Educate me on Scissor Lifts.

So I don't even know where to start looking for scissor lifts (yes I know I could of used google, but I want GRMers opinions). I have a garage with rafters that are 9 feet high. At the Vair Shop we have about the same height of ceiling and the scissor lift can go pretty high without the roofs of the cars touching the rafters. The scissor lift seems pretty stable. Works well with Corvairs as well which is good. I'm gonna ask the boss the information on it, but would like to know what else is out there.

Pros? Cons? Prices? Who makes the best/worst? Etc.

Thanks in advance.

A buddy of mine has one and we've worked on his e30 on it a number of times. Seems to work fine. That's about all I know though.

I like the setup Jack Olsen has in the "12-gauge garage" personally (look down about 10 pics from the top)

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55006

I do wish the search function worked better...

IIRC, Dr Boost bought a scissor lift a few months ago and we've had a number of other lift discussions over the years. I've had one for a few years now (2006?). Since you've already used one, you know the pros and cons. Any specific questions?

I have a Bend Pak MD-6XP: http://www.asedeals.com/mid_rise_lift.html

Ian F wrote: I do wish the search function worked better...

Let Google do the searching for you like this:

scissor+lift+site:grassrootsmotorsports.com

Ian F wrote: I do wish the search function worked better... IIRC, Dr Boost bought a scissor lift a few months ago and we've had a number of other lift discussions over the years. I've had one for a few years now (2006?). Since you've already used one, you know the pros and cons. Any specific questions? I have a Bend Pak MD-6XP: http://www.asedeals.com/mid_rise_lift.html

I haven't actually "used" it. When I would come into the shop, there would already be a car up in the air or on the ground, and the boss usually would man the power unit when a car was being raised or lowered. Like I said it seems to be pretty sturdy, we've removed Corvair engines with it and it works pretty well.

I guess more or less my concern is SUVs, since I have a Durango, I have concern about it tipping, because the base sits on such a small area.

I've had two of them. I bought a cheap $1500 chinese lift. It broke thrice by the time I used it once. I sent that turd back. I ponied up the $500 more for the BendPak MD-6XP. I haven't bothered to post this here because I wanted to make sure it's been resolved, but the BP lift has failed twice in only a dozen or so cycles. I'm e-mailing BP today to get this resolved.
But let's just assume karma does NOT want me to have a lift and your purchase will go better than mine. The BP lift appears to be well constructed (maybe not all of them though )
With my Golf or 944 on it, I can't lift the lift the full 48" or the roof will hit my ceiling. But, even then I can get the hubs 45" off the ground. The only thing I don't like about the BP is that there are only 3 safety catches on it. So, if I lift the car as high as possible, I have to lower it almost a foot before the next catch grabs.
Have you thought about the Max Jax?

In reply to SyntheticBlinkerFluid:

Ok... misunderstood...

Pros:
mid-rise means if you have a low ceiling you aren't buying more lift than you can practically use.
No posts in the way when working on or around the car. Great for interior/under-dash work and waxing a low car.
When not in use, you can park a car over it; out of sight, out of mind.

Cons:
Obstructed center access. Not as much of an issue with FWD cars and/or general brake and suspension work, but useless for dropping a trans on a RWD car.
Often requires drive-on runners on each side to clear low cars.

I agree with Dr Boost about the 3 catches on my MD-6XP. It's annoying. There are other brands out there with more levels. I'd also like to have the remote catch release so I don't have to crawl under the car to release the catch when lowering.

While I haven't had as many issues as he has, it hasn't been perfect either. One of the arms requires some effort to rotate (since new); one of the 1" dia pins will work itself out and 'ping' the retaining clip across the garage, so I have to bang it back into place and reinstall the clip periodically; one of the rams has started leaking, although it still works. I've been meaning to order a rebuild kit (or investigate having it rebuilt by a hydraulic shop).

It requires a specific type of ATF for the hydraulic fluid. I always forget exactly which type.

How big are your scissors that you need a lift? I can service my giant novelty pencil with just jack stands.

In reply to logdog:

A little early to be drinking and posting, eh?

Ian F wrote: one of the 1" dia pins will work itself out and 'ping' the retaining clip across the garage, so I have to bang it back into place and reinstall the clip periodically;

That's what's happening to mine. The thing is, it seems to happen about every 3rd or 5th cycle. and I had to use a porta power to spread the frame apart enough to insert the clip. It appears the inner frame is sprung.

Ian F wrote: It requires a specific type of ATF for the hydraulic fluid. I always forget exactly which type.

IIRC, it was just Dextron III.

Ian F wrote: In reply to logdog: A little early to be drinking and posting, eh?

5 o'clock somewhere!

DrBoost wrote: That's what's happening to mine. The thing is, it seems to happen about every 3rd or 5th cycle. and I had to use a porta power to spread the frame apart enough to insert the clip. It appears the inner frame is sprung.

About the same here: 3-5 uses. More annoying than anything else, so I never got around to calling Bend Pak about it.

Ian F wrote:

DrBoost wrote: That's what's happening to mine. The thing is, it seems to happen about every 3rd or 5th cycle. and I had to use a porta power to spread the frame apart enough to insert the clip. It appears the inner frame is sprung.

About the same here: 3-5 uses. More annoying than anything else, so I never got around to calling Bend Pak about it.

I can't get the clip back in unless I get the car off and borrow a porta power. I'm not dealing with that. Do you still have the c-clip, or did you switch to a full snap ring?

In reply to DrBoost:

I bang the pin back into place with the lift raised a bit, but unloaded. It's a snap-ring - still using the same one that came with it. I usually try to check it now and then before lifting a car, but usually forget until I hear the 'ping' of the ring popping off. I've never let it drift far enough that it isn't still supporting what's intended to.

If I get home in time tonight, I'll try to take a picture and post it. We might be talking about different pins.

Ian F wrote: If I get home in time tonight, I'll try to take a picture and post it. We might be talking about different pins.

I'll try to do the same.

Thanks for what info you guys have given, I was looking at the Bend Pak. They seem to gloat on quality, so I'm surprised you guys are having such an issue.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Thanks for what info you guys have given, I was looking at the Bend Pak. They seem to gloat on quality, so I'm surprised you guys are having such an issue.

I got an e-mail back today requesting pictures, serial # and build date. We'll see what they do with it. IanF: maybe you wanna get the ball rolling. Maybe they'll do something about yours as well.
I'm not afraid of the pin walking out because I keep an eye on it, but I don't want to hassle with it.

DrBoost wrote: I'm not afraid of the pin walking out because I keep an eye on it, but I don't want to hassle with it.

There is no way this can help. The pin and an eye are each round so they will just roll together. You need something triangle shaped to act as a chock. Plus it just sounds messy.

In reply to DrBoost:

Cool. Thanks. I'll have to dig up the paperwork. Ended up getting home too late to take pics.

Ian F wrote: In reply to DrBoost: Cool. Thanks. I'll have to dig up the paperwork. Ended up getting home too late to take pics.

Yeah, I got home later than I expected yesterday too. I think the build date and serial number are on the I.D. plate on the lift.

I loooove my Maxjax. Here it is a week ago with the DD on it. 10' ceiling.

Of course, it isn't as flexible in placement as a scissor lift and requires some work to anchor it properly, but clearance underneath is much better. Don't know how the lift height compares. The picture shows it at the highest safety catch.

I can't use a MaxJax because I have a one car garage - the posts would be against the walls. It also wasn't available when I bought my lift otherwise I probably would have bought one since it would have fit in my ex-g/f's garage nicely (smaller storage foot-print as well). I am hoping to get one for my new (fingers crossed) shop.

Yeah, the MaxJax is great, but for me, it's not much better than the scissor lift. Yes, I'd gain the clearance under the car, but it only lifts the car the same 46". At that point I can't stand under the car so it's not that big a deal. I'll also have a project car on it long-term, so it'd make my garage a one-car garage. That, and the fact that I don't have the height to take advantage of it.

Here's some pics.
This is a wide shot of the good side of the lift. Look at the gap between the two frames

Compared to the side that the clip popped off

The odd thing is, the first time the clip popped out, it was the other side. It appears to me that the inside frame is either too small by a few 16ths or it's tweaked a bit. Either way, every half-dozen or so cycles, I'm not going to get the car off the lift, borrow a porta-power to put the clip in. Here's some closer shots.
Inside, this is where the clip used to be

And a closer shot of the gap

Tomorrow I'm sending these to BendPak. We'll see what they do.

Strange... those pins are a bit different on my lift. I took some pictures and will get the posted momentarily... I really need to figure out something better than Flikr... not very user-friendly...