4
1. There are numerous blends and mixes and additives these days for concrete. All of
these work well when used in the proper application. However, years of experience have
shown that nothing beats a properly cured, steel reinforced concrete slab for this
application. Another thing to watch is additives that claim to harden the concrete faster or
reduce the cure time. Again, these things have their place, but not in this application! A
steel rod or mesh reinforced slab cured 28-30 days with the slab kept properly hydrated
gives the best results.
2. Checking bolts for tightness to some people means that once a week they grab a
wrench and go around yanking a quarter of a turn on every nut and bolt they see. This is,
of course, not the proper way of handling any bolt, especially the stress anchor used to
anchor your lift. When the anchors are installed, they must be torqued with a torque
wrench to 150 foot-pounds initially. After a period of time, they will loosen up some.
This is normal. When checking the anchors just put a wrench on them and “feel of them”
or apply a small amount of torque to the bolt. If it is tight, it is good to go. If it is loose,
get a torque wrench and tighten it to 60-90 foot-pounds.
3. The lift is not designed for an outdoor installation because of the possible damage and
degradation to the hydraulics and the electrical components caused by direct exposure to
the elements. If the unit is installed in a building or outbuilding with a floor that is
anything other than the recommended concrete floor, a pad can be poured. The size and
construction of the pad can vary depending on the soil conditions and the local weather
conditions. It is recommended that each of these situations be handled separately by a
local engineer.
4. Never place a lift in a pit or depression in a garage area or any environment where
gasoline is around. Gasoline fumes tend to gather at the floor and low areas, so the lift
must be mounted on the main floor of the building and not in the basement or a pit.
5. Always remember that your lift is rated at 12000 pounds. This means that the lift will
safely and reliably lift a load of 12000 pounds as long as that load is evenly distributed on
all four arms. If the load is offset or unevenly distributed, then one post can actually be
operating at a load greater than 12000# and the lift can be overloaded with less than the
rated load. So the lift load rating is 12000 pounds or 3000 pounds per arm.
Positioning the Post (Columns)
Important General Information
