Christine O'Kelly writes for the expert in truck lifts and truck lift parts, SVI International. They have been manufacturing and offering a series of high quality vehicle lift options for more than 28 years.
Hydraulic truck lifts are designed as a safe method of raising various transportation units for different types of repairs and maintenance. Using them incorrectly, however, can be dangerous. Each step involved in using this equipment requires great care and attention to protect yourself and the others around you. Here are a few guidelines you can use when loading, raising, and lowering a hydraulic vehicle lift.
Securing Vehicles On Hydraulic Truck Lifts
To correctly load a hydraulic vehicle lift, be sure the doors are closed tightly, the transmission is sitting in neutral, and the engine is off. You will also want to check to see if there is anything, such as an antenna, that could be damaged when it is completely up in the air. Once that is complete, find the correct locations underneath the lift to hold the auto into place and set the pads into position. You will also want to set up adaptors if you need them.
Before walking away from the area, check the blocks responsible for holding everything in place. The front end of the stand will have permanent chocks. The entrance end will have automatic chocks that you will need to check to be sure that they are up and secure. Even if everything seems okay, be sure to watch for movement and double check the automatic chocks when you start to move the system to be sure that everything is held safely.
Checks Before Raising The Vehicle Lift
Don't make the mistake of raising the equipment all the way at the start. When you start these systems, only raise them until they are fully supported by the truck lifts and then stop. This often works out to around a foot. You can then do a walk around to ensure the support pads are where they need to be and that the load isn't shifting on the supports. Take an extra few seconds to examine the adaptors as well. Having the force exerted in the wrong areas can cause a significant amount of damage to the body and other components of the auto. Continue to test and check the load until there is no doubt in your mind that everything is done correctly. Each time you make an adjustment check everything the same way.
Raising The System
When you are sure it is safe to elevate the load, hoist it up slowly and go slower as you reach the top of the system to avoid jerking the load. Doing this can shift the placement of the load and will loosen the seal on the hoist, which will cause the fluids to start leaking. When it has reached the desired height, stop and lock the system into place.
While a vehicle lift is meant to be a safe way to hoist an auto into the air for easy repairs, using it incorrectly can be downright deadly. To protect yourself and others, make sure to load truck lifts correctly and lift them with care and caution.
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