What would you do?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,221
Likes: 118
From: Matthews NC
What would you do?
Need your thoughts here.. I have the opportunity to purchase a used Superior lift for $750 so I went over yesterday to look at it, pictures shown below. The lift is 7 years old and as you can see is mounted outside. Also you can see from the pictures there's rust on the cable bolts so backing them out will be a challenge. Three questions: (1) Would you trust the existing cable after weathering 7 years, (2) How much are the cables and (3) has anyone transported one of these without disassembling it? Welds look good all around, hydraulics work, 120V. One thing would be to replace the hydraulic line going to the piston. The lift will be used to stack both the '70 and '98. Next step is to call Superior and ask them the downside too of it being in the weather for 7 years and what items cost that may need to be replaced. I'm leaning on purchasing it....so talk me out of it if I'm exposing myself to high risk. Thanks all.
Lift:
One foot showing a pully:
Picture of cable and bolt end:
Another picture of the cable and bolt end:
Lift:
One foot showing a pully:
Picture of cable and bolt end:
Another picture of the cable and bolt end:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
Likes: 5
From: Naperville Illinois
I would pass on it. By the time you replace the cables, pulleys, post tops, cable mounting block and related hardware, you are into several hundred dollars and many hours of work, and you may still end up with a dangerous lift. The lift in your pictures looks exactly like my Direct Lift; you can get one of those new for $2000.
Rust weakens steel. The few hundred extra you'll spend on a new lift is peanuts compared to what it could cost you if something fails. Maybe I'm paranoid but I wouldn't park a car under (let alone work under) a lift that had sat outside for 7 weeks, let alone 7 years. My 2c.
Rust weakens steel. The few hundred extra you'll spend on a new lift is peanuts compared to what it could cost you if something fails. Maybe I'm paranoid but I wouldn't park a car under (let alone work under) a lift that had sat outside for 7 weeks, let alone 7 years. My 2c.
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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You will never feel safe/comfortable under that rusty lift. Why risk it? They can be purchased so reasonably brand new it doesn't make sense to buy a lift that has sat outside for that length of time.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 121
From: Kernersville NC
I would pass too. If I purchased that one I would replace cables, and pulleys at least. The pictures don't show what the pulleys and cylinder underneath look like. The surface rust can be cleaned up and repainted. You are gonna spend time and money getting it safe. An Atlas garage Pro 8000 is about $1800 from Greg Smith.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
The cable looks like galvanized and obviously isn't rusted like the bare metal swagged ends. Whether that's a problem is debatable.
There is no need to replace any pulleys because of surface rust.
To disassemble, the cable, just cut the nuts off and replace.
Call Superior for any replacement parts cost first, to determine a value.
If you represented the worst in the pics, I would give him $600, no questions.
You can always test the lift with double or triple the load and keep in mind, all lifts have safety locks on the posts.
There is no need to replace any pulleys because of surface rust.
To disassemble, the cable, just cut the nuts off and replace.
Call Superior for any replacement parts cost first, to determine a value.
If you represented the worst in the pics, I would give him $600, no questions.
You can always test the lift with double or triple the load and keep in mind, all lifts have safety locks on the posts.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: West Kingston RI
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
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From: Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '12
I agree with feeling comfortable underneath it.
Based on pics and description, I would go with noonie and offer $600 in the form of greenbacks in my hand.
Surface rust is easy to deal with.
Based on pics and description, I would go with noonie and offer $600 in the form of greenbacks in my hand.
Surface rust is easy to deal with.
Last edited by RobbSalzmann; Nov 7, 2011 at 10:56 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 330
From: Indy Indiana
what kind of idiot leaves some nice equipment like that out in the elements for 7 years..
make him pay the depreciation by offering him 250 for it...
or like stated above, get you a new one with no hassles delivered to your door and will go together easy and with a warranty..
make him pay the depreciation by offering him 250 for it...
or like stated above, get you a new one with no hassles delivered to your door and will go together easy and with a warranty..
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
I'd pass.
My life is worth more than $750.
There is also a reason that every lift manufacturer I've seen states that all warranties are void if installed outside.
I purchased a very lightly used Rotary 10K 2 post asymetrical for only $1k more.
My life is worth more than $750.
There is also a reason that every lift manufacturer I've seen states that all warranties are void if installed outside.
I purchased a very lightly used Rotary 10K 2 post asymetrical for only $1k more.
Last edited by blckslvr79; Nov 7, 2011 at 11:45 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i think i would price out new cable and talk to the tech staff at Superior they will give you some good insight. by the way its mounted it looks it never sat in water so i would at least have the conversation with them.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
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From: Huntersville NC
Does he want to sell it? I would think it would be very difficult to sell and his alternative, if he wants to get rid of it, would be to sell it for scrap, so IF you can make sure it is safe, I would only consider it for much less.... like $100 or $200, and then of course you pay to move it.
( I remember NCRS sold lifts used at the national convention, but I can't remember how much they got for the nearly new lifts... just as a comparison)
( I remember NCRS sold lifts used at the national convention, but I can't remember how much they got for the nearly new lifts... just as a comparison)
Last edited by PRNDL; Nov 7, 2011 at 01:28 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 121
From: Kernersville NC
The cable looks like galvanized and obviously isn't rusted like the bare metal swagged ends. Whether that's a problem is debatable.
There is no need to replace any pulleys because of surface rust.
There is no need to replace any pulleys because of surface rust.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,919
Likes: 3,333
From: NYC NY
Good point. There are "demo" lifts available at very reasonable prices. Some even carry the manufacturer's warranty. A friend of mind just bought a lift that was used for a product demonstartion at a trade show for 3 days for $1200.00. There are deals out there but it will take some looking.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,221
Likes: 118
From: Matthews NC
Follow Up
Okay…I called Superior Lifts 800 number and it was forwarded to a company called Gemini Lifts. Spoke with a very helpful gentleman there and I asked many questions about the risk vs. rewards of purchasing this lift. (Gemini made lifts for Superior and apparently Superior is out of business now.) After describing the lift and condition etc to him he said he would have no qualms of buying it as it sits. Cables are rated for 15,000 lbs and a new set is approximately $400 if needed. So with that info I’m going forward with it and hope to pick it up this weekend. He also was helpful in explaining how to move it without disassembling. I’ll post pictures of the move. Thanks all for your opinions….and I hope this works out!