Scissor Lifts for Home Garage

[Scott-y9piw]

Hi all,

New to PH forums and looking for some advise about scissor lifts.

In a few months my garage is getting a new roof and wall height raised so will have an internal head height of 3.2m.

Im looking for a full rise scissor lift that is flush to the floor and have got prices for various different versions.

Im not sure wether to get the in floor model or get the surface mount and sink it n so it flush, would be bolted down regardless and channel put in for the hoses.

I have had quotes for both EAE and Bradbury which are both north of 4k and require a service packages so looking at other options and case across the Automotech Services.

I know a few guys on here have them and looking for some reviews on them, price wise its nearly 2k cheaper than the Bradbury and for home garage use its ideal, been looking into the locking system on them and one model use pneumatic chocks and the other has a double ram with hydraulic valves. Which is best? I would prefer a mechanical lock but seems they don't do them anymore on newer lifts.

Whats are people opinions on these and also to owners who have had them for a bit of time how are your getting on with them.

Any info much appreciated.
Thanks Scott.

[Corstopitum]

Have you had a look at this company? https://sm-t.co.uk/product-category/vehicle-lifts/...


I've never used their scissor lifts but I have purchased and built one of their 4 post lifts. Good bit of kit!

[AdeTuono]

I have one of these....



Good bit of kit, but if buying again I would go for a 4-post lift. Access is limited underneath, due to the width of the lifting platform and the fact that the car is supported on the chassis. It's good for brake and suspension work if the dimensions of the car allow.

One problem I have had is the synchronisation of the lifts. They rise at the same rate, but have started to lower differently. So much so that at the moment I can't use it in case the car tips off. Need to check the power-pack to see if there's a restriction, but it's a little disconcerting seeing whatever's on the ramp sitting at 45° sideways.

[Peanut Gallery]

AdeTuono said:

One problem I have had is the synchronisation of the lifts. They rise at the same rate, but have started to lower differently. So much so that at the moment I can't use it in case the car tips off. Need to check the power-pack to see if there's a restriction, but it's a little disconcerting seeing whatever's on the ramp sitting at 45° sideways.

A long time ago I was working on a hydraulic pump that was a positive displacement, but twin flow pump, so it had to pump the same volume through each line. If you were to get one of those going to each of the pistons, and if you could get one that allows the oil to be pushed back in equal volumes it would help.

Good luck! - and watching this thread with interest!

[AdeTuono]

Peanut Gallery said:

AdeTuono said:

One problem I have had is the synchronisation of the lifts. They rise at the same rate, but have started to lower differently. So much so that at the moment I can't use it in case the car tips off. Need to check the power-pack to see if there's a restriction, but it's a little disconcerting seeing whatever's on the ramp sitting at 45° sideways.

A long time ago I was working on a hydraulic pump that was a positive displacement, but twin flow pump, so it had to pump the same volume through each line. If you were to get one of those going to each of the pistons, and if you could get one that allows the oil to be pushed back in equal volumes it would help.

Good luck! - and watching this thread with interest!

That's pretty much what's in the power-pack. They should return at the same rate, and always used to, but for some reason have stopped doing so. I may try a couple of valves in the return lines so I can regulate the rate of return, but there's a fundamental problem somewhere.

[Scoosh-89]

Corstopitum said:

Have you had a look at this company? https://sm-t.co.uk/product-category/vehicle-lifts/...


I've never used their scissor lifts but I have purchased and built one of their 4 post lifts. Good bit of kit!

I hadn't looked at this company but just had a look and see they don't have any full rise lifts.
Thanks though.

[Scoosh-89]

AdeTuono said:

I have one of these....



Good bit of kit, but if buying again I would go for a 4-post lift. Access is limited underneath, due to the width of the lifting platform and the fact that the car is supported on the chassis. It's good for brake and suspension work if the dimensions of the car allow.

One problem I have had is the synchronisation of the lifts. They rise at the same rate, but have started to lower differently. So much so that at the moment I can't use it in case the car tips off. Need to check the power-pack to see if there's a restriction, but it's a little disconcerting seeing whatever's on the ramp sitting at 45° sideways.

This is one of the ramps i have looking at also, thats a bit worrying that the sync is out, anyway to relieve the pressure on one side to get the car down?
Does sound like a blockage somewhere that causing flow restriction and not letting the oil return at the same pace as the other ramp.

[finishing touch]

I have a portable scissor lift. I can use it at full hight outside or a little lower inside.

If I had the garage space I would have a two poster but for a Grand this will have to do.


Paul G

[Scoosh-89]

2 and 4 post lifts are out of the question, although i could fit a 2 post in, it would severely change the amount of working room i have in the garage for my work benches and storage for the car and motorbikes.

In floor scissor lift is perfect for my needs.

[mazdajason]

finishing touch said:

I have a portable scissor lift. I can use it at full hight outside or a little lower inside.

If I had the garage space I would have a two poster but for a Grand this will have to do.


Paul G

Care to share the details of it please Paul? What it runs off, weight, link to where you purchased etc?

[frodo_monkey]

Looks like the Automotech one to me:

https://www.automotechservices.co.uk/product-categ...

There’s one that’s Air-powered and another that is electrical.

[bearman68]

mazdajason said:

Care to share the details of it please Paul? What it runs off, weight, link to where you purchased etc?

I had one of these as well, just as I started to go from part time to full time. I kept if for a long while after I was full time fixing cars, and it was a brill bit of kit.

B&H repairs or something - 240v, lifts up to about 2 tonne comfortably, to a height of about 1.3m or something. That's OK for most stuff including a clutch, as you can use a stool on wheels underneath it, rather than stand - that's actually more OK than it sounds.
Had my E39 on it loads of times, what with the reliability of that car....

Here's the link http://www.bhrepairs.co.uk/

[chippy348]

In ground lift and not a mobile lift, 2 very different things !

OP I have just installed one and there is quite a lot of work involved with this, do you realise the ground works that will need to be done to get the lift into the ground ?? dig out, hard-core, concrete slab, foundation boxes / pockets then concrete the whole lot it. You will need some heavy lifting equipment to get them into the pockets as well.

If you want more info I can give you some more but like I said its lots of work.

[finishing touch]

mazdajason said:

finishing touch said:

I have a portable scissor lift. I can use it at full hight outside or a little lower inside.

If I had the garage space I would have a two poster but for a Grand this will have to do.


Paul G

Care to share the details of it please Paul? What it runs off, weight, link to where you purchased etc?

eBay item eBay item number:322128567239

Lifts 2.4 tonnes

Runs off single phase 13amp socket. It has an electric motor driving a hydraulic pump and a safety latch between the two rams.
The pump unit has a spike at the bottom which locates in a lug on the round pipe so it can be moved when not under load.

Oil and delivery not included.

Paul G

Edit to add;
it comes with side extensions and rubber hight pillars but as I was welding the sill on that MX5 I picked up on the chassis rails.

Edited by finishing touch on Tuesday 29th January 08:56

[mazdajason]

cheers, going to look into that

[buzzer]

here are a few pictures of mine...its quite versatile.... its a mid height one though as I am restricted on head room.

It was surface mounted for many years, but last year I sunk it into the floor which was a long hard job, but worth it as its so much easier to move my bikes around the garage now. I also took the opportunity to make the lift so I could raise just one of the platforms so I could have a car in the garage while having a bike on the lift.

I also bought mine from Automech, and they were good to deal with.

[GreenV8S]

I'd be interested to see more about the work involved in recessing those.

[buzzer]

GreenV8S said:

I'd be interested to see more about the work involved in recessing those.

it was quite a job... for a start I had to hire a concrete cutter for a day, which actually was easy to use.... I cut down in two inch stages, and flooded the area with water so there was practically no dust. my mate sat there with the hose and aimed it near the blade.

I then tried my hammer drill to break the concrete up... gave up after 10 mins and went and hired a Hilti... cheap to hire and again easy to use, and very effective. took about an hour to get both sides up. I did have a helper with that, but I had to sack her for working without PPE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIb5F-vZet0

then I dug down so the concrete slab was about 4 inches thick under the platforms and put some damp barrier in there to stop the damp coming up...

I put re-enforcement grid in there and spaced it a couple of inches off the ground then put the plates in and screwed them to the floor. these are 3mm thick, so these will also support the hoist as well as the pad underneath. I then poured the concrete in and trowelled it off to leave a nice level pad and let it set for a few days.

The aluminium work was done by the company I do voluntary work for, so they were free and happy to help me for a change!

its so much easier getting cars and bikes in and out of the garage now, the only downside is I cant hose the floor off like I used to... but that is a small sacrifice.

[GreenV8S]

How thick was the original slab? Did the excavation go right through it?

[buzzer]

GreenV8S said:

How thick was the original slab? Did the excavation go right through it?

yes, the slab was 4- 5 inches thick, variable and was re-enforced with mesh. I went right through with the cutter and dug it out deeper.