Beware of car lift operaters!! (Page 1/1)
Spoon MAR 08, 09:44 PM
Anybody ever have this happen to their Fiero?

Somehow this car fell of the lift. Looks like a Chrysler 300M. It would seem like they forgot to swing the driver side lift arms under the car. The right arms when looking under the car extended almost to the middle which held it at the tipping point. They went to lift it and at some point the driver side took a dive. Amazingly the body seemed to come thru nearly unscathed. The front ball joint is another story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blMfKiv_S3Q

Was probably in for a simple oil change.
Spoon

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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut

IMSA GT MAR 08, 10:03 PM
Back in the day when the 84's were blowing up left and right, Arata Pontiac of Burlingame did a TON of the warranty engine replacements. They used a lift but made the mistake on at least 2 cars of removing the cradle while in the air. Cars became front-heavy and fell nose first on to the concrete. Live and learn about weights and balance
Patrick MAR 08, 10:51 PM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:

They used a lift but made the mistake on at least 2 cars of removing the cradle while in the air. Cars became front-heavy and fell nose first on to the concrete.




Spoon MAR 08, 11:20 PM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:

Back in the day when the 84's were blowing up left and right, Arata Pontiac of Burlingame did a TON of the warranty engine replacements. They used a lift but made the mistake on at least 2 cars of removing the cradle while in the air. Cars became front-heavy and fell nose first on to the concrete. Live and learn about weights and balance



Wow...Just a few days ago I used my lift to drop the cradle. I started by lowering the Fiero down onto a wheeled-pallet I made. Then I unbolted the cradle & disconnected the harness. I also put the Fiero on the lift backwards so the motor would be up front like a normal car. After raising it to the 1st click, I checked to make sure it was still solid. All was okay but I tied a tether around the lift arm and the body anyway. I'm doing the 3800SC swap and so far so good.

Spoon

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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut

OntarioKev MAR 08, 11:58 PM
I've done mine a couple of times on the lift, kinda sketchy but I've been lucky so far.

Getting the four arms on the car without using the rear cradle is tough but I always put the front ones as far forward as possible, and the rear ones wherever I can get them.

Sketchy with the engine still in the car, actually more stable once I drop the cradle.
cvxjet MAR 09, 12:03 AM
Maybe there's a reason there is no "Magic One-point lift for ALL cars!!!!!"

As a sad warning, when I worked at NAS Alameda we had a mechanic who was home doing service on his RV....Using >CAR< jack stands.......His wife came out and found him.

Be careful! When you are under a car (Even the lightest will squash you like a bug!) make sure it is STABLY held up with jack stands or lifts that are rated for it's weight.....
OntarioKev MAR 09, 11:29 AM
Ya a cars weight is nothing to mess with!

When I drop my cradle I lower it onto 4 jackstands and then lift the car up using the lift. There is still the risk if the car tipped forward off the hoist it could knock the cradle forwards and flip the jackstands but its as safe as I can manage.
cvxjet MAR 09, 06:19 PM
I made a custom pallet to hold the cradle/engine/Trany, lowered the assy down, then used the engine hoist to lift the car up (Using a cargo strap around the trunk)...Although I borrowed a pallet jack from work to pull it out from under, when I pushed it back under, I used plastic 1/2" lawn sprinkler tubing to act as rollers....(My Father came up with that)
Dennis LaGrua MAR 12, 02:13 PM
We put both lift arms on the 2 post lift, one pad on the front of the integral frame rail and the other on the support where the front cradle bolts to. Never had a problem dropping many cradles this way but I do like Charlies suggestion about adding a chain or cable to secure the car to the rear lift arms. If those lift arms are far enough apart I can't see the car tipping forward off the lift.
Although the lift that we have (made by Rotary ) securely locks the lift as it goes up, we still use the tall jackstands while working under a car. IMO ,with a professional quality lift this is not necessary, but my wife ordered them so I use them and it makes her feel better.

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[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 03-12-2019).]

Kitskaboodle MAR 12, 02:21 PM
It is far more common to see unknowing mechanics crush coolant tubes. In fact, it’s one of the first things you should check before buying a used Fiero! Well, that and loosy, goosy front end parts.
Kit