Scissor lift experience?

[fiddlearound]

Decided I needed a "power ladder " and bought a JLG 3246E2 scissor lift.

Hydraulics work fine, raises and lowers easily. Batteries all charged at 12.5 volts.

Controls seem to work fine. Just won't MOVE. Drive wheel just spins.

Any ideas?

 

[TractorTech]

Drive spins because of a brake lock/safety perhaps??

 

[grsthegreat]

If the drive wheel is spinning and not moving, than its not touching the ground? Personally i find if scissors lifts arnt on solid concrete or asphalt, they get stuck alot. Is the ground flat under unit. Also, alot of these units have i believe what is called pothole protection system that lowers as deck is raised. These tend to get stuck on things. They also have limit switches all over the place. You may need to get ahold of a owners manual and service manual.

 

[Roadworthy]

Is the wheel touching the ground? Is the unit on a flat solid (preferably paved) surface? They do not move well on uneven surfaces.

 

[grsthegreat]

Is the wheel touching the ground? Is the unit on a flat solid (preferably paved) surface? They do not move well on uneven surfaces.

They don’t move at all on unpaved service except for off road series. Ive been stuck many times by not paying attention while moving alongside new buildings doing electrical and happen to hit some ice or a little dirt.

 

[fiddlearound]

Thanks guys. Yes, it's on a solid concrete surface. This unit weights around 5000 pounds so I assume that there is weight on the spinning wheel. So my suspicion is a protective switch of some kind.

There is a little slope on this slab and I'm trying to move it in reverse. It will move forward on the slight down slope.

Is there a "slope detector " somewhere?

 

[grsthegreat]

Doubt it, ive run them on slopes before. Odd that a tire turns but it doesnt move. Can you see completely under it. Some units wont lift if on slope, those 2 little flipper arms on the bottom have to extend before it will lift.

how did they deliver it? Didnt it drive off of trailer

 

[fiddlearound]

Brother and I delivered with his trailer. It was a difficult effort and I finally had to get my tractor with fork lift.
It got stuck on every lip. Something isn't right.
It's been raining since I got it so I haven't messed with it.
Wife found a manual this morning on the machine that is wet. I'll check it out when it dries a little.

I need to understand how these things work.

Thanks for replies.

 

[tshep]

I don't know yours, but plant ones I've driven had double safeties and deadman's so they could be operated from in the cage or rescued from below.

 

[plowhog]

My scissor lift is very sensitive to any slope. Also, if the deck is raised at all some bars extend downward for added stability. I would check to see if you have any such bars contacting the ground (along the sides of the scissor lift.)

I used it all the time with no problems. Then started using it in a different property and the #%^%#$%& thing kept quitting on me. It was all due to being on a slope. A v-e-r-y slight slope.

 

[fiddlearound]

Finally quit raining so I tried putting a cedar shake under the tire. Wife ran it and I pushed.
That did it, it moved up the slope. So I guess it needs to be almost level to operate.

After some research, it appears that I purchased the wrong lift. I need a rough terrain model.
The area around here the house is just gently sloping and thought this lift would work for the remodel repair projects I want to do.

Anyone ever replace the small, slick tires with some with wider threads?

 

[LouNY]

They have to be almost perfectly level and many of them have to be all the way lowered to move.
Often on many of them if you observe from ground level when ever they are lifted a pair of bars are also lowered.
I have used scissor lifts many times and they are nice indoors on level concrete, but I much prefer the other various manlifts.
Many of those can handle a bit of off level work sites but not a lot.

 

[fiddlearound]

Thanks Lou, that's what I've concluded.
Guess I'll look to trade for a rough terrain model or a boom lift.

My projects are all outdoors. My only experience was working many years ago with a friend's lift and I didn't realize that it was a rough terrain model as we drove it between buildings on his rural property.

This one is in good condition so I should be able to trade it or resale it.

 

[grsthegreat]

They hold their value. But rough terrain units are mucho spendy.

 

[fiddlearound]

Yeah, might need to look into a boom type personal lift.

 

[grsthegreat]

Those also come in on road and rough terrain models. But more forgiving on slopes.

 

[spitter]

All terrain lifts have bigger more aggressive tires but they still don't have any suspension or axle articulation so they are limited to where can travel. As a commercial carpenter I have spent more time in ariel and scissor lifts than I could count. An all-terrain scissor lift with self-leveling feature is the best at doing long straight runs like stuccoing the side of a supermarket. $$$$

An ariel lift will get you into a lot of places you could never get into with a scissor lift . If you have something in your way or can't drive next to a building that where it really shines. Check out Farmcraft 101 or Jessy Muller videos on them. It might help you with your decision. The bigger ariel lifts have bigger baskets and are easier to handle long material in. A 65' machine is a all-around good size machine for most jobs. Per ably with a jib.

 

[mikester]

Finally quit raining so I tried putting a cedar shake under the tire. Wife ran it and I pushed.
That did it, it moved up the slope. So I guess it needs to be almost level to operate.

After some research, it appears that I purchased the wrong lift. I need a rough terrain model.
The area around here the house is just gently sloping and thought this lift would work for the remodel repair projects I want to do.

Anyone ever replace the small, slick tires with some with wider threads?

Indoor lifts are good on smooth level concrete. Changing tires won't help you much with only one drive wheel.

It sounds like what you need is a rough terrain lift with 4WD.

I regret NOT purchasing a 6'x12' deck foot rough terrain scissor lift 25 years ago when it went at auction for CDN$1,200. Diesel with built in genny. Nobody bid on it. Auctioneer said "someone make a bid" and a guy said $1,200. "SOLD!"

 

[fiddlearound]

Thanks for the comments, fellows.
Gonna try to sell or trade this. Made a mistake, didn't realize the traction was so poor
with this model.
I need a boom/aerial lift.