1. Harkness Career Center
Lifting Equipment
Harkness Career Center

2. Lift Types
Frame-contact lift
Wheel-contact (drive-on) lift

3. Frame-Contact Lifts “Two post lift”
Uses air or hydraulic pressure to raise vehicle
Mechanical locks protect against hydraulic failure
Adapters at the end of adjustable lift arms

4. Lift adapters contact vehicle frame at specified lift points
Unitized body
-pads contact the pinch welds and the torque boxes
Straight frame
-Pads contact the frame directly

5. Some adapters adjust to several positions
Lift Pads should
Be apposing each
other

6. Frame-Contact Lifts
Symmetrical Lift – the arms on the lift are the same length.
Asymmetrical Lift - the arms on the lift are two different lengths.

7. Wheel-contact Lifts
Types
scissor types
four post

8. Wheel-contact Lifts All four wheels supported
Also has mechanical locks
Works well for hard to lift vehicles

9. Wheel-Free Jacks Are located in the middle of the drive on lift
Are used to raise
vehicles off there
wheels
Have mechanical
safety locks
Operate on air and/or
Hydraulic pressure

10. Wheel-Free Jacks Picks up one end or both ends of the vehicle
Advantages of wheel contact lifts
Picks up off balanced vehicles safely
Center of underside is accessible
Adjusts to pick up different undercarriage designs
Can be rolled along drive-on ramps

11. In-Ground Lifts Two-posts provide better vehicle access
In-ground, frame-contact lifts are either single post or two post
Two-posts provide better vehicle access
Has safety locks
Are getting more popular
Do not pollute like they used to (hydraulic fluid leakage)
No posts in the way
Easier to get in and out of the car

12. Lift Safety
When a vehicle falls off a lift, usually due to carelessness, misuse, neglected maintenance

13. Lift Safety cont. Pinch Points Between the lift and the vehicle
Inside the lift posts
Hands must be on the operating handles when operating
NO ONE should be touching the lift when in use

14. Lift safety cont.
Rear-wheel-drive cars center of gravity is below the drivers seat
Front-wheel-drive cars center of gravity beneath the steering wheel
One- or two-post lifts, position vehicle’s center of gravity over the posts
Four-post models, position car between front and rear

15. Lift safety cont.
Rear-wheel-drive cars center of gravity is below the drivers seat
Front-wheel-drive cars center of gravity beneath the steering wheel
One- or two-post lifts, position vehicle’s center of gravity over the posts
Four-post models, position car between front and rear

16. Never exceed the manufacturers “Maximum Capacity” posted on the lift.
Lift safety cont.
Never exceed the manufacturers “Maximum Capacity” posted on the lift.