No auto repair shop is complete without a car lift. The equipment is available on the market in a wide variety of models from local and foreign manufacturers. A car lift installed in a car service will pay for itself quickly, but purchasing a car lift for personal needs is a stupid expense. Moreover, it is possible to build a car lift with your own hands.
Types of car lifts
Owners of personal cars are well aware of how rapidly the prices for the maintenance and servicing of such vehicles increase every year. The sensible solution would be do-it-yourself repair cars when qualifications and experience allow it. A separate tool is already in the garage of car enthusiasts, but with a room for pit repairs and equipment, things are different. However, some important devices(for example, a car lift for a garage) you can create yourself.
Before choosing a design for a future lift, it is worth analyzing existing versions of the equipment and choosing the best one for your garage. The lifts are:
- single-post and double-post;
- hydraulic;
- rack and pinion
- pneumatic;
- screw.
The advantages of single-rack variations are their compact dimensions - perfect option for use in small garage. A two-post lift will provide the opportunity to carry out repair work of any level of complexity. Hydraulic Automotive crane practical. It is necessary to monitor the fluid level in the seals. Rack and pinion lift It has a simple design and protects parts from contamination. For effective operation of a pneumatic crane, you need to buy a pump. And the screw version is characterized by low load capacity and lifting height, so it should be considered last.
Best Device Design
Your future homemade jack for a car must have a certain design. A two-post mechanism (there are options with an electromechanical or electrohydraulic drive) is used throughout. The first consists of a threaded shaft with a supporting nut. The shaft rotates via an electric motor with a gearbox.
In the second case, the shaft is replaced with a hydraulic drive. And also the scissor lift has proven itself well in business. Special levers act as “scissors” And. The load is lifted by hydraulic drives with electric motors. Each design may be suitable for your specific use conditions. Any installation considered turns out to be quite difficult to build such a car lift for a garage with your own hands. After all, even when creating a motorized lift, difficulties arise, and here the task becomes much more complicated.
Important Safety Points
You must be prepared for the fact that the creation useful system(a homemade garage lift) will be associated with significant financial costs and difficulties in manufacturing. But the main thing is the need for strict adherence to safety rules. Among them:
- eliminating the risk of injury during device manufacturing;
- provision of stock bearing capacity equipment;
- creation of locking mechanisms.
The last point deserves special attention, because similar devices protect from the consequences of emergency situations. It's better to anticipate them and regularly check the condition of the shaft and nut for electromechanical drives, and for electrohydraulic equipment it is important to check for damage to cylinders and hoses.
Lift-tilter
To avoid costs and a lot of complications, you can give preference to a simple garage lift-tipper. The device will allow you to tilt the car to one side, and the tilt angle can vary from 45° to 60°. This is quite enough for most repair work.
To build such a unit, you will have to create and connect a number of parts: the front pillar, beams (top, bottom, rear), shoe. Various connecting elements will also be required. You will need to work a lot with metal, therefore availability is required special tools - welding, grinders and drills with a set of metal drills. The main material for work is 4 mm steel sheets, angles and bushings.
The manufacture of a jack should start from the base - the shoe. It must be made of steel and in full accordance with the drawing. It is important to achieve free movement shoe along the front pillar in a vertical plane. The stand consists of two squares, which are welded from 32 corners with a length of at least 1500 mm. They are combined by means of segments of corners, and the distance between them should not interfere with the free movement of the upper beam. Then you need to drill holes for the support pipe and fingers - metal clamps of the upper beam and shoe.
Creating a Top Beam
Next, proceed directly to creating the top beam. For this, take two 1.5 m corners and weld them into a U-shaped profile. It is also necessary to weld a metal insert in the middle, which will ensure the fixation of the jack. The beam will be ready when you weld a plate of the appropriate length and height to the profile. The result is a rectangular beam. One end of it must be welded tightly - a bushing will be attached to it, and the jack guides are welded to the other end.
The platform for the beam is created from a steel sheet. You can bend its sides to get something like a box, or weld the walls of this very structure. There will be a piece of wood inside the site required sizes, which is fixed with fasteners, and rubber is mounted on top of the wood. The platform is attached to the beam using a pre-welded eye.
Final stage
To ensure that the machine is securely supported on the opposite side of the lift, a rear beam is required. It is welded from 4 corners 32, 1500 mm long, so that in the end you get a square the length of a car. The beams are connected to each other through a special unit on the rear beam. The lower beam is also created from the corners and is connected to the rack and the rear beam. All that's left to do is to make the stud pins and install the jack. As a result, you will have an effective tipper.
You can make a car lift with your own hands so that you can carry out maintenance and repair of your car yourself if there is no inspection hole. Not every pit can be equipped with a pit, so many car owners are thinking about making a lift themselves.
Despite the reliability and durability of the car, many of its elements are subject to severe wear and tear. It happens that the car does not start and you need to find out what the reason is. To lift the car yourself without external help, you cannot do without a lift. But the cost of car lifts is high, and not all drivers can afford to purchase one. Also, many drivers use the jack a couple of times a year. Therefore, to prevent extra costs, it is better to make a car lift yourself.
Here we will tell you how to make a car lift yourself, and what you need for this.
Types of car lifts
There are three types of lifting units for vehicle repair:
- Screw lifts.
- Chain mechanisms.
- Hydraulic devices.
According to the method of lifting the machine, lifts are divided into:
- Fork devices.
- Platform mechanisms.
- Scissor lifts.
The most common type of car lift is fork screw devices. Their base is a shaft made of tool steel that can withstand a force of several tons. But making such a device at home is almost impossible due to the complexity of the design of the plugs. Therefore for self-made It is better to use screw platform devices.
They are made in the form of two channels, located parallel to each other, and located with the ribs down, attached to screw drive devices, ensuring the lifting of the entire structure. In such units, the requirements for shafts are not too strict, since lifting is provided by four shafts instead of two. Their significant disadvantage is the need to use a jack to perform suspension repairs, since the car’s wheels are not suspended, but are located on channels.
Often platform and fork-type lifts for transport are produced with a chain drive. In terms of their parameters, they are no worse than screw ones, but they are much more complicated to manufacture; joint synchronous operation of electric drives and braking devices is required. To make scissor-type lifting devices, a hydraulic drive is usually used, but some craftsmen are experimenting with a screw and chain drive.
Homemade or factory made
The main problem faced by those who want to make their own lift for vehicle - high price details. Therefore, it will be cheaper to purchase a used mechanism. Hydraulic cylinders with the required load capacity and sufficient length cost several thousand rubles. Custom made worms from special steel will cost about the same amount. As a result, the cost of building even a primitive scissor lift will cost 100 thousand rubles, while the price of new devices from China different types much less.
Safety and reliability
In addition to price, there are also factors that cast doubt on the independent production of a car lift - safety and reliability. Even a small car can weigh more than a ton. If the lift fails, the car will fall onto the person below. There are many such cases.
The lift may fail for the following reasons:
- The structural supports are poorly secured.
- The locking device broke because it was not designed correctly.
- The weight of the car turned out to be more than permissible, as a result the drive mechanism could not stand it.
To make a lift yourself, they usually take a ready-made design, hoping that its developer has correctly calculated the strength of the parts, or they make these calculations themselves. Such a project can only be completed by a qualified engineer, and an ordinary driver is not able to do it. Also, you need to calculate what load can be applied to the drive and brake mechanism.
If these calculations are not performed correctly, then such a lift becomes a lethal device. It is also important to correctly calculate the base of this structure. Here you need not only to pour the required layer of concrete, but also to make fastenings in the specified places.
When deciding to manufacture a lift yourself, you need to select parts for it. You should start by looking for the drive mechanism and locking device. These parts can usually be found:
- At enterprises where there is old equipment.
- In stores selling various parts for equipment.
- At enterprises that update equipment.
- At scrap metal collection points.
To manufacture a car lift of this type, you will need two hydraulic cylinders of the required power and size, a compressor and hydraulic hoses. high pressure. The scissor-type car lift design is the simplest to manufacture, but it is difficult to make a reliable brake. Therefore, if the hose or hydraulic cylinder is damaged, a dangerous situation will arise.
Electric motors with gearboxes and shafts, which are necessary for fork lifts or platform lifts, can be quickly found where the old machine park is being replaced with a new one. It will cost significantly less compared to the price of turning worms. The stopper of this device also has a simple design - an oblique bar with a stopper is made of steel measuring 2 cm in thickness.
If you decide to make your own car lift, then before choosing a diagram it is better to see in practice what this device looks like, how it works, and whether it is safe. In this case, you risk not the car, but own life. If there is another person under it when the car falls, then his life will also be at risk.
Option #1
The product will be fixed to the walls, so this device is used for repair work in garage conditions.
Required items:
- Three steel corners 7.5 x 7.5 cm.
- Worm type gearbox. Its minimum load capacity must be at least 300 kg, and its gear ratio must be at least 60 kg.
- Steel plate 10 mm thick. If there is old machine, used for metal work, then such a plate can be removed from it (the plate can be pulled out independently).
- Bolts and nuts.
- Two metal chains, it is better that its links are at least 3 cm in diameter.
- Powerful hook.
- Steel cable with a diameter of 5 mm.
- 2 sprockets of different diameters.
Assembly order
- Fix the steel angles on the garage walls so that the car hood is lower in height.
- It is necessary to mount a steel plate on the corners of the lift and secure it with M8 bolts - 8 pieces. Since there will be no direct fastening of the plate and corners, the plate can be moved relative to the motor.
- Install the worm gear yourself.
- Fasten the sprockets larger size on the gearbox drive shaft.
- Make a hole on the steel plate in the required place and insert the chain into it, then connect it into a ring.
- Install a smaller diameter sprocket on the gearbox output shaft.
- Make two holes in the plate for the second chain.
- Insert the second chain through these holes, throw one end of the chain onto the smaller sprocket, and fasten the hook to the other end.
- Assembly is complete.
Using the lift:
- Disconnect the engine from the car body.
- Place the loops of the cable under the motor and secure it to the hook.
- Lifting the engine must be done carefully and slowly.
- Having raised the motor with such a lift, you should lock the mechanism.
- Roll the car away and install a repair table in this place that can support the weight of the engine.
Option No. 2
The lifts differ in their design. Firstly, they are divided by the number of racks. Today, there are many models of two-post and also four-post lifts on the market. Moreover, their lifting mechanisms are mechanical or hydraulic.
Among car owners, car lifts in the form of a parallelogram are considered the most popular. They are also called scissors. There are plunger type devices. To make your own lift in a garage, you need to study in more detail design features widely known models.
To make such a scissor car lift yourself, you must first make a lower beam. To do this, many craftsmen advise preparing a clamp in advance, with which you can hold the middle pin. But first it is important to secure the frame. To do this you need to use a welding machine.
Then, to assemble the lift yourself, it is important to choose a quality hydraulic mechanism for lifting the beam. Then the handle is installed. The reducer can be used as a single-channel one. For a car lift, it is better to make the stand from an aluminum plate. The supporting elements for the device are installed at the last moment. It is important to check the clamp for reliability in advance. The supports are welded using a welding machine.
The scissor type car lift can be assembled independently without much difficulty. In this case, you should also prepare a U-shaped base. Then you can secure the pick-up. To do this, many craftsmen advise using a clamp. The hydraulic mechanism should be mounted directly on the screws and should not cover the supports.
Then, in order to further assemble the lift, you need to fix the gearbox. You need to cut a small plate from a steel sheet and weld it near the top beam. The distance from the edge should be 22 mm. Then the shoe itself is fixed. The first support is installed on the hydraulic mechanism. In this case, the other two supports should be located near the front of the device.
L-beam lift
To perform a high-quality assembly of this type of lift, you should first prepare the base. It is usually made of steel plates with a minimum thickness of 22 mm. Then, to assemble the lift, you need to secure the side supports, which is done without the help of a clamp.
The next step is to weld the beam. To do this you will need three identical metal sheet. Their length should be 1.2 meters. After welding them, the upper beam is attached. In this case, it is better to use a small-sized hydraulic cylinder, which will allow the gearbox to be placed close to it.
Simple engine lift for garage
If the lift will be used in a garage for one car, then you should not make a complex device. The simple option shown in the figure is also suitable for this. It consists of a few parts: a strong beam, scrap metal and a mount that acts as an axis. To secure the device, you will need to drive the mount into the ground. Then fix the pipes on this axis, which act as a drum. The result is simple design car lift.
You will also need to fix the cable on the pipe and insert the lever into it. The other part is attached directly to the car. This way you can raise it. At the same time, it has sufficient reliability and durability.
Assembly cost
The lift is an expensive mechanism, either purchased or made independently, since all the parts are expensive. In practice, the best way to resolve the issue is to buy a used lift. Its service life allows it to serve many owners.
There are many different options, which allows each person to choose the appropriate design. The lift can be used at any time if necessary, and work can be carried out to inspect the body, transmission elements and chassis. At the same time, significantly less financial resources will be needed.
Cars tend to break down and require periodic maintenance like any technique. Access to the lower part in garage conditions is often impossible due to the lack of a lifting device. Having all necessary tool With the lift equipped and ready for work, it is possible to replace the consumables of the chassis, transmission, and engine. Despite the fact that the device is in demand when repairing cars with your own hands, purchasing it for use for your own needs is very expensive. Maintenance can be performed no more than twice a year, so it is better to make units and components yourself.
What types of lifts are there?
Lifts come in various designs, differing in the method of lifting the car and the type of drive. For vehicle repairs, three types of drives are mainly used:
- chain mechanisms;
- screw;
- hydraulic systems.
The method of lifting the car plays an important role in the design; a garage lift can be a fork, scissor, or platform design. The most popular are fork screw units, the basis of which is a long threaded shaft made of tool steel. The parts of the unit are capable of withstanding the load of an average car; it is almost impossible to make the mechanism with your own hands, due to complex design forks
The easiest way to make a platform lift with your own hands is using a screw mechanism.
Parallel beams attached to the mechanism are capable of lifting a car weighing up to 3 tons.
Choosing a design
To make a vehicle lifting unit with your own hands, it is important to familiarize yourself with the designs on the market. The cost of finished equipment can be equal to the price of a car. In auto repair shops you can find the most common option - a screw two-post jack; the design can be made with hydraulic or electric drive. The structure can be made using additional beams, depending on the expected loads.
A scissor lift has a platform and is driven by a scissor-like mechanism. A homemade lift of this type is driven by mechanical force and is lifted by a hydraulic drive connected to an electric motor. Before making such structures, it is important not to forget about safety precautions. During operation, parts may spontaneously fall, which will lead to irreversible consequences. A homemade car lift must be made with a reserve of aggregate power; when using it, it is important to know the mass of the element being lifted.
In emergency situations with a garage lift, locking mechanisms allow you to hold the car. To avoid critical moments, it is necessary to check the condition of the electric motor and hoses. The main problem of making a screw lift with your own hands is the complexity of assembly and manufacturing of the mechanism. Hydraulic parts are expensive, purchasing a new design is impractical.
For garage use, a modification of the mechanism is suitable that allows you to lift the car from a certain side. With your own hands, you can make a hydraulic lift that lifts a car at an angle of up to 60 degrees; this design is called a tipper.
DIY garage lift
For use in the garage, it is possible to make a kit for lifting a car with your own hands. You will need the necessary components, tools and plumbing skills.
A homemade lift is made using the following parts:
- Steel corners measuring 8x8x1 cm, for making a stable structure.
- Worm type gearbox. A new product can be expensive; it is usually selected during disassembly or removed from a non-working mechanism. It is necessary to pay attention to the load capacity, the indicator starts from 350 kg, the transmission force indicator is 60 kg.
- Steel plate, minimum thickness 1 cm, removed from old equipment.
- Set of bolts, mounting hook, star-shaped keys.
- Several iron chains with a link diameter of 2 cm or more. Weak chains will not withstand the load, you should pay attention to the quality of the product, some materials can stretch during operation.
- Steel cable, 5 mm thick.
Assembly and installation of components occurs in the required sequence, following the proposed instructions. The steel corners are fastened to the walls in the opposite direction from the hood of the car. On top of the corners for the lift, a steel plate is installed with your own hands. The connection is made with prepared bolts. Next you need to install worm gearbox, securing it with a key on the drive shaft. A key of smaller diameter is installed on the output shaft of the gearbox.
Holes suitable for the diameter of the chain are made in the plate, after which the chain mechanism is installed. It is important to pay attention to safety; holes are made in the frame at a certain distance, and a locking mechanism is inserted with them.
Features of operation of such a lift
The use of a worm-type unit during operation is suitable for lifting a car engine or load-bearing parts. The procedure for using a self-made car lift is simple; you must follow these steps:
- Remove engine mounts, bolts, nuts.
- Afterwards, the steel cable loops are supplied and the structure is coupled.
- The drive shaft rotates by turning the chain; with a little effort you can slowly lift the part to the desired position.
After lifting, it is necessary to remove the car from the work area by placing a table under the engine. It is possible to make a stand or table with your own hands; the design must be durable and withstand heavy loads. Convenient to use is a table on wheels, which allows you to move the part in the required directions.
If the car is too big
Repairing large vehicles is not uncommon; wheel size and ground clearance may not allow you to raise the necessary parts to the required height. The process takes place with an assistant, who pulls the part onto a pre-prepared table. The gearbox rotates with the opposite side to the installed element.
Such situations lead to thoughts about improving and modernizing a car lift for a garage with your own hands. It is possible to manufacture a movable structure that will make it possible to move the lifted part to the required distances. It is possible to make a modular installation with an electric motor on a reduction gear, in which case it can turn out to be a real crane for lifting large-sized mechanisms.
Making a tipper yourself
The tipper is used to raise one of the sides of the car to the required degree. A simpler option that does not require special devices like a gearbox and chains.
The process of making a do-it-yourself tipper includes several stages.
- The shoe is made to work as a support for the future jack. It is important to follow the dimensions prepared according to the drawing so that the movement is free.
- The lifting stand is made from 1.5 meter long corners, assembly is carried out in the form of squares, fastening welding machine. The racks are used in the amount of two pieces; it is important to take into account the distance through which the beam will travel.
- Holes are drilled to attach the support pipe, also required for the locking mechanism.
- The platform for the beam is made from a sheet of steel, the edges are bent, then the result is a box to which the sides are welded.
- Supporting the car on the opposite side by raising it is done using a self-made structure made of beams. The square profile is made from a long corner corresponding to the car.
If you don’t have time, you can contact specialists who will make a tipping mechanism in the garage if it meets the requirements.
Simple lift for turning the car over
For use in open spaces, it is possible to make a simple lift for turning over a car. Chassis the car requires maintenance and repair in a timely manner; in the absence of a lifting device or inspection hole, this is not possible, and work will be stopped.
Using a mini lift in a garage will require the efforts of several people, which can result in the side of the car being damaged. Few dare to repair a car at a strong angle, but in the absence of other options, there is no way out. It can be made by using corners with a cable mechanism from an old winch.
Difficulties in making a lift
The cost of a finished car lift is high, but a self-made version can damage a person working under it if the design is unreliable. The weight of the car should not exceed more than a ton; if the structure falls on a person, irreversible injuries can occur.
A homemade car lift is made according to prepared drawings, or versions are used finished products. In the latter case, one has to rely on the author's high computational skills. Incorrect calculation of the base or one of the fastened units can lead to irreversible consequences, at best, damage to the lifted unit.
For homemade kit, made with your own hands, you will need parts and components, without which assembly is impossible. You can find this type of component in large stores selling construction equipment. If there are not enough funds for new parts, you need to go to scrap metal collection points and enterprises that write off old parts.
Not every garage can have a viewing hole. But for vehicle repairs it is extremely necessary. That's why the best solution It is considered to make a car lift with your own hands. This is not difficult to do if you have basic skills in working with basic mechanisms.
Types of lifts
Do-it-yourself lifts can be:
- screw;
- hydraulic;
- chain
Based on the method of lifting the car, they are divided into platform, scissor, and fork lifts. Each of them has its own design features. The most popular type is the screw fork type. A long threaded shaft is used as the base. It is made of tool steel and can withstand loads of up to three tons. But making such a lift on your own is almost impossible.
Screw platform lift
In this case, it is recommended to give preference screw type in the form of a platform. To make a lift for a car of this type, the structure is made in the form of rolled elements placed parallel to each other with the ribs down. They are attached to a drive mechanism that ensures the platform is raised.
IN specified types For lifts, the requirements for shafts are significantly lower. This is explained by the presence of four of them (not two). The main disadvantage of such lifts is the need to use a jack to repair the suspension. This is explained by the fact that the wheels of the car do not hang in the air, but are on the surface of the channels.
Other popular types of lifts
Very often, forklifts and platform lifts for cars are made with a chain drive. According to their own operational characteristics they are not inferior to screw ones. But it is quite difficult to make such a design on your own. This is explained by the need to ensure coordinated operation of engines and braking devices.
Scissor type lifting mechanisms most often operates via a hydraulic drive. But many craftsmen decide to equip them with a screw or chain mechanism, which they most often do with their own hands.
Instructions for assembling the lift yourself
To make a car lift with your own hands, you need to prepare the appropriate materials. Their list includes:
- several powerful steel corners;
- worm gearbox. Minimum load capacity – 0.3 t;
- metal plate 10 mm thick. You can get it with your own hands from an old machine for working with metal;
- bolts;
- two powerful chains, where the diameter of the constituent elements is at least 2 cm;
- hook;
- steel cable 5 mm thick;
- two keys with different diameters. You can easily remove it from an old moped yourself.
To make a lift yourself, you need to follow fairly simple instructions:
- Steel corners are built into the garage walls. The hood of the car should be placed under them.
- A centimeter plate is installed on the corners. It is secured using eight M8 bolts.
- The slab will not be monolithically connected to the corners. If necessary, you can easily change its placement.
- A worm gearbox is fixed to the surface of the plate.
- The key is put on the drive shaft and fixed.
- A hole with a diameter of 2 cm is made in the plate, where a chain is inserted, after which its ends are connected.
- Another smaller sprocket is mounted on the output shaft and connected to each other.
- Two holes with a diameter of 3 cm are made in the plate. A chain is passed through them, putting it on a smaller key.
- At the end of the second chain there must be a hook that can support the weight of the engine.
Making your own tipping lift
To make a lift with your own hands, you can use a completely different design scheme. It allows you to create a tipping type device. Such an apparatus consists of several main parts - a shoe, a platform, a rack, a beam system and various connecting parts.
To make a lift, you need to follow simple instructions:
- The shoe is made from steel sheet, carefully adhering to the dimensions indicated in the drawing.
- The stand for the tipper is formed from 32 corners having a length of 1.5 m. Squares are assembled from them and welded together.
- Several holes are made in the lower part to fix the support pipe.
- A platform in the form of a box is formed from a steel sheet. The sides are welded or bent.
- A piece of wood is mounted inside the box, which is fixed using fasteners previously inserted into the holes of its ends.
- A piece of rubber is installed on the tree.
- An eyelet is attached by welding at the bottom of the box.
- The upper beam is formed from two 1.5 m corners, welded in the shape of a U-shaped profile.
- A metal insert is welded in the middle of the beam for better fixation of the jack.
- A rectangular plate of the same length is welded to the resulting U-profile beam to obtain a square pipe.
- A plate is welded to one end of the beam (a bushing is attached to connect it to the rear beam), and on the other side - jack guides.
- The rear beam is made from four 1.5 m corners. Two square profiles are made from them.
- A node is welded in the middle of the rear beam to connect all the beams to each other.
- The lower beam is made by ourselves according to the same principle as the previous ones.
- Install the jack and stoppers.
DIY car lift - drawing
Lift operating rules
To make a lift yourself, you need to put in a lot of effort. But in order for this unit to work more efficiently, it is necessary to follow all the rules for its operation:
- Before using the lift, be sure to remove the bolts that hold the engine and vehicle frame together.
- A loop of steel cable is placed under the engine. A lift hook is placed on its end.
- Search the circuit.
- Over time, the movement will transfer to the drive shaft, which will transmit force to the cargo, which will lead to tension in the cables.
- The power unit is lifted slowly and carefully to avoid damage.
- After removing the engine using a lift, it is necessary to stop its operation. The load will now be held by the gearbox.
- The vehicle can be moved and replaced in its place durable table, which can withstand the load from the engine.
How reliable and safe are homemade lifts?
To make a lift with your own hands, you need to work hard. But will such equipment be safe? Some experts strongly doubt this. On average, a car weighs more than one ton. If the lift has low power or poor quality equipment, there is a possibility of the vehicle falling. This could result in serious injury or even death for the mechanic.
The reasons for the development of such emergency situation are called:
- heavy vehicle weight for which the drive or actuator unit is not designed;
- incorrect design of the locking unit, made by hand;
- destruction of the locking mechanism under heavy load;
- Incorrect fastening of the support parts of the car lift.
If it is necessary to make this equipment, you have to use someone else’s drawing or calculate everything yourself. In each case, there is a possibility of serious errors that can lead to irreparable consequences.
Video: Homemade garage lift
Don't buy it at a hardware store. This is an understandable desire: the cost of such equipment may not be much less than the cost of your car, and it will rarely be used (only if you are not going to open a service station in the garage).
The idea has arisen, the desire too, now it’s time select the design of the device to be created. To do this, you should pay attention to factory-made lifts presented on the special equipment market, “peek” at their design and imagine whether you can do something similar.
Most likely, the first one that will catch your eye is two post lift, which can be found in almost every auto repair shop. This type of device can be equipped with an electromechanical or electrohydraulic drive.
In the first case Inside each rack there is a threaded shaft rotated by an electric motor with a gearbox. There is a bearing nut on the threaded shaft, which moves along it and accordingly raises and lowers the “legs” on which the car rests.
In two-post electro-hydraulic In the lift, the shaft is replaced by a hydraulic drive, the pressure in which is created by an electric motor.
There are other options of similar design, but with one, three or four racks.
Another type of lift is scissor, where a platform with a system of levers (called "scissors") is raised and lowered using hydraulic actuators driven by electric motors.
When creating such designs, you may encounter many questions and problems that need to be solved. First of all, it is job safety– no one wants to be seriously injured or injured on one not-so-lucky day due to a broken lift.
Therefore, you should choose the materials and design of the device so that it can withstand the weight of the car, while with a solid reserve.
It is also worth taking care of the manufacture of locking mechanisms, allowing you to keep the car in place in emergency situations with the lift.
And in order to prevent the latter, it is necessary to inspect them regularly: for an electromechanical drive, it is necessary to check the wear of the threaded shaft and the bearing nut; for an electrohydraulic drive, it is necessary to check the integrity of the hoses and cylinders.
AND main problem The problem faced by those who want to make a two-post or scissor car lift with their own hands is the complexity of manufacturing and the high cost of parts. It is almost impossible to create a long threaded shaft at home; selecting cylinders and hydraulic hoses is a complex matter, and they are not cheap.
But there is a simpler version of the car lift, adapted for production in garage conditions, that turns the car on its side at an angle of 45°-60° and is called tipper. Let's take a closer look at it and see what and how it can be made from.
Making a tipper yourself
How to make a lift in the garage with your own hands? Lift-tilter consists of several parts: front pillar, shoe, platform, upper, lower and rear beams and connecting elements between them.
For manufacturing you need steel sheets 4 mm thick, angles, bushings, fasteners and tools for welding, cutting and drilling metal.
The first stage of manufacturing the tipper- shoe, employee supporting surface for the jack. The shoe should be made of steel sheet as shown in the drawing, and it is very important to maintain the dimensions of the “eye” so that it moves freely up and down the front pillar.
Herself the stand is made from corners 32 1500 mm long, which are assembled into “squares” and welded. We will need two such “squares” connected to each other by segments of corners; the distance should be such that the upper beam can move between the “squares”.
In their lower part, make a hole for the support pipe, then you need to make several holes at certain intervals - they are necessary for the metal fingers that will fix the shoe and the upper beam.
Second stage creating a tipper with your own hands - creating this beam and a platform for it. The platform is assembled from a steel sheet, the edges of which must either be bent to form a “box”, or its sides must be welded to the lid of the “box”.
In our case, the length of the platform is 350, width is 150, and depth is 20 millimeters. Inside the “box” you should put a piece of wood cut to its dimensions; it is fixed with fasteners inserted into the drilled holes in the side sheets of the site. Rubber is attached to the top of the tree, an eye is welded to the metal below for fastening to the top beam and stiffeners - and that’s it, the site is ready.
The upper beam itself is assembled from two corners 1500-1700 mm long, welded together into a U-shaped profile. A metal insert needs to be welded inside approximately in the middle, which is necessary for better fixation of the jack. Next, you need to weld a plate of the same length and height to the U-profile so that at the end you get a rectangular beam.
One end of it is tightly welded with a small plate, to which, in turn, a bushing is attached for connection with the rear beam; guides for the jack and bushings for the metal stopper pins are welded to the other end.
Next step– production of a rear beam, necessary to support the car on the side opposite to the one being tipped over. The length of the beam should be approximately equal to the length of the car, so they take four corners 32 with a length of 1500 mm and weld them two at a time into a square profile.
They should be connected to each other using a square rod inserted inside the profiles and using rivets.
In the middle of the rear beam it is necessary to weld a connecting unit made of sheet metal. It is necessary to connect the rear, upper and lower beams to each other.