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Hi,
The instructions emphasize that the hydraulic lines should NOT be disconnected from the jacks with the jacks raised and in the either of the 2 LOCKED positions.
This makes moving around on the floor under the REAR of the car a LITTLE more difficult since you have the hydraulic lines to contend with… but it's not too bad.
I have the jacks set so the car moves FORWARD as the jacks raise. (RR's pictures show his jack is set up so the car moves REARWARD as it raises.)
With it set the way I have it, from about the rear suspension FORWARD, the floor is clear, and then from about 1' behind the suspension, to the REAR of the car, the floor can be clear if you move the hoses a little to suit just where you're working.
I find myself doing things I'd have the past put off because access to the underside of the car is so much easier than it was using floor jacks sand jack stands.
Regards,
Alan
I found that when I pull in a Sunday after a cruise with the Boys, I put the car up so I do not have an excuse for not crawling under the car during the week. I disconnect the hoses and leave the car in the air for the week. The one thing I learned the hard way is that once it is in the air and the mechanical safety stops are set is to relieve the pressure as if you were going to lower the unit and then disconnect the hoses. Now the hose are not in your way. I found this out from talking to technical service. What happened to me was that when I set the mechanical stops and disconnect the hoses. Is that when I lowered the car one side lowered and the other side stayed up. Since that happened and I relieve the pressure I have not had a problem.
I am very happy that I have with my BL 3500 Quick Jack. It has made my life so much easier.
Hi Frank,
I TOO learned to set the locks and then lower the jacks slightly to take the weight off the pistons.
I didn't realize I could disconnect the hydraulic lines at that point…. but now that I think about it, it makes sense.
Thanks for the info!
Regards,
Alan
Hi Craig,
The more I look at your garage the more envious I become!
I'm beginning to feel like I've been working in a closet all these years!!!!!
Regards,
Alan
Specific Voltage: Are There Advantage/Dis-Advantages???
Good Morning All,
I'm going to be ordering the 7000, but I have a question.
Is there any benefit to ordering a specific voltage of these units???
Other than the fact that you can plug the 110/120v line into any typical outlet, if you take it to a friend's house.
I was thinking about ordering the 115/120v system, but my electrician is coming over tomorrow to do some other work for me, and there shouldn't be a problem to add another 220/230/240v outlet.
IE. When I sell an AC system, I push the higher voltage systems as they cost less to run. LOL...
Hi Frank,
I TOO learned to set the locks and then lower the jacks slightly to take the weight off the pistons.
I didn't realize I could disconnect the hydraulic lines at that point…. but now that I think about it, it makes sense.
Thanks for the info!
Regards,
Alan
Yes once the weight is held by the safety locks and the jacks have lowered slightly the line pressure is then low enough to disconnect the lines without problem.
Have not found the lines to be a big issue yet but i have been working on the front mostly so far.
Hi Craig,
The more I look at your garage the more envious I become!
I'm beginning to feel like I've been working in a closet all these years!!!!!
Regards,
Alan
thanks Alan.
It used to be 1.5 cars long till i extended it a few metres so it is now able to hold 4 cars. However the more room I have the more benches or stuff I seem to get :-)
My wife keep telling me I have too much space and wants to store things in the garage.
If your 71 was built in a closet I can't imagine what it would have been like with more space :-)
Anybody using the base mod BL-3500? I see it does not have the 1/2 way up stop and the top platform is shorter,is this a hindrance? I have 97'Firebird T/A also,it wghs#3,500lbs wet so this will work for it also,I'm hoping. Thanx,guys! Hdal
Anybody using the base mod BL-3500? I see it does not have the 1/2 way up stop and the top platform is shorter,is this a hindrance? I have 97'Firebird T/A also,it wghs#3,500lbs wet so this will work for it also,I'm hoping. Thanx,guys! Hdal
It has 2 mechanical stops. I am not sure if it is half way or more. I usually take it all the way up so that I can get under the car. The length is not a problem for Corrvettes. But, it really depends on the location of your your frame. The 3500 lb limit is also another consideration.
Frank,thanx for the input. Is the 20-22"max hgt okay? I can barely crawl under that hgt. Are the stops simultaneous keyed together? Just reach over and both click open? Hdal
Hi Craig,
The more I look at your garage the more envious I become!
I'm beginning to feel like I've been working in a closet all these years!!!!!
Regards,
Alan
LOL at the closet statement. Try a 1 car gauge.
It's soo tight I can't open the passenger side door very far.
Frank,thanx for the input. Is the 20-22"max hgt okay? I can barely crawl under that hgt. Are the stops simultaneous keyed together? Just reach over and both click open? Hdal
You can see both lock points in this picture.
I use the zip tie to hold the locks up when I'm lowering the car.
Frank,thanx for the input. Is the 20-22"max hgt okay? I can barely crawl under that hgt. Are the stops simultaneous keyed together? Just reach over and both click open? Hdal
My car is at 18 1/2" off the garage floor with the thick blocks at the center of my doors. You can get another 1 1/2" by stacking both sets of blocks together. I personally do not like that. I use a creeper and get around under the car just fine.
To let the car down you have to raise the car up to release the stops. First one side then walk around then release the second one. The stops are designed to stay (friction) up, but came loose unless you tighten them up often. That is why the tie raps come in handy. Just slide the zip ties (as ddawson shows) over the stops in the up position and they stay put. Then lower the car.
Just one more thing you can not drive on or over the lifts themselves. I store mine under the car and they clear everything.
Last edited by Frank_Nesta; Apr 26, 2016 at 04:41 PM.
I've recently bought the newest revision of model BL-5000SLX; the main revisions are with the safety locking arms as they now have cams on them to let them operate automatically while going up and down.
I love this thing! If I had the headroom, I would have bought a proper 2 post lift, but this tool is a nice addition to the garage arsenal!!!
Here is a video of it in action; I raise the car and stop at the mid point, then full height, and then down. You can see the revision to the safety arms better if you watch the video in HD and full screen.
Last edited by 7t2vette; Apr 26, 2016 at 05:13 PM.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
I love the fact that I can throw it in my pickup and take it anywhere I want. Including to check out another corvette. I have to double stack my blocks due to the side exhaust crossng the frame. They stick well together and they're solid so I'm not worried about them falling over
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Apr 26, 2016 at 05:20 PM.
Well, I'm assuming that those of you with one of these lifts and a C3 don't have any problems with the frame length of the unit- from the specs on the website, 72.5' frame length looks like it would be pretty tight between the front and rear wheels on mine-
But based on the happy videos and reviews I see, evidently it's not an issue, and there's plenty of room with the 5000 model?
Hi PV,
I find the length of the 5000 to be just about perfect for my 71.
One thing that I don't think has been mentioned is that the jacks move the car forward (or backward depending on how they're placed) about 12" (?) when you raise it.
This caught me by surprise the first time I raised the car. I now move the car forward or backward before placing the jacks if I want extra working room at the front or back. (My garage isn't big either front to back or side to side.)
Regards,
Alan
I've had my BL-500SLX set for a few months now. Love them. I'm pulling the differential and working on rear suspension of my '80 right now... something I could NOT have done on jack stands (and my short garage would not allow for a 2-4 post lift).