DIY Project....

olChris · Aug 31, 2014

I have several DIY projects in mind, that i want to build to compliment my workshop.. And yes, i well know that i can buy finished products to do the job, but I've got the time and expertise and DIY is my way within reason..

M/C lift/table.... Air v's hydraulic... Have fitted many "rams" (i dont think i should have said that) to equipment in a past life and know SFA about rams/jacks and related pressure and sizes..

I have looked at many "pictures" of lift tables and sussed the mechanics of the frame... I have a 20t jack that works on its side but would require 539 pumps to full extend it, so it is not on top of the list.....

Air Rams.... I have a basic w/shop compresser that will pump to ~140-50 lbs, but now nothing about air rams... I have heard that you can use a HYD ram in place of an Air Ram ? is this correct ?? If so the stroke and volume will need to be whatever and the leverage will need to right on (or variable) to lift a 300+kg cruiser (safety factor)...

I havent googled Air Ram/Hyd Ram capacitys sizes cos i would never understand the math's

Making the table and frame is easy for me and cos im lazy a turn of the air tap to lift the table sound really nice to me..

Also if there are any "Plans/Drawings" for lift tables out there that are shareable that would also help me to decide.. I have seen various designs on the net for a few dollars but in most cases i didnt like them so therefore i will pursue this avenue>>

texasSlick · Aug 31, 2014

A 4 inch diameter (100 mm) air cylinder will lift 1250 pounds (570 kg) with 100 psi air pressure. The linkage to make the table compact and near floor level when collapsed is more of a challenge. Perhaps a pit in the floor to mount cylinder vertical is easiest way to build such a table. Be sure to use some sort of mechanical safety to prevent table drop if air line leaks.

olChris · Sep 1, 2014

texasSlick said:
A 4 inch diameter (100 mm) air cylinder will lift 1250 pounds (570 kg) with 100 psi air pressure. The linkage to make the table compact and near floor level when collapsed is more of a challenge. Perhaps a pit in the floor to mount cylinder vertical is easiest way to build such a table. Be sure to use some sort of mechanical safety to prevent table drop if air line leaks.

Thanks Slick, 4" Dia is a fat ram to consider.. Vertical lift is out of the question for me as a 700mm table lift and deep hole and in fixed position. That wont work for me... I'm looking at scissor type lift and from what i have researched the rams appear to have no more than 12" stroke and are at best 3"dia.. But not sure..

My "common sense" tells me that the air lift tables on the market that sell for Au$600+ here in Au are probably made in Asia (thats OK by me) and the ram quality used would be proportionate to total value. For this table lift to be economical to build the ram purchased new must not exceed ~Au $150..

Looking toward the end of this add you can see a "Ram" with maybe 200mm of lift..
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Motorcycle-M ... 1a6&_uhb=1

davamb · Sep 1, 2014

olChris said:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Motorcycle-Motorbike-Hydraulic-bike-Lift-Table-500kg-stand-jack-hoist-/231237480870?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35d6d3f1a6&_uhb=1

That looks like a pretty good bit of kit Chris. Not bad value for the money.

texasSlick · Sep 1, 2014

Well you seemed "set" on an air cylinder. If I were to DIY, I would get a screw drive scissor jack, fit a good sized base plate to it to minimize tipping factor, fit a table to top, and then fit a reversible gear motor to the screw drive. Push button convenience, relatively simple, least expensive, and inherently safe.

Let us know how you do it...I might want to copy.

Slick

Hobot · Sep 1, 2014

Air muscles may do it more DIY shade tree style
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=air+muscle

olChris · Sep 1, 2014

hobot said:
Air muscles may do it more DIY shade tree style
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=air+muscle

That rang a bell with me.. Cant see why one of these cant be adapted....... Any opinions ????

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/3004643 ... e&lpid=107

Mark · Sep 2, 2014

olChris · Sep 3, 2014

Mark said:

WOW Good onya Mark how "KISS" is that. Particularly the second pic/design cos i was worried about stability and now you have solved that for me.

Can i ask where you got the pics or what did you Goggle... ???

(If you dont ask ya dont get answers) Mark XOXOXO, now that dosn"t mean were mate's anything!!!

Jst a bit of air with the right leverage!!!

.

nickguzzi · Sep 4, 2014

At the cheapest end of the bikelift market here in UK, a few are offered which use a cheap car hydraulic jack. The very cheapest come without the jack, which would be another £20.
They are only a platform and some struts.
How hard can it be....?

Norton Dave · Sep 6, 2014

Hi Chris check this out bigblueincanada.com/ Easy to make use a 1/2" air rachet to drive it up and down self locking , old lathe screw threads easy to find sure you could build it easy peasy .

olChris · Sep 7, 2014

Norton Dave said:
Hi Chris check this out bigblueincanada.com/ Easy to make use a 1/2" air rachet to drive it up and down self locking , old lathe screw threads easy to find sure you could build it easy peasy .

http://bigblueincanada.com/gallery/big-blue-4/

Yes Dave thanks.... I have seen them and look a PoP to build.. Needs a bit of thought as there is a lot of weight on the platform arm, the angle of the stauntion and centralising the bike. It does not give me a comfortable feeling, seeing 2-300kg of bike on that lift.. I think there are too many possibilites of mishap....

I am not against that design but have reservation, mainly because i have never heard any "genuine" reports of their abilities and of the many dozens of workshop photos that i have viewed on this forum and others, i have never seen one in use by a DIY backyard restorer/tinkerer/maintainer ... apart from advertisements etc..

Im sure they would be the perfect lift in some situations (MX 120kg).. I do like and prefer the platform scenario where i can leave my empty stubbies and spanners on it, and not on the floor..

auldblue · Sep 8, 2014

olChris

If you take much longer to make this ramp , you'll need one of these before you finish it!

olChris · Sep 9, 2014

auldblue said:
olChris

If you take much longer to make this ramp , you'll need one of these before you finish it!

A sidecar mmmh,

or better still