wmhjr
09-01-2010, 07:22 AM
So it's been 8 months or so since I started down the MaxJax 2 post lift path. I've got a decent sized shop, but am height limited so a full height lift just is not in the cards. Since the master bedroom is above the shop, raising the ceiling is not an option. Back in January I ordered the Maxjax 2 post mid height lift, and I received it in February.
Installation was a little rocky due to some anchor issues discussed in another thread. However, since then I've really gotten a lot of use out of the product. However, there are two issues that have been a little frustrating.
First, the valved quick release connections on the hydraulic lines that Danmar provides are terrible. There is a male and female valved connection for both ends of each hydraulic line. 2 of them leaked right from the start. After a month or so I called Damnar, and they sent replacements of a slightly different design. They leaked too. Then the other 2 started leaking. They leak at the connection between the male/female fittings - NOT where the fitting attaches to the 3/8" NPT hose end or the hydraulic diverter. The fittings seem to be cheap chinese knock-offs - they're sure not Parker fittings. The MaxJax, btw, is a high volume low pressure system that does not exceed 1800psi at full rated load.
The second issue for me is that the length of the hoses makes the position of the cart which houses the pump/reservoir/diverter inconvenient and in the way. The hoses are laying on the ground and just seemed to be in the way too often.
The lift, to be clear, worked excellently and really helped.
I came up with an idea to relocate the control cart with pump, etc, against one wall, which would require longer hydraulic lines for at least one lift post. When I called Danmar to try and get some data for what might be possible, I was told that it just wouldn't work. The lines need to be the exact same length. That just didn't make sense to me. The flow diverter looks very similar to units used on other lifts, but beyond that regardless of the hose length, once primed pressure and volume should remain identical. I can understand however that there is probably some amount of liability concern involved, and I can see where perhaps they just don't want to start talking about any kind of system modification at all for various reasons.
I decided to experiment a little. The flow diverter has one input and 3 outputs. The 2 top outputs normally go to left/right hydraulic rams. The other output is used when you're using only one ram. I assume the top two are balanced and the bottom is a straight circuit from the pump. So, I added a 16 foot extension of hydraulic line to one existing line, connected it to the bottom (single) connection, removed the other 2 connections, and used the pump to "prime" the "long" line. At the same time I replaced all 4 sets of valved hydraulic quick release fittings (both male and female) with good quality Parker fittings. I then bled the hydraulic rams, but since I had already primed the lines it required almost no bleeding.
Now to be clear, I have yet to lift any weight of consequence. So far I've just had the weight of the support arms, etc. However, as I expected, the lift works exactly as it should. The 2 posts lift evenly with 1" or less of difference between them. Same thing for lowering. The Parker fittings are clean, with no leaks. So, rather than having the cart in an awkward location in front of the car with hydraulic lines all over the floor, I have the lines going up to the ceiling, across a beam, and down to the cart against a wall. No leaks, nothing in the way, and it works. I probably need to add a 4 ft extension to the shorter line just to clean up the installation a little more, and I plan to slightly change the fittings on the hydraulic rams to make it a little more compact, but overall it's really a big improvement.
Just wanted to share in case anyone else has thought about doing something similar.
Installation was a little rocky due to some anchor issues discussed in another thread. However, since then I've really gotten a lot of use out of the product. However, there are two issues that have been a little frustrating.
First, the valved quick release connections on the hydraulic lines that Danmar provides are terrible. There is a male and female valved connection for both ends of each hydraulic line. 2 of them leaked right from the start. After a month or so I called Damnar, and they sent replacements of a slightly different design. They leaked too. Then the other 2 started leaking. They leak at the connection between the male/female fittings - NOT where the fitting attaches to the 3/8" NPT hose end or the hydraulic diverter. The fittings seem to be cheap chinese knock-offs - they're sure not Parker fittings. The MaxJax, btw, is a high volume low pressure system that does not exceed 1800psi at full rated load.
The second issue for me is that the length of the hoses makes the position of the cart which houses the pump/reservoir/diverter inconvenient and in the way. The hoses are laying on the ground and just seemed to be in the way too often.
The lift, to be clear, worked excellently and really helped.
I came up with an idea to relocate the control cart with pump, etc, against one wall, which would require longer hydraulic lines for at least one lift post. When I called Danmar to try and get some data for what might be possible, I was told that it just wouldn't work. The lines need to be the exact same length. That just didn't make sense to me. The flow diverter looks very similar to units used on other lifts, but beyond that regardless of the hose length, once primed pressure and volume should remain identical. I can understand however that there is probably some amount of liability concern involved, and I can see where perhaps they just don't want to start talking about any kind of system modification at all for various reasons.
I decided to experiment a little. The flow diverter has one input and 3 outputs. The 2 top outputs normally go to left/right hydraulic rams. The other output is used when you're using only one ram. I assume the top two are balanced and the bottom is a straight circuit from the pump. So, I added a 16 foot extension of hydraulic line to one existing line, connected it to the bottom (single) connection, removed the other 2 connections, and used the pump to "prime" the "long" line. At the same time I replaced all 4 sets of valved hydraulic quick release fittings (both male and female) with good quality Parker fittings. I then bled the hydraulic rams, but since I had already primed the lines it required almost no bleeding.
Now to be clear, I have yet to lift any weight of consequence. So far I've just had the weight of the support arms, etc. However, as I expected, the lift works exactly as it should. The 2 posts lift evenly with 1" or less of difference between them. Same thing for lowering. The Parker fittings are clean, with no leaks. So, rather than having the cart in an awkward location in front of the car with hydraulic lines all over the floor, I have the lines going up to the ceiling, across a beam, and down to the cart against a wall. No leaks, nothing in the way, and it works. I probably need to add a 4 ft extension to the shorter line just to clean up the installation a little more, and I plan to slightly change the fittings on the hydraulic rams to make it a little more compact, but overall it's really a big improvement.
Just wanted to share in case anyone else has thought about doing something similar.