Product Overview
Product Assembly and Setup
When selling automotive equipment, we have found that most of our customers are mechanically minded and look forward to installing and assembling their new acquisition. Most items we offer can be installed and assembled by two people in a reasonable amount of time. Before you tackle this project, here are some tips that we hope will make your life a little easier:
- Read the manual carefully before starting the installation. The manual should be included with your item, but if you can't find it, go to the product page on our website and download it for FREE. This manual has been developed and updated over the years and includes all the tricks we've learned to make assembling your product as easy as possible.
- Don't like reading or don't need the manual? That's fine, but take a minute to watch the videos we have posted on each product page. We understand that some people have the ability to solve problems on their own, but why not get insider information to spend less time troubleshooting?
- If you haven't received your item yet, get an idea of what you'll need to do to transport or unload it. Shop equipment such as tire changers and wheel balancers are easier to handle than car lifts. If you are assembling your car lift, take the time to plan your installation.
- Start by making sure the installation area and surrounding areas are clean and clear, which will allow you to move and handle parts easily.
- Try to get the entire crate close to the installation area without hindering it. Some heavy parts need to be put in place, and the less you have to move them, the better.
- Unpack the packaging and parts and examine them to ensure all parts are present and to get an idea of the nature of each part. You will need them at some point, and if someone is holding a heavy object while you look for a bolt or a hose, it's going to be a long day!
- If you read the manual, get 2 or 3 steps ahead of your current situation. We have heard countless times that a customer installed their lift 90% of the way only to find that a hose or cable needed to be put in place two steps earlier, and they now had to disassemble the lift to put in a small part and reassemble it.
- Be sure to check the electrical requirements of the product you are purchasing. Some items are 110V or 220V. Others are manufactured so that you can simply plug them in, while others have a "pigtail." You will therefore need to call an electrician to connect it to your distribution panel or install an outlet.
- If you are setting up a car lift, you will need hydraulic fluid to operate the lift. CAUTION: We do not supply the hydraulic fluid for your lift. Generally, we recommend using AW-32 hydraulic oil for all our lifts (regardless of type). A 5-gallon bucket is usually more than enough and will generally leave you with a little extra.
- When filling your hydraulic fluid for the first time, don't rush the process. Fill the reservoir 1/3 or 1/2 full, then run the lift up and down. Bleed out the air and kinks, then, with the lift in the lowest position, fill it 2/3 or 3/4 full and run it up and down again. DO NOT fill the reservoir beyond 1/3 or 1/2 when the lift is in the high position, as there will be sludge in the cylinders and other components. We have often heard that a customer filled the reservoir to the brim when the lift was in the high position and, as soon as they started lowering the lift, the reservoir overflowed and spilled all over the workshop. It's a huge mess to clean up.
- Some hydraulic cylinders may be "air locked" during manufacturing, which prevents the piston from extending when pulled by hand. This does not mean the cylinder is damaged; it is simply
