Project Update and Scissor Lift Question

MickeyDBC · Jul 27, 2020

I am making slow but steady progress on the new barn/maintenance shop for our ranch. Between weather, the pandemic, material shortages, flaky help, business slowdown squeezing cashflow, just 2020 in general has made good progress even more difficult.

We have the framing steel up along with the sidewalls, and have poured the outside welding rough work area and footings for the shed wings.

Now I am getting ready to start putting the roof on and get it dry on the inside which will make life a lot easier.

I now have two older scissor lifts from the mid 90s, one a Grove 3160 and the other a smaller Up-Right model. Both are pre-computer control, they just run off of switches and solenoids so I can keep them going normally with a meter and a can of contact cleaner. One question that I have is both are a little jumpy when you engage the wheel motors, sort of a couple of seconds of windup and then the go. Do older lifts use accumulators or anti-drainback valves to smooth them out when new or are the all just jumpy? Never really used or had one before and now I have a pair which should make doing the roof a lot easier.

spitter · Jul 28, 2020

Been a commercial carpenter for 40 years and spent more time on old scissors lifts and ariel booms than on the ground . All old scissors are jumpy especially if there is no rabbit ,turtle function . Try adjusting the switch that engages the turtle function when you lift the platform . Or if it has a low range usually shows a picture of the lift driving uphill. Ill take those old machines over a new one any day. New ones if you drive over a piece of rock it will go into default and you will have to lower to drive foward . If you are trying to get in a tight space raise platform that will put you in turtle and get lift where you want it than lower platform.

MickeyDBC · Jul 28, 2020

spitter said:
Been a commercial carpenter for 40 years and spent more time on old scissors lifts and ariel booms than on the ground . All old scissors are jumpy especially if there is no rabbit ,turtle function . Try adjusting the switch that engages the turtle function when you lift the platform . Or if it has a low range usually shows a picture of the lift driving uphill. Ill take those old machines over a new one any day. New ones if you drive over a piece of rock it will go into default and you will have to lower to drive foward . If you are trying to get in a tight space raise platform that will put you in turtle and get lift where you want it than lower platform.

Good to know there is nothing really wrong with them other than being old technology which I can at least work on. I have never really done much "high"(to me) work and these things sure beat ladders and scaffolds. The Grove is a two speed and the Up-Right is hard wired into low speed range. When I am done with the building the little one will go on Craigslist but I am going to keep the big one because I put mini Bobcat tires on it and it is pretty good off road now. Should be handy for for trimming trees and other stuff plus I may cammo it out (not much paint left on it now) and use it during deer season as a high blind.

MickeyDBC · Aug 3, 2020

I had to put new batteries in the Up-Right as well as replace a couple of the control switches on the panel. Very nice to be able to work on it with just a multimeter and a screwdriver. We used the little one in the inside and the big one outside and got a lot of work done. If the weather cooperates we should start putting the roof on this Friday.

spitter · Aug 4, 2020

Is the 3160 a all terrian model ? Gas , diesel ? At 's usually have larger axles . The smaller hard rubber tires are for interior work on flat surface. I don't know if they are intercangeable.:drink:

MickeyDBC · Aug 4, 2020

spitter said:
Is the 3160 a all terrian model ? Gas , diesel ? At 's usually have larger axles . The smaller hard rubber tires are for interior work on flat surface. I don't know if they are intercangeable.:drink:

It is electric. I bought the thing from a tree trimmer who had rotten foam filled golf cart tires on it. They were so rotten that two were down to nothing left but the cord and foam which did not help a lot with traction. I found some ten ply rated mini bobcat tires that were the same size that we put on and then put a cup of slime in each one and the rest air. I know you are not supposed to use air tires on lifts but they will actually hold it up empty so... I do feel sort of funny driving it in the pasture to get around to the back side of the building. After having built a lot of projects over the years, I can't imagine doing one now without a lift, and the bigger the better.

spitter · Aug 5, 2020

Just for shitz and giggles google worlds tallest scissor lift , 37.5 m 123 ft.

I'd love to have a chance to work on that.:cool2: We have a JLG 50' self leveler with dual extensions thats a cadillac very stable huge platform . Me and my partner had 12 sheets of dens glass on it had to jump to get some weight off of it but it did go up . I'll take that any day over working in a 200 ft stick that thing sways like a drunken sailor. After worken in it all day you close your eyes and you can still feel your self swaying hours latter.:drink:

MickeyDBC · Aug 5, 2020

spitter said:
Just for shitz and giggles google worlds tallest scissor lift , 37.5 m 123 ft. I'd love to have a chance to work on that.:cool2: We have a JLG 50' self leveler with dual extensions thats a cadillac very stable huge platform . Me and my partner had 12 sheets of dens glass on it had to jump to get some weight off of it but it did go up . I'll take that any day over working in a 200 ft stick that thing sways like a drunken sailor. After worken in it all day you close your eyes and you can still feel your self swaying hours latter.:drink:

I did google that and it is a big nope in my world. The two that I have both go up deck height of 25 feet and that is enough for me. Probably not being old and worn would help, but but 25 feet has enough sway for me. But they sure beat a ladder any day.

spitter · Aug 6, 2020

And it will make one **** of a deer stand.:drink:

ottawarob · Aug 7, 2020

I don't have much advice on the scissor lifts, but I can totally relate to building in 2020! Putting up a smaller steel building, it's been a journey this year.