Eagle Equipment

Winter Weather and Your Shop Equipment

As we wait for another winter storm to hit, we are planning for snow, rain, ice, sleet and extremely low temperatures. While winter weather is normal, it seems to be a little cruel this year.

From more car accidents to traffic delays and school closing… this type of winter causes a lot of glitches that can delay our normal day-to-day life.

The Midwest, Northeast and Southeast parts of the country have encountered extremely cold temperatures, dropping well below freezing … pass the 0 degree mark. Weather is out of our control, but protecting your wheel service equipment is not.

Something that you might not consider is that this coldness changes the performance of your equipment. Our wheel service equipment should not be used if the temperature is below 32 degrees. This type of cold increases the risk of the balancer’s computer board or the tire changer’s motor failing. While this is not a common issue, we have seen a rise in these types of problems this year because of the cold weather. If you live in an area where the temperatures are below freezing, you need to protect your equipment and move them to a warmer area to protect the computer boards on the balancer and the motor on the tire changer. Please take the necessary precautions to ensure that your equipment remains in service.

The South Gets Hit in 2014 Winter Weather Storm

Another major inconvenience this weather has caused our customers is shipping delays. We have all seen the pictures of the Atlanta area after the most recent ice storm to hit the south. That ice storm was so severe that it shut down every major road in and around Atlanta. This type of road closure will also cause all shipments, UPS or LTL to delay until the roads are cleared. Anytime you have winter storms that impact different parts of the country, it can delay even the smallest orders.

During the ordering process, communication is key to us. We keep an eye on your shipment and will notify you of any delays that will disrupt the delivery process. You won’t have to wonder where your order is. We do everything we can to deliver orders as promised, but once they leave our dock; it is out of our control. If you have any concerns about the delivery time of your product, please feel free to contact our customer service department for an update.

Now, go get your milk and your bread and get ready to build some snowmen!

2014 Limited Edition Stingray on Eagle Storage Lift

Eagle scores another touchdown! Another satisfied customer! It is that time of year to put away your prized possessions for the winter. We at Eagle are very happy to oblige your request with one of our storage lifts (MS-8000 storage lift and MS-8000XLT storage lift). We love to hear back from our customers when their expectation have been meet or exceeded such as the case with Gary in Milan, Illinois. Thank you Gary for taking the time to send us a picture of your lift in action, with your prized 2014 Limited Edition Stingray.

GLO-8000XLT blog GLO-8000XLT 2

“The second photo shows the 2014 Limited Edition Stingray this is one of 161, there were supposed to be 500. I am very satisfied with your product; my installers had no problems even though they had never worked on an Eagle before and it work great.“

Customer satisfaction is our priority and we love to hear back from our loyal customers.

What the heck is Compliance & Where Do I Get a Certified Lift?

Opening a new business can be exciting, exhilarating and downright stressful. Opening an auto repair shop needs to be approached with the same care as opening any other type of business. As a business owner, there are many factors you must consider. Healthcare, Insurance, OSHA, processing solutions, employees and the list goes on! You must dot your i’s and cross your t’s. Whether you are opening a shop for basic mechanical work (changing oil, spark plugs, filters, etc.) or you will be performing larger mechanical repairs (engine replacements, transmissions, etc.) you must look into requirements for special licenses and requirements under your city’s guidelines.

Aside from the basics, like registering your business at the federal level and applying for local business license, you need to check the property’s zoning ordinance before signing a lease or purchasing a property for auto repair shop. You must review your city’s specific guidelines for safety as well as OSHA standards before designing your floor plan and establish a plan for your handling and disposing of hazardous waste along with special permits and licenses for waste disposal.

Consider the following:

Is the electrical in compliance?

Is you garage floor adequate? You may need to have your concrete tested if you do not have the specifications from the owner or landlord. Knowing the strength and thickness of your concrete will help you determine the lift you can install.

Are you required to install a certified lift? What is a certified lift? I’m glad you asked because this has come up in past experience where a customer has purchased a lift but was not aware that the city inspectors were requiring a certified lift. Unfortunately, we at Eagle cannot tell you if you need a certified lift — only your local city or local code enforcement agency can.

What does it mean to be certified?

Certification is a system whereby an independent, third-party, organization determines that a manufacturer has the ability to produce a product that complies with a specific set of standards. The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) sponsors a certified program for automotive lifts. Certified products undergo a periodic re-evaluation and are required to be produced within the requirement of a documented quality program. Intertek Testing Services (ETL) is contracted by ALI to administer the certification program. ETL is a global product testing, inspection and certification organization. ALI has obtained accreditation for this program from the American National Standard Institute. This assures unquestionable integrity for the program. A certified lift must bear a third-party certification label (ALI/ETL) or it is not certified.

LECL-10A-2-CMYK

Can my previously purchased lift be certified? No. After installation the structural design elements such as material composition and required stress calculations cannot be validated.

Why are some required to have a certified lift while others are not? The United States currently uses a voluntary standards system where compliance with applicable standards is compulsory when mandated by regulation or requirements imposed by the authority having jurisdiction. When in doubt contact your city clerk and your state/federal OSHA.

If you are considering buying an existing shop, do not assume that the previous owners have followed the due process. Do your homework, in the long run it will pay off and you will have a safe and successful business.

We have an ETL Certified 10,000 lb two-post lift available through Eagle Equipment.

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Important Lift Maintainance: Lift Cables

Maintaining your lift cables is vital because they are a major part of the lifting process. They ensure that the vehicle is level during the raising or lowering of your lift. Over time these cables will stretch and need to be checked to ensure that they are being used properly. Your cables will stretch with use and will cause the carriages in each post to lift uneven. An easy way to determine if your cables need to be adjusted is to listen to your locks on each post. If your locks are clicking in to position at different times, then you know it is time to adjust each cable. The cables need to be adjusted so that each carriage travels equally throughout the lifting and lowering process. Below are the process for installing and adjusting the cables on our 2-post and 4 post car lifts.

Installing the Cables – 2-Post Lift

1] Manually raise both carriages to rest on the second set of locks from the floor (Fig. 9).

Installing 2 post car lift cables

(Fig. 9)

2] Make sure both carriages are resting on the second set of locks. Carriages must be equal height from floor.

3] Unwrap both cables. Install 2 nuts on one end of each cable. About an inch (1”) of thread should show through the nuts. Lock these two nuts tightly against each other. This end will be inside and at the rear of the carriage after routing.

4] With both carriages in place on the second set of locks, route cables as shown (Fig. 10).
Installing 2 post car lift cables diagram

(Fig. 10)

5] All adjustments should be made at the exposed cable end pointing upward at the front of each carriage. It may be necessary to secure the cable end with a pair of vice grips inside the carriage.

6] Remove the slack from both cables. Before all slack is removed, begin to alternate from one post to the other. First tighten one cable a few turns, before returning to the other post and tightening the second cable an equal number of turns. If done correctly, both cables will tighten up an equal amount, and neither carriage will lift off the locks as they are tightening against one another.

7] Continue to tighten the cables until there is ½” of deflection in the cable about 3 feet above the carriage at the back of each column (Fig 10).

8] Install a second nut on each of the cable ends and lock them tightly against the first nut.

NOTE: Cable tension is very important to the correct and safe operation of your lift.

See the Maintenance Section of this manual for information on maintaining proper cable tensions.

Cable Installation 4-Post Storage/Service Lift

IMPORTANT: Do not damage the chrome cylinder rod during this process. This can ruin the seals of the cylinder resulting in fluid leakage.

1. Inspect cables to ensure proper lengths. All cables should have ID tags showing proper cable lengths.

2. Make sure the cylinder flange plate is installed with pipe receivers facing TOWARDS the cylinder.

3. In order to install cables it is necessary to first extend the hydraulic cylinder. The easiest way to do this is to lay on a creeper under the track and put your feet on the cable plate and push the cylinder rod out to the desired position. You may also use a come-a-long to pull the rod out as an alternative method.

4. Rout cables according to illustration. (fig. 7)

5. Install flat-washer and nyloc nut on end of cable at top of post. Tighten until several threads show past the nut.

6. Cables should run around the inside of the small rollers (side of the roller furthest from the posts

Alignment Lift? Turn Your Two-Post Lift Into an Alignment Lift!

Do you have a two-post lift but need a four-post lift for the value of being able to do alignments? We have the product you are looking for.

Recently at Eagle Equipment, we have designed and manufactured a new product to change your 2-post lift, into a 4-post service/alignment lift.

The new EAS-4 alignment stands can be added to any Eagle Equipment 9,000lb or 10,000lb 2-post auto lift, or to the PMR-6000-48 midrise lift. These stands will allow the small garage owner to add alignment services to their shop, at minimal cost, without adding a four-post lift.

To use the new Eagle stands, simply raise your vehicle higher than the 36” needed and add the stands under each wheel. Once the stands are in place, lower the vehicle slowly until the car’s weight is supported by the stands. You now have the benefits of having a four-post lift in your shop. All you need to do now is add turn plates to the stands, and you are now ready to do alignments.

Max Weight Per Stand = 1,500 lbs
Pad height = 36″
Pad dimensions = 19.5″ x 19.5″
Footprint = 38″ diameter
Adjustable leveling feet
Each Stand Weighs 100 pounds
Powder coated
Made of 3/16″ steel

Eagle’s EAS-4 alignment stands are manufactured in their Greensboro, NC plant and can be customized to meet any needs the end user might have. We have a few different packages available.
Stands Only

Car Lift Weights: A 9K lift doesn’t always lift 9,000 pounds

Car Lift Weight Rating and Vehicle Weight

As leading experts in the field of Automotive Lifts, we here at Eagle Equipment feel that one of the most important parts of our job is helping customers make the most informed purchase they can. We often find ourselves as educators; dealing with many assumption of the industry

A common assumption: “If my vehicle weighs 9,000lbs., and I buy a 9K lift; I should be able to lift my vehicle all day long.”

In fact, people often try this with their 1-ton trucks; then wonder why we suggest something more stout.

The thinking may be: “What’s the problem? The lift is rated for 9,000lbs, right?” But, it’s not so simple as that. There are several factors to consider. Car lift weight ratings are a common industry designation. Lifts designated as “9K” are often close approximations to their corresponding kg (kilogram) rating. They may be 8800lbs, or they may be 9200lbs. Further, the 9K may denote the lift’s maximum lifting weight. You may be able to bench-press 350lbs., but this doesn’t mean you can do it all day long!

However, on a more serious note, the greater consideration for car lift weight limits is the weight distribution. Every 2-post lift has four (4) telescoping swing arms for lifting; and these arms actually support the weight of the vehicle. Each arm has its own lifting capacity; for example 9,000 lbs. divided by four is 2,250lbs. per arm.

A 1-ton truck may weigh-in right at 9,000lbs.; but 6,000lbs. of this will be on the rear axle; or 3,000lbs. per arm! Add tool-boxes and such, and you start seeing a real imbalance; this puts a lot of twist on the whole lift. Such a load would be too much for any standard 10,000 lbs. capacity lift, let alone a 9K model.

To safely lift a 1-ton truck, you need to start in the 12,000lbs. capacity range of automotive lifts. And if you’re looking at larger utility vehicles, the range gets even more extreme. The distribution of the weight of any vehicle always needs to be taken into account.

It isn’t that we’re just looking to sell the more expensive product.
It’s what’s best for our customer.

Mobile Lift used as a Truck Bed Remover

The Eagle Mobileman lift has become one of Eagle’s most popular lifts because of how it is used as a mobile lift, making the ways it can be used endless. This convenient lift is portable, runs off a 110 volt, has a max lifting height of 70” and lifts up to 6000lbs.

The normal function of this lift is to raise vehicles for service and repair work. It also works very well when lifting motorcycles, ATV’s, quads and golf carts. But really, because of it’s mobility and lifting capacity, it makes moving anything a breeze. (Seriously, watch how easy it is to move.) In fact, we have a lumber company that uses their mobile lift to move loads of wood throughout their plant. The possibilities and uses are huge for this type of lift.

Vinnie DiMartino, formerly of American Chopper, has a Mobileman in his NY shop (He loves it!). When we went up to visit him a couple of months ago, he spoke with Andy about the many ideas he had on how he could use his mobile lift. (Watch that here.)

This week, Vinnie sent us as video of how he is using his Mobileman mobile lift in a new and creative way. Take a look at the video below and see how Vinnie has changed this vehicle lift into one of the easiest truck bed removers you will ever see.
VIEW THE NEW VIDEO HERE.

The most successful businesses we work with are those that have the right equipment, and use it to the very fullest to maximize their use out of a single piece of equipment. Vinnie is always customizing, modifying and using his creativity and talent to get the most out of everything he has.

We love seeing how our customers use our equipment! If you have a Mobileman lift, we would love to see it in use. Please send your pictures or videos to andyt@ealeequip.com. Thanks and Enjoy.

NEW ETC-550 Eagle Tire Changer

As the summer of 2013 ends and we begin to see the leaves changing for the Fall, Eagle Equipment is also changing. We have begun the transition of updating all of our wheel service equipment line. As the old saying goes, “out with the old, in with the new.” Over the next few weeks, everyone here at Eagle is excited to begin to introduce you to our new wheel service line.

Meet the new ETC-550 Eagle tire changer.

This changer will handle up to a 37” tire diameter and a max rim diameter of 24”. The ETC-550 turntable operates off a 110 volt, to give it a little more strength for the hard to remove tires. The rest of the ETC-550 is air operated – that includes the bead breaker, inflation box and bead blast.
Continue reading NEW ETC-550 Eagle Tire Changer

Tire Equipment Maintenance

In order to keep your business flowing like a well-oiled machine…. you need to have a well-oiled machine. As shops get busy and we tend to focus on customer repairs such as radiators and batteries, we often forget that our own tire equipment, lifts, air compressors and equipment need maintenance as well.

Tire Equipment Maintenance

We get a lot of phone calls from customers about their tire changers not working properly. Leaking water from hoses, cylinders working slow or getting stuck, bead breaker cylinder leaking air or the foot pedal spool valves stick or are leaking. The cause of most of these problems is from water getting into the air lines and into the internal machine components causing seals to dry up or parts to fail.

All of our tire changers come with a regulator assembly that includes a water separator and oiler. If the oiler is low or the water separator is full, the machine will not get proper lubrication.

On average an 80-gallon air compressor used to run a shop for 8-hours a-day can produce 3 gallons of water from condensation as a result of compressing air. This water makes it into the air lines and into our air tools and equipment.

Three simple steps to help keep your equipment up and running properly:

Drain your air compressor daily or you can install a timed-release valve that will drain your tank hourly.
Use a good quality air dryer setup installed after your compressor to keep moisture out of your air lines.
Check your oiler assemblies weekly and fill when needed. Most use standard air tool oil. (check your equipment manual).

Like the cars we drive, Shop Equipment has recommended maintenance schedules and recommended fluids. Consult your manual for the recommended maintenance or contact your equipment dealer.

TAKE A LOAD OFF! Unloading Your Equipment.

Sometimes that’s easier said then done. In this case, it doesn’t have to be difficult; it just requires a little pre-planning on your part. To help you, our customers, avoid issues when your equipment is delivered, here are some things you need to know and prepare for.

Some folks don’t realize that when they order a piece of equipment, that they are responsible for getting their equipment off of the truck when it’s delivered. (Yes, you will need to have a plan for how to get it off that truck). Freight carriers will not off-load the equipment for you.

To help, we can order you a lift gate that will bring your equipment to the ground for easier transport. Usually, this is the most helpful on shipments containing tire equipment. We need to know at the time of order that you would like to have a lift gate added to your freight details, as freight trucks do not always come with them and we want to make sure your equipment gets put on the truck with a lift gate! Note: Even with a lift gate, you are still responsible for getting it off the lift gate and into your shop.

Most equipment requires a forklift, wrecker or roll back to off-load equipment because of the weight and dimensions of the shipment. Our lifts weigh 1500 lbs + and are 10’ or more in length. Our paint booths are packages in crates. Many of these will not fit on a lift gate due to the dimensions on the crate (many of the crates are 6’ H x 10’ L and 4’ W).

Watch a video on how you can unload your lift if you have a roll back.

Watch a video on how you can unload your paint booth if you have a roll back.

We give you these details when you place your order as well as when we call you with your shipping confirmation. We are eager to help you, just give our customer service department a call at 1-800-336-2776.

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