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Building a wheels free lift - Mini Project
hkp57 - 4/3/14 at 06:21 PM

With already having a motorcycle lift in my garage and limited space I wanted a lift in the garage that would lift my bikes or my MK Indy.

As the lift I had was good up to 700kg I started to work out if it would do both.

The lift was 160mm high at its lowest setting so I set about building a deck around it to be able to drive the Indy straight over it.














[Edited on 4/3/14 by hkp57]

hkp57 - 4/3/14 at 06:48 PM

Started off by building platforms either side of the lift.





The ramps are only in place to show the idea, I still have a section of platform to build at the far end then the ramps will be cut down to suit the clearance and beefed up a bit.

The high density rubber blocks are from a 2-post car lift, these will be positioned under the chassis of the Indy to lift it.







Andybarbet - 4/3/14 at 07:01 PM

Im loving that :-)

hkp57 - 4/3/14 at 07:02 PM

With the lift being a solid panel access is limited to work on centre parts of the car.

The Motorcycle lift has a handy hinged access panel designed to aid removal of the rear wheel, with this open it will give good access to the diff and rear end parts. If you load the car on backwards it will give access to the sump etc.







chris-g - 4/3/14 at 09:56 PM

Good work, necessity really is the mother of invention.
I wish my garage was that tidy.

ashg - 5/3/14 at 12:08 AM

A couple of little safety tips. bolt it to the ground so it cant topple over and i'm not sure what the regs are on bike lifts but make sure it has got a parachute valve fitted to the ram so it doesn't fall rapidly should a hydraulic pipe fail

hkp57 - 5/3/14 at 09:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by ashg
A couple of little safety tips. bolt it to the ground so it cant topple over and i'm not sure what the regs are on bike lifts but make sure it has got a parachute valve fitted to the ram so it doesn't fall rapidly should a hydraulic pipe fail




Thanks it will be bolted down once i finalise the position, I hadn't thought about putting a parachute valve on it but it is a good idea.

There are mechanical stops on the lift for when it is in the raised position at different hieghts

hkp57 - 5/3/14 at 10:00 AM

quote:
Originally posted by chris-g
Good work, necessity really is the mother of invention.
I wish my garage was that tidy.


Your not getting to see the other side of the garage, everything from the left side is stacked to the roof

MikeR - 5/3/14 at 12:42 PM

the lift doesn't look very big. I'd look to making some form of trestle to go under the car at the front & back so it can't tip / rock when working on something stubborn.

hkp57 - 5/3/14 at 12:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeR
the lift doesn't look very big. I'd look to making some form of trestle to go under the car at the front & back so it can't tip / rock when working on something stubborn.



Mike
It may just be how it is in the pictures but it is a heavy duty lift, the table is about 2220mm long and 800mm wide.

The base is actually bigger than those floor mounted wheels free scissor lifts you see around.


I am not expecting this to be the new black of car lifts, just general purpose maintenance to save the old back with a low slung seven type car.

Linky to spec here

[Edited on 5/3/14 by hkp57]

Peteff - 6/3/14 at 10:00 AM

I'd make some tall stands to put under the car then lower the lift out of the way, you could use it to over winter the car and save the suspension and tyres some standing time.

hkp57 - 24/4/15 at 04:42 PM

Finally got around to using the lift, works a treat and saves my poor old back