cheap used one from a tyre supply place. It is a "Formula" but I had to buy a hand operated (used) pump as the original (commercial) one was three phase and my domestic supply is single phase. To accommodate wider cars I slip two pieces of timber on to the flat platform of the hoist. It is low enough to drive over when it is "in situ". |
| Barry Bahnisch |
| Mike..I have been looking for more pics and/or drawings of the QJY-S2 on the net etc.....in addition to the one on your thread and cannot find...can you advise ? I did a dimension drawing check myself ( presume your track of 1420mm was between the outside of tyres) and with the two side jacks it would seem to give good central undercar access and excellent at front and rear. It also fits my Jeep CJ6..... I see why the spread cannot be adjusted..the spacer tubes are actually shafts which are connected to both hydraulic cylinders and ensure a consistent lift on both sides. Quite keen on this one ..and distributor is only a skip and a hop from my place in Melbourne. Does he stock them? |
| Neil Ferguson |
| Hi Neil, We visited the Big Red Jacks showroom today and had a demo of the unit. Very impressive. Units are very strongly made. They use a two horizontal rack and pawls in the base as a safety lock - don't rely on hydraulic rams alone to hold up. To release these pawls, the unit has a controller that raises the lift slightly and then two pneumatic rams raise the pawls that allows the lift to lower, each time you press the stop button the pawls lock in (you need a small compressor also with the unit - not included). The hydraulic power pack has flow control valves that allow you to adjust raise and decent rates. The spread cannot be adjusted - as you have noted there are two horizontal shafts that connect each side to keep them in sync. Mike |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| From your comments it would appear you can raise and lock at less than full height..pl confirm as I may need this for my jeep ( low garage height ) . Did you discuss a price for delivery ex tullarmarine store.? Does he stock ? |
| Neil Ferguson |
| Dear All You may have read about this. There was an article in the April 2012 edition of Enjoying MG (the MG Owners Club magazine) concerning a car lift that is being marketed by a guy called Mike Dawes. It looks very practical and avoids the scissor arrangement that is common place on most lifts. He is based in East Anglia (UK) and can be contacted by e-mail on michael.dawes1@ntlworld.com. He comes out to fit the lift which can be left on the garage floor so that you can drive the car over it. It works out at just over £1000 (sterling) and includes delivery and VAT. You need to read the article and from memory there is a website. If I can find it then I'll post it. Sincerely Jerry |
| J P BIRKBECK |
| http://www.carlift-ramp-mr1.com/ Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| Neil, Yes you can lock the lift at about 30 different heights from 0-1000 mm (determined by the number of teeth on the rack - which I did not count!). I did not get a price for delivery but would think around $100. You could easily pick one up with a small trailer but would need an engine hoist to off load and place (400 kg for lift - 100 kgs for power pak) The Dawes lift is not in the same class as the Big Red Jack unit. Mike |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| Mike..sounds good.....and ideal for me with my limited garage height. I have trailer and an engine lift so have the tools to transport. I may give the guy a call and go see today or tomorrow. You mention the need for a small air compressor but you also also hydraulic pack. I presume the main lift is by hydraulic rams and the air is something to do with the locking mechanism. Am I correct? Do I need to talk to you re price etc before committing ..My email is neilferguson.nf@gmail.com. Thanks for bringing this one to everyone's attention.I had looked at many different lifts, incl. scissor lifts, before but they all seemed to obstruct many of the underside areas I need to get at under my cars. |
| Neil Ferguson |
| Hi Neil, Yes, the air is only needed for releasing the safety pawls and holding them up as the hydraulic cylinder retracts - two small mini pneumatic cylinders 30mm dia by 40mm stroke (approx) - it can be a very small compressor. They are talking about $100 discount for sales of 6 units. Mention you are from MGCC and that you want a voucher for $100 when sales to club members reach 6 (they have plenty of good stuff to redeem a voucher on!). Mike |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| Mike...just got back from seeing the lift and it is a well made, well designed and substantial unit. I also think once it is on the garage floor it will stay there. I really like the safety teeth rack and air operated lock mechanism. It allows a lot of flexibility re height.The hydraulic control system is simple and complete and apart from the air supply all the kit is there. The air demand is minute for the safety lock and I have a small compressor already. I am ordering one for Sept delivery. It will need a bit of careful thought to get it in place from a trailer without sqashing a few toes. |
| Neil Ferguson |
| I think Mike's lift is more ultimate than mine. His thread got me going and I have just done a trial lift to about half height (still plucking up courage. steady as she goes). Mine is not suitable for most MGAs in the fore and aft mode although it can be slid under from the side ok. Why is it not suitable for most MGAs? Quite simply it is too wide for the wheel track unless you have the wire wheel conversion that uses the longer half shafts. I can therefore only push the lift under from the rear. Thereby lies the second problem in that the jockey wheel and handle foul the rear lower body before the hoist can be pushed far enough under. The only solution is to position the hoist and then reverse the car into place. Now I have worked it out I am happy with the operation but I would not recommend this lift to other MGA owners. That all said, it works fine and I can live with it. Steve  |
| Steve Gyles |
| Just to clarify my last post with some measurements: The hoist with the lift arms folded flush is 110cm wide. The inside tyre wall clearance on my front wheels is 104cm. The inside tyre wall clearance on the back with the standard 1500 axle and modified half shafts for WW is 112cm. I needed the wife with batons to guide me in! Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| Steve.....you have an extra red light on rear ....is this an additional brake light or? |
| Neil Ferguson |
| Neil At the moment it is a dummy, not wired up to anything. I had it spare so bolted it on. I also have a clear lens for it so in time it could either be a second reversing light or rear fog light. I used front spot light brackets to hold them on. The lights in the photo are not on, just flash reflections. Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| A couple of photos of the Big Red Jack hoist in operation. Because my Coupe has been lowered it needed a couple of wooden blocks (500x200x50) at the entrance and exit of the hoist so that the hard rubber blocks that support the car could be fitted in place. The car could be driven over the hoist without these blocks but there was only about 10 mm clearance under the chassis rails - without rubber blocks or timber the hoist may have pushed against body panels, cables or hoses. I have a few more photos from different angles if anyone is interested. Mike  |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| A few photos of the hoist without the car. Mike  |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| Mike..great pics and good to see your car on it. The underside access is superb ( your cars is remarkably clean...and looks almost galvanised--even the wood!). It IS truly excellent for the price....the others I looked at were much worse for underside access and a hell of a lot more expensive. I have ordered one for Sept delivery and put a deposit down. A query..what clearance has your car under the sides as I have lower profile tyres ( than standard ) on my car? I intend to put the lift on the garage floor and not move it Would be interested in any pics you have ....my email is neilferguson.nf@gmail.com if you don't wish to post. Once again thanks for at starting this thread and disseminating bumf on this unit..the world of creeper-ing will soon be history. |
| Neil Ferguson |
| did you stitch those pictures on the posts together to get them accepted ? |
| Neil Ferguson |
| Neil, the tank on my car is aluminium (65 Litre) so looks galvanised. The coupe is lowered and has 205/50/15 tyres so when positioned over the hoist there is only about 10 mm between the chassis rails and hoist platforms. By using wooden blocks at both ends of the hoist so the wheels are on these when the car is central on the hoist, clearance is around 60 mm so you can then slip the rubber blocks in, that show in the photo, before lifting. I stitched the photos together by inserting on a PowerPoint slide and saving as a jpeg file rather than post a heap of photos (Steve Gyles trick) . Mike |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| Nice kit Mike. Impressed. Presume it is an electrical/hydraulic pump as opposed to my system in which my air compressor drives the hydraulic pump. I find that PowerPoint trick very useful. The resulting page has a convenient resolution for loading up to the internet. Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
This thread was discussed between 18/06/2012 and 03/07/2012
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