His Wife put the Lift Together!

We've always said that Strongman Lifts are excellent quality and easy to construct, independent and unsolicited proof positive by way of this contained in a Pistonheads article, see http://goo.gl/1Y23hn

"I have the Strongman Glenflidic four post lift. I went for this because of its compact size and that it comes with the drip trays to go down the middle when being used for parking.  It is also 240v which is good as I only have a normal electricity supply (as opposed to 3 phase) and did not want to mess about with a converter.

Being compact it does mean that it is tight (wheel to wheel/ side to side) with only about an inch to spare, however this is really only a pain when reversing a car on.  Length wise there is no issue.

Due to the angle of out drive I do have to use a couple of planks to get the TVRs on without them bottoming out.

I have had may Chimaera, Tuscan and a friends Cerbera on it (along with Triumph Spitfire and a Citroen C4 but quiet on the last one!). Work done on the lift has included general work/servicing and clutch servicing on the Tuscan (the star washers were missing from the clutch pack).  The difference in ease of working on the cars is immense even if I cannot go up to full height because of the garage roof beams at the moment.

Normally it is used for storage with the Spitfire over the Chimaera. It comes flat packed (you can do a collection yourself if you want) and is straightforward to put together and the only tools that you will need you will already have if you do even basic maintenance on the cars yourself.

Dawn (my wife) put mine together for me, as I broke several ribs the week before it was delivered and it took a evening from about 5pm to about 9:30.  The only thing that was done the following day was bolting it down to the garage floor as it was a bit late to be using a hammer drill in a residential street."

Our "correspondent" continues.....

"Sorry, should really get the name of the lift correct!

It is the Strongman Glenfinnan (as per this picture).

Also the Chimarea goes underneath because the Tuscan is slightly longer and the garage door will not close due to keeping the trailer at the back of the garage. Very pleased with the ramp. Just slowly saving up for a jacking beam to go with it."

Getting to Grips With that Project......

... Is far easier when you've a lift to help!

"all round access at the touch of a button" is our catchphrase, it's a maxim that's been well employed by this customer to great effect, I think you'll all agree.

Helping Store Your Cars Away from Prying Eyes

If you just can't resist adding to your collection, then a compact, well designed, Lift can help store the addition, under cover and securely away from prying eyes.

When the Garage Door is Shut, no-one will know what lies behind, locked safely away. The best thinig about having a lift is the instant access it gives you, when the sun comes out and you fancy taking your pride and joy for a spin, simply select your ride for the day and she's yours, at the push of a button

The History of Car Lifts

Before car lifts were invented, mechanics would often have to deal with cramped and dangerous conditions while working on motor vehicles.  They would often use ramps or jacks to lift vehicles and accidents were common.  Pits offered a safer option for working on vehicles, but very often these pits did not allow a mechanic to stand comfortably while working on a vehicle.

It all changed thanks to the invention of the car lift.  This article will examine the history of the car lift and some of the modern lifts which are now available.

The Power of Hydraulics
Scientific developments in the field of hydraulics were key to the invention of the car lift. In the 17th-Century, French mathematician Blaise Pascal first described how a hydraulic jack might function.  Pascal developed Pascal’s Principle — also known as the principle of transmission of fluid-pressure.  In laymen’s terms, it means that within closed systems, the pressure exerted on an incompressible fluid will result in equal pressure in all directions.

In 1795, a British engineer named Joseph Bramah patented the hydraulic press, which put Pascal’s principles to work.  He was given a patent for the device, which was an important technological breakthrough for industrial machinery.  Hydraulic presses are often used for moulding, blanking, punching, deep drawing, forging, clinching, and metal forming operations.

The next important technological breakthrough occurred when Richard Dudgeon invented the hydraulic jack in 1851.  He received a patent for the device, named the “portable hydraulic press”.  It was a simple device that used “water or another fluid” in a reservoir near the top of the jack.  The jack was often filled with whale oil and other unusual fluids including whisky!

Dudgeon’s hydraulic jack had some design issues, but it was another important discovery that helped power the industrial revolution.  Richard Dudgeon later went on to invent the steam carriage, cementing his position as one of the most important inventors of the 19th-Century.

Hydraulic jacks became a common sight in car garages and eventually reached the consumer market.  Many garages continued to use pits for car repairs, however, hydraulic jacks made it easy to safely lift a car for a quick repair in any location.

The first hydraulic car lift was patented in 1925 by Peter Lunati, US Patent B66F7/18 Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with platforms supported directly by jacks by one or more hydraulic or pneumatic jacks by a single central jack. 

Mr Lunati went on to form the Rotary Lift company,  which remains in business today with headquarters in Madison, Indiana.

By 1945, there were many companies making hydraulic lifts for the motor vehicle industry.  In the United States, nine lift manufacturers formed the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI).  ALI was created to further improving the quality of automotive lifts and ensure the industry remained profitable. Any Lift sold in the EU must conform to the latest European Harmonised Standards and will have a CE Certificate to ensure compliance.

Since the invention of the first hydraulic car lift, may other lifts have been patented including the scissors type hydraulic car lift in 1989, a 4-post hydraulic platform vehicle lift for multiple cars in 2000, and an above-the-floor hydraulic lift in 1982.

Hydraulic lifts have been installed by many garages because they are easy to install and safer to use compared to a pit, ramps or jacks.  They are much cheaper than digging out a pit for vehicles to drive over. 

Today, hydraulic car lifts are available in the consumer market and are popular with car enthusiasts.  They allow car owners to safely and comfortably work on their car in the comfort of their own home. 

Car lifts are also useful for providing additional vehicle storage in your home.  Many home owners add platform vehicle lifts to their garages so they can store two cars in a one car garage.  These Platform car lifts can also be installed into ground excavation to provide even more space for vehicle storage.

Types of Car Lifts

There are now a wide variety of car lifts available to suit any operating environment.  Most modern lifts use an electric motor to raise a lift directly through the use of hydraulic rams, or on cables driven by the ram. Screw type drives to lift the vehicle are available and provide very accurate control of lift height. 

2-Post Surface Mounted Car Lifts
The most popular type of car lift today, it is comprised of two lift arms which are typically bolted to the floor.  A cross-beam usually joins the posts.  The lift arms are synchronised electronically or mechanically to raise at the same speed, they must be installed on an extremely secure concrete base

Multi-Post Runway Car Lifts
Usually a 4-post surface-mounted lift.  Runway lifts have wide ramps that the vehicle drives on before being lifted.  They are useful for accommodating a wide array of vehicle types, but require more space.

Scissor Car Lifts
Scissor lifts are available as both surface-mounted and in-ground.  Many scissor lifts are mid-rise lifts that don’t reach the same height as an in-ground post lift.

Low or Mid-rise Frame Engaging Car Lifts

Low and Mid-rise car lifts are often surface-mounted and can use external hydraulic systems to function.   While they do not obtain the same height as a post lift, they are still very useful for getting to the bottom of vehicles and ideal for working on a car while seated.  Many low-rise lifts are mobile and useful because they can be moved around a garage.

Wheel Engaging Mobile Units

These lifts feature moveable posts that are placed under the vehicle’s wheels.  They are very useful for situations where you are dealing with a wide range of vehicles which are different sizes.

Strongman Tools are Car Lift experts, who have a vast amount of experience installing car lifts in any operating environment — from residential car lifts through to Professional Garage & Workshop installations.

Some of the car lifts available from Strongman include:

4-Post Lifts

•   Mobile Scissor & Platform Scissor Lifts

•   Parking Lifts

•   Mid-Rise Lifts

 

Defy Convention

Need a Pick-Up? Defy Convention

Napiers - "we can, so we did!"

My fav pic of the week....

Runs on aviation fuel and upwards of 1200 BHP, I've always had a thing for Napier's but this recent creation, using the engine from a WWII PT Boat apparently, is just a wonderful example of "we can so we did!"

Pleased to be of assistance.....

"Have to say very,very pleased with my new compressor i use it every day to run air drills (max drill bit 10mm)air screwdriver (max screw 4.5×5.0mm) and 18ga nailer", says Andy.

"Didn't really know what to expect on performance, but it more than suits my needs on air supply and noise."

 Please see photos of kit used, and type of furniture I manufacture.

If you need a very well made kitchen, in Hertfordshire or surrounds, contact andrewjohninteriors@hotmail.co.uk
 

How Does an Engine Work?

Ever been asked the question, well, you can describe it, concisely - can't you....?

Well, here's a little help from this brilliant site

How a Car Engine Works

A Passion for 7's

Passion. That's what it's all about, a love of something, your thing.

For David Mawby it's the Austin 7. He has quite a collection, he likes them to be as near to original as possible and selected a Strongman Tools Glenfinnan 4 Post to aid him in his efforts to maintain, restore and service his impressive fleet. I was lucky enough to install this lift and got chatting to David to discover the stroy behind his fantastic collection of Sevens.

Getting to grips with an Austin Seven Pearl

 using the compact 4 Post Lift installed at home

Too Many Cars - Not Enough Garage Space?

How do you solve the problem of too many cars and not enough space?

This customer decided that two single post parking lifts installed into his newly, purpose, built garage would provide the perfect solution.

As always, measuring up is the key to success, in this case the minimum height required was determined by the height of the single post (2.85m) rather than the "height of two cars plus 110mm" equation. As can be seen from the photos, as these small sports cars prove, there is plenty of clearance between the vehicles when these lifts are extended to maximum height.

1. First Car in position....

2. Car raised...............

 3. Next Car in Position

4. And raised, providing unobstructed through access

5. That's 4 Cars Securely Parked; 2+2 indeed

 6. Followed by the Wife's Day to Day Transport....

Five cars, all snugly parked away from prying eyes behind a remotely operated roller shutter door, with easy access, no forest of posts cluttering up the floor, storage / work space to the sides and everything nicely powered from the home power supply. 

Maximum return on investment !
 

Car Lifts. How Mobile is Mobile?

"I want/need/require/dream of a mobile lift, do you do them?"

"Yes Sir, we sell them"

"How mobile are they?"

Purchase of anything is usually a compromise. Nothing does everything after all. But a mobile lift should really be, well..... mobile. We sell Scissor Lifts, and Platform Scissor Lifts (the difference is that they offer centre access through the middle of the raised car) that, in thoery, can be moved around the workshop and even used in the yard.

A scissor lift, for example Strongman Tools' Tamar, truly is mobile. The motor-control unit acts as the movement handle and one person can move it around the workshop, two people if needed to move it around the yard. It must be used on concrete, but so long as the base is solid it really can be used to raise a vehicle anywhere. The attached images show the Tamar in use in the yard, with a generator, not mains power. This totally independent lifting solution is required for one of our customers, a rally team, that winch the lift on and off their trailer.

So, if you have a yard, you can employ a Car Lift!

The Tamar is also a very versatile device, users can drive over it, or it can be pushed under a vehicle, but do bear in mind it is 5" tall so runners may need to be employed either side for low vehicles

If it isn't possible to "straddle" the Tamar because the vehicle jacking points, sills or chassis rails are wider than 1500mm apart then the mobility of the lift comes into its' own as the ramp can be pushed under the vehicle, at right angles, enabling larger cars to be raised and providing increased flexibility for users.

As well as making the ideal mobile option, these lifts can also be employed, static, for example in a purpose built recess

Really Sorry, But No Can Do.....

We try and say "Yes" and accommodate our customers. We try to be as helpful as possible and we like to think that we support everyone who purchases our equipment, hopefully not just meeting, but exceeding expectations.

However, you can't please all the people........

A lady ordered a compressor, thanks for the order. She paid. We delivered it the next day. Or should I say, our driver tried to deliver it. Bearing in mind it's an industrial compressor it weighs a bit. Well it weighs a lot actually. We know not everyone has a fork lift truck so we deliver with a tail lift equipped vehicle and always have a pallet truck to hand.

We arrive at the given address to find a domestic block of flats, the delivery address is up EIGHT flights of stairs, there is no lift and the lady INSISTS that it is our responsibility to deliver the machine and is also equally adamant that there is nobody available to help!

Sorry, we can't always please everyone. She called me up to complain that our driver said he wasn't able to deliver the equipment to her flat. We don't always quote chapter and verse when it comes to Health and Safety as some of the PC and European Regulations seem to exclude common sense (remember Schools banning Conkers etc) but Manual Handling Guidelines specifically state "No single person should be required to lift, lower or carry loads over 25kg"  and this equipment weighs considerably more, and don't forget those eight flights!. 

As well as our duty to our customers to ensure a smooth transaction, a purchaser also has a duty of common sense and care. If you know you live at the top of a block of flats which has no lift and then order a piece of industrial equipment please take care to advise us so we may, together, sensibly arrange delivery but please don't expect us to demand our employees perform tasks which you wouldn't consider sensible yourself.

More Than One Direction!

Apparently "Harry Styles" is a singer in a "boy band" called One Direction.

I was passed a screaming tabloid piece on his new house, which apparently costs a fortune and, among the other salacious details, possess 

"A gated opening that looks just barely wide and tall enough for a mid-sized vehicle opens to a compact motor court that's decadently and expensively equipped with a double car lift that makes it possible to park four cars behind gates and off-the street"

Really, Mr Tabloid journalist, Parking Lifts? they really exist. You can park four cars in the same space that accommodates just two, that would be both "decadent" and "expensive" wouldn't it!

Gosh.

Would that installation look something like (overall cost less than £8k)

or perhaps this one for a similar investment ?

We can also supply single post and two post parking lifts from our range, none of which could be described as anything other then a perfectly reasonable and sensible investment for a homeowner looking to make the best use of available space.

These Lifts are Really Useful You Know

I remember attending a TR Register International a few years ago. On the stand we had a couple of Strongman Tools Tamar Car Lifts exhibited. These are mobile scissor lifts, they were there for display but when Colin from Kent arrived with his TR2, he did so under tow as his pride and joy had thrown a half-shaft

 
The narrow Tamar Lift was deployed to assist and the car pushed into position, as the Tamar, in common with standard scissor lifts, is quite hight, some runners were placed wither side of the lift to gain sufficient clearance.

The little TR was duly raised





Work commenced; Trouble located

Shaft replaced (with one cannily purchased from the Autojumble at the show!)

Before Colin was able to get the Car back on the road and enjoy the rest of the weekend

All Round View

Pleased to share the a picture of a new garage block built to incorporate 4 Post lifts for storage and, as the customer races and does his own maintenance, servicing purposes. I was pleased to quote for, and win this business, and, I think you'll agree, it's all turned out rather well.

Back to the Future

Car sales in Britain, as notified by Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have recorded a 26th month of rising sales, the best performance since the late 1980's.

As we come out of recession, again (remember being told that the era of Boom and Bust was behind us!), consumer confidence is increasing and new car registrations are following. These underlying healthy statistics are welcome, and make good reading for all sorts of reasons. 

Behind the headlines the reasons for the continued growth are enhanced consumer confidence, a reluctance to save any money these days as Interest Rates remain low and the need, and desire, to "go green" and replace older vehicles with more fuel efficient models.

The SMMT statistics make for interesting, and encouraging reading as engine technology evolves. 

• Fuel efficiency: Average mpg has improved 35%, from 42.4mpg to 57.2mpg, since March 2004. 

• CO2 emissions: Average new car CO2 emissions are 26% lower than a decade ago. In March 2014, 67.2% of the market was below 130g/km, so paid no VED in the first year, compared with 6.5% in March 2004. 

I even remember recently reading that crime statistics are reducing for two main reasons, better car security and the absence of lead in petrol which has helped improve behaviour in children and increase overall IQ!

However the news isn't entirely good. As we have rattled on in these pages before British Car Manufacturers do this country proud and we produce excellent quality vehicles which are helping the Economy grow with strong Export demand, but, the consumers of GB PLC continue to purchase offshore produced cars in preference to locally manufactured products. 

Traditional manufacturers aren't really helping the cause, the most popular cars, by volume, last moth were the Ford Fiesta, followed by the Ford Focus and the VW Golf. We all know the Golf is made in Germany, in Wolfsburg (it's also made in Slovakia), but the Fords are made in the UK so that's okay, right. Well No. The Focus and the Fiesta are made in Spain and Portugal. Ford produce some engines and gearboxes in the UK, but not cars. The next most popular models are Vauxhall's, the Corsa (made in Germany and Spain) and the Astra, made in England (except they've announced plans to move production out of the UK).

Shame.

"What was that!"

Esteban Gutierrez drove his Sauber at the F1 in Bahrain. He was hit and flipped, the car smashing into the tarmac upside down and returning, upright, to a stop.

He waited for thirty seconds and then climbed out of the car, exclaiming "What was that?!" 

He climbed out of the car unassisted and walked away. 

With the right equipment you can do anything, even crash, safely!

Keeping the Home Fires Burning

By the 1950's Britain was the second largest car manufacturer, behind the USA, and the largest exporter of vehicles world-wide.

Since the mid Seventies a steady decline in UK Car manufacturing has seen the loss of may prestigious marques, with Car Factories closing, the demise of many companies and brands and the wholesale acquisition of much of the industry by foreign companies. However we still retain an enormous automotive manufacturing base, core design and engineering knowledge which in recent years has bucked the trend and keeps Britain at the forefront of the World Car Industry with factories in this country producing 1.5M units per annum.

Factor in supply companies, spares, after-market and associated car related products to discover a healthy, vibrant market sector which still leads the world in many aspects.

British Car Design and Engineering expertise is still in global demand. After many years of what seemed like terminal decline we're proud that, although many may not be owned by Brits, the following companies fly the flag in manufacturing cars in these Isles and contribute to £30 billion in exports.

Aston Martin        Land Rover        Jaguar        Arial        Honda        Rolls Royce        Bentley   

Ginetta        Vauxhall        Toyota       Noble        McLaren        Nissan        Morgan        Mini   

Radical        Westfield         Lotus        Caterham        Ultima

An Indian Adventure

Visited Delhi and Rajasthan recently. Was expecting to see a load of "Classic" Cars but the government there has done a very effective job of phasing out old polluting personal transport and replacing it with small, modern cars. Mainly Suzuki if our ad hoc survey is anything to go by!

A throwback to a byegone era that we encountered on our travels was this

A Premier Padmini, a Fiat 1100D, designed in 1962 and licensed for Indian manufacture from 1974

The transport of choice is the redoubtable Auto-Rickshaw (tuk-tuk), all mainly Gas powered these days. Over here we occasionally play the "how many people can you get in a Mini?" game, for fun. In Delhi the population generally cram unfeasibly large numbers of human beings into, and onto, the "Auto" as a means to an end. The going rate for transport in these contraptions is incredibly low, mere pence but the game of arguing long and hard about the fare is ongoing as the drivers are truly reluctant to use the Meter for tourists - agree the price prior to the journey or better still INSIST they use the Meter, but then be prepared for a sullen chauffeur and extended detour of a journey.

Driving, or more accurately, being driven, is more scary than any rollercoaster. The idea is that Mirrors are NEVER used, the game of head-on "CHICKEN" is played as the norm and any rules of the road have been totally forgotten.

There is however one extremely sensible, simple and practical piece of road furniture that should immediately be adopted here. At all the major intersections with traffic lights they have prominent timers, counting down the time till the lights change. These timers are the only means possible yet discovered to prevent an Indian driver incessantly blowing their horns. The most apt sign in the whole of Delhi......

The cars may be mostly modern, that isn't true of the trucks and busses. The "All India Permit" proudly signwritten onto the majority of commercial transport implies the driver has actually passed a driving test, sadly they all, without exception drive as if they are in "Mad Max", as for the roadworthiness of almost any vehicle, well let's just say that there isn't enough paper available for the list of "Advisories" which would be required!

The highlight of our motoring in India has to be the sedate trip taken in a 1939 Chevrolet Master 85 Limousine. Driven impeccably by Rav, our ex Indian Army driver, we toured Jodhpur in decadent luxury, visiting the Polo Club and the magnificent Forts.

Silverstone Classic

A great time was had by all at the Silverstone Classic this year, apart, that is, from the hardy souls braving the Saturday downpour to watch The Hollies.

We set up shop on Thursday to an amazing soundtrack of an eclectic mix of historic cars being put through their paces in testing, and throughout the weekend it was that wonderfully evocative noise which provided the event's signature.

A fabulous turnout of cars of all marques......

 ...... complemented the serious side of the event - the racing. Practice and qualifying was stimulating enough, but there was no quarter given racing some of the most precious vehicles on the planet.

One thing which sets The Classic apart, for me, is the unfettered access to the pits and the friendly welcome given by the mechanics and drivers alike, all perfectly happy to share their tales of joy, woe and mechanical triumph and disaster.

All in all we had an excellent time, working hard of course.

We'll be back next year for some more "Rockin 'n' Racing"