Hydraulic bench rams ?

[Tony Nitrous]

Was going to ask Ozzy but I'll throw it out to anyone.

I have two Hare and Forbes hydraulic lift benches (cheap Chinese)
Use them a lot and they have been great.

Downside is the shitty hydraulic rams.
One went after a year or two. I had it repaired, then it went again.
Now the ram on the 2nd bench is starting to go.

I have mains power, compressed air and space and time.
What's the alternative ?

Who / what / where should I be looking at ?

The actual benches are fine, its just the shitty rams.

It's not a problem I can throw heaps of money at,
just wondered if anyone has any experience or ideas ?


http://s29.postimg.org/fqlm6o7ef/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

[ozzy1100]

Are there replacement rams available?
I have one of the same bench, only just started
using.
Most mod retro fits are going to be $$ and a time sorry tony

[Tony Nitrous]

Hare and Forbes list a replacement ram but have none in stock
and they are always "on order" Around $100 I think.

I had one rebuilt by someone who was recommended and has done a lot
of our works stuff. It had slightly less reach (I drilled new holes for the safety bar)
and now that's failing too.


Did look at 12V scissor jacks (old folk use them on caravans etc) but they would
need surgery to fit if they worked at all.

Even though about using a 12V winch but it started to look very bodgy-dodgy !!

[slingy88]

What about linear actuators. They are getting pretty cheap now. Or I presume the other arm that isn't connected to the ram has to slide back and forth to allow it to raise and lower. Put one or 2 acme threads in with the nuts on this arm. Then either use like a windscreen wipers motor to power or just put a hex on the end so a cordless drill or similar can be used to raise and lower.

[ozzy1100]

On a $600 lift its probably not worth the effort, other than a bolt in fix IMO

[Joycie]

Very interested in this as am having the same dramas with my lift. Have chosen to ignore the problem for the last 12months as I could still get locking bar in the last hole however this is not the case anymore. It is now a large red wheel chock/clamp to open my toes up on whilst drinking beer.

[MuZ]

Is there any way you could get a bottle jack to work, they're cheap as.

[Tony Nitrous]

I remember a UK lad using a motor front a little truck / van tail lift but I can't find the details.

I have had mine UP / Down with a scissor jack and a 1/2" drive rattle gun.
That was a bit of dodgy effort too !

[Gix11]

Has it been left elevated a lot during it's life Tony or do you always collapse it before you leave the shed?

Muz might be onto something for a cheap fix? $25:

https://www.tradetools.com/product-range/machinery-and-workshop/garage-equipment/hydraulic-tools/tradetools-1850kg-bottle-jack

[Tony Nitrous]

It's often left elevated for days at a time.

I can't see this does any harm as you put a locking bar in and
drop the bench so all the weight is resting on a solid stop and
the ram in under zero load. You could remove the ram when the
bench is up, it does nothing.

Bottle jack is nice, but it would have to be lay on its side to fit
and I can't see how you can get a handle into it when the bench is own ?

[ozzy1100]

Not all bottle jacks work on the side, I had that problem building the crank press jig
for Scott a few years ago. Depends if the return bypass ball is spring loaded or not.
To be honest tony the few times I have build mods to this type thing I would just
spend the $100 on a new one and take my chances. It is never easy, it is never pretty
and your time is always better spent working on bikes.... Just my 2 cents

[Tony Nitrous]

I'd spend the $100 if they ever had one in stock,
last time I tried to buy one (they are listed) they couldn't give me a date
and they recommended I get my old one rebuilt.

[ozzy1100]

Well that's fucked.....
I can get get you a top unit, but at around $2k I myself
brought the hare and Forbes item

[Gix11]

What is this "top unit" you speak of Lynton? Got a link?

[ozzy1100]

What is this "top unit" you speak of Lynton? Got a link?
I'll see if I can find one si, they really are nice

[ozzy1100]

This isn't the one and looks to be a cheeper lighter version
but you get the idea, I'll see if I can get you a picture of the real unit.
I have a contact for them but could never pony up the
http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n493/ozzy1100/01C50555-500F-4A7D-9A92-6891FA83BFD9_zps4bk2v3zz.png (http://s1136.photobucket.com/user/ozzy1100/media/01C50555-500F-4A7D-9A92-6891FA83BFD9_zps4bk2v3zz.png.html)

[Mishdog20]

I'd spend the $100 if they ever had one in stock,
last time I tried to buy one (they are listed) they couldn't give me a date
and they recommended I get my old one rebuilt.

I bought one at the start of the year Tony, mine was old stock at the back of a bearing store. I remember when i bought it the bloke reckoned that all of the different brands of bike lift were made by the one company in China, and that the factory had burnt to the ground. This was why Hare and Forbes and Radum had none in stock when i rang them. Not sure what the option here is mate but just thought youd like to know.

[Tony Nitrous]

Thanks for the feed back guys.

It's something I'll give more thought too.

Will look at electric / air ones too and in the spirit of streetfighters
see what I can beg borrow or "acquire" from something unrelated.

Just another project to ponder over.

[Tony Nitrous]

The secret to using a "jack" seems to be to have part of the frame UNDER
the jack too, so its not trying to pick the bench, frame, legs and all, off the ground...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0keMHtnwzE
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0keMHtnwzE)

[Tony Nitrous]

.... or to use a jack (ram) with a remote air / hydraulic feed and not one with an internal pump...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65Z1OzC48Qw
(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=65Z1OzC48Qw)