Auto Lift

About this machine

• Model: LFS-9
• Two-post lift
• Lifting capacity: 9000lbs
• Pads - 3" x 5"

Auto Lift Safety Guide

Do not attempt to use the Auto Lift if you have not been cleared to use it. There is a $20 fee and a specific safety waiver associated with this safety checkout.

The auto lift is a great tool for automotive maintenance. Being able to freely access the underside of a vehicle with the wheels off the ground makes repair much easier. Because of the danger of having a vehicle overhead there are many precautions to take while operating a lift and working on a lifted car.

Safety

The most important thing is to make sure the vehicle is

1. Within the weight limit of the lift. Our lift can handle up to 9000lbs.
2. Safe to lift. Intact lift points, has lift points intact, parts will not fall off of it or interfere with the operation of the lift. If it is rusted out and could collapse, do not lift it.
3. Secure on the lift. If it is not stable and secure it can slide off and kill you.

Policy

1. Pack in, pack out. All shops have a pack-in pack-out policy, which means you need to make the space available for others to use when you are done for the day. This means vehicles must leave with you.
2. Reserve Time: Use the website to reserve time on the Auto Lift every time you use it. If your time runs over, make a new reservation. This is important so other members know whether the lift is occupied or available.
3. If you get stuck: Sometimes a part breaks and you can’t get the vehicle home until the next day. If that happens, first send a message to the Manager informing him of the situation and how long it will be there.
   1. Try to get the vehicle off the lift and outside so the lift is available for other members.
   2. If you can’t take it off the lift, stick a note on the dashboard with your name and when it will be removed.
4. Project Parking: For longer-term projects, you can rent a spot for $10/day for up to 2 weeks. Must be paid up front and planned ahead. Only one space available at a time.
5. Trash: Recycling bins in the Classroom and out by the fence. Metal scrap barrel outside the garage bays. Oily rags can for fire safety. If it doesn’t belong in any of those receptacles, take it with you and dispose of it yourself.
6. Waste oil and fluids: Take your oil and other fluids with you.
   1. Oil can be taken back to the store you bought it from, Precision Auto around the corner, garages, etc
   2. Do not leave “extra” fluids as a courtesy to other members - they will likely not get used before they expire, turning into hazardous waste that the Makerspace then has to dispose of.
7. Leave the shop cleaner than you found it. Sweep up any debris when you’re done, throw trash away, clean off tools that got greasy, clean up oil spills with oil absorber.
8. Notify the manager if the lift key has been left in the panel or if the lift has been left on. It is a huge liability if the lift is not shut off and locked out.

Parts of the Lift

• The posts
• The hydraulic pistons
• The swing arm assembly: swing arms, lifting pads, risers, the locks
• The hydraulic motor, with lift button and lower lever

Lift Operation Guide

Centering the Vehicle

• Use the yellow centering line when driving in to align left-right.
• Front-rear alignment varies depending on vehicle length and wheelbase.
• Adjust until properly centered.
• Never lift an off-center vehicle! Take the time to do it right.

A vehicle properly centered between the posts. Note the equal distance between each side of the vehicle and the yellow centering line.

Powering On The Lift

• The Auto Lift is RFID-locked. You must get a safety checkout before using it. Once you do, you can swipe your badge on the reader to turn the lift on. The light pole above the box should illuminate green for 10 minutes. Afterwards, the lift will shut off. If you need to use the lift again to reposition the vehicle, simply swipe your badge again.

Finding Lift Points

Most vehicles are unibody. These are lifted from "pinch welds" located behind the front wheels and in front of the rear wheels. Most large trucks and SUVs are body on frame. These are lifted from the frame itself - see the reference image below. The black boxes indicate where the lift arms should be positioned on your vehicle. If you have trouble locating these points, look up the lift points for your specific year/make/model.

This is what most lift points look like on unibody vehicles. Note how the lift pad is properly centered along the pinch weld and is not in contact with other, non-load-bearing bodywork.

Preparing The Vehicle

1. Choose the correct set of pads and/or risers for your vehicle. Do not mix and match risers - only use the same height at all four corners.
2. Raise lift slowly until the pads are close to the vehicle's frame, but not quite touching.
3. Stop and check all four lift points again, adjusting if necessary.
4. Before lifting fully, make sure the area around the vehicle is clear of all equipment and debris.
5. Announce "Lifting!" to the room, so others are aware. Say it even if you think the room is empty - someone may be out of sight.
6. Press and hold the "raise" button until the vehicle is about 1ft off the ground, then stop.

Check Vehicle Stability

1. Go to each corner of the vehicle and shove it gently.
2. If the vehicle feels stable, shove it harder. Check all four corners.
3. If the vehicle becomes unstable, stop immediately and lower it to the ground. Check your lift points and try again.
4. If the vehicle remains stable, you may proceed.

Lifting The Vehicle

As you lift the vehicle, take note of the "clicks" you hear. Each pair of clicks occurs when the lift arms move past a post lock.

1. Say "Lifting!"
2. Listen for the “clicks” as you raise - you should hear them in pairs, one from each post as the vehicle rises.
3. Raise the vehicle to one pair of "clicks" above your desired height.
4. Ensure you hear both posts click before stopping. If unsure, lower it down a bit and try again.
5. Pull the "lower" lever to drop the vehicle onto the post locks. Hold it until the vehicle stops moving.

You are now ready to work!

Adjusting Height

1. Say "Lifting!"
2. Hold the raise button until both arms rise off the post locks.
3. Pull both lock releases - there is one per post, a total of two.
4. Hold lever to lower vehicle until it is slightly below desired height.
5. Raise vehicle until you hear both locks click.
6. Lower vehicle again to settle onto locks.

When you want to lower the vehicle to the ground, follow the first three steps, then bring the vehicle all the way down.

Height Limit Sensor

The Auto Lift has a height limit sensor which cuts power to the "raise" button if the vehicle rises above a certain height. This prevents you from crashing into the garage door or ceiling lights. Do not tamper with the height sensor. If you believe it is malfunctioning, contact the shop manager or general manager.

If you trip the height limit switch and lower the vehicle onto the post locks, you may not be able to raise the vehicle again to release the locks. If this occurs, there is a black "override" button located on the bottom of the RFID box. To raise the vehicle, swipe your badge and hold BOTH the "override" and "raise" buttons at the same time. Watch the vehicle closely and only raise it enough to release the post locks and lower the vehicle. Never use the override button unless your vehicle is stuck at the top.

Re-Aligning The Posts

Sometimes, the lift posts get slightly out of sync with each other and one side will raise before the other. A difference of a couple inches is not an issue. However, if you notice a long delay then you should re-align the posts before raising a vehicle. To do this, make sure the lift area is completely clear of vehicles, tools, and debris. Then simply raise the arms all the way to the top of the posts, and lower them back down to the ground.

Steps for Lowering the Car

1. Clean up the surrounding area and make sure the bay is clear and nothing is underneath the car.
2. Raise the car slightly to take pressure off of safety locks.
3. Manually release the locks on BOTH sides of the lift.
4. Lower the car slowly.
5. Pull back the lift arms. Replace the risers in the rack on the posts if they have been used.
6. Drive vehicle out of the bay.
7. Do a final sweep of the area, clean up any spills, throw away any trash.

Additional Notes for Working on the Lift

• Avoid removing things that may shift the center of mass and cause the car to tip.
• Avoid hitting the lift arms or using force that could shift the car off of the lift arms.
• Plan ahead! Research the repair you are doing, ensure you have all the parts, or have a plan to get parts.
• Plan for 2-5 times the amount of time you’ll think you need.
• If you have rusty parts you know need to come off, spray them with PB Blaster at least a day in advance to help it come loose easier.

NEVER Do These

• NEVER try to lift a car with rusty rotted lift points or rocker panels.
• NEVER lift a car with someone in it.
• NEVER climb on the lift or go inside your car while it is raised. Lower the vehicle so the tires are touching the ground if you need to access the inside.
• Do not hit or drive over the lift arms.
• Do not intentionally lower a car onto something.
• Do not lift something other than a car.
• Do not use wooden blocks, bricks, or anything else between the lifting pads and the lift points.

Other Safety Information

• Derek Weaver - 2-Post Lifts - A very good run-down on using a 2 post lift
• BendPak - Two-Post Lift Safety: Lifting Points, Adapters and Common Sense
• Atlas Apex 9BP Manual - Manual for a similar lift, includes information about common lifting points