Using A 2 Post Lift

ReganAndCarter

ReganAndCarter

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I've got a tricky little job with difficult access to do on the 2004 Scudo van and decided I didn't want to have it balanced on jacks/stands and be lying on my back. Possibly with gearbox oil running down my arm. I decided to use a rent a ramp place for a couple of hours.

Just wanted to know where the arms should be making contact with the underbody. Under the ends of sills - bearing in mind they're 20 years old? Or inboard of the sills on outriggers? Also, where would you centre a vehicle of this type for balance?

The rental co said there would be someone to help, but just in case. I've used a 4 post before, but never a 2 post. Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
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Make sure the lift arms have rubber jacking pads attached, and position them as near to the jacking points as possible.
Outriggers are fine as long as they are sound but never on the flat floor or suspension parts of course.
I think you'll find someone to guide you here, and the lifting arms are telescopic so exact positioning isn't necessary.
This sounds like a good move - hope the job goes well and within the time limit!
John :)
 
Any substantial part is good.

When arms and pads are located, lift it a few inches in the air and give the van a good rock. You will see if its going up level or not and the rocking will make sure its secure.

Personally I hate 2 posters, but for some jobs they are good

Oh and I wouldn't use the sills. Chassis rail front area has a solid area for the lift. At the rear, the front of the suspension mounting generally gives a good location.
 
ReganAndCarter said:
Just wanted to know where the arms should be making contact with the underbody. Under the ends of sills - bearing in mind they're 20 years old. Or inboard of the sills on outriggers? Also, where would you centre a vehicle of this type for balance?
Click to expand...

Under the box sections, and as far forward, and back, as possible.
 
Burnerman said:
This sounds like a good move - hope the job goes well and within the time limit!
John :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, John. I'm doing the speed sensor on the back of the diff. Bit of a pig for access. I do worry that while it will be more confortable and a lot easier for access on the lift, I do have the added aggro of getting it changed in a time limit. I know as soon as I start, time will fly past.

Only one allen key bolt holding it in and should just pull out. Have heard the small gear on the sensor can take a bit of fiddling to get it to mesh with the gear in the diff. Maybe turning the driveshaft slightly while pushing the sensor in may help. Also budgeting to have to add gear oil - unhelpfully the makers dispensed with the luxury of a fill level plug. Only way to be sure you have the right amount of oil is drain it out and add the specified quantity.

What can possibly go wrong? :p
 
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carmanmemoranda said:
Any substantial part is good.

When arms and pads are located, lift it a few inches in the air and give the van a good rock. You will see if its going up level or not and the rocking will make sure its secure.

Personally I hate 2 posters, but for some jobs they are good
Click to expand...

Will difinitely be rocking. Would much rather have a 4 poster, but 2 post is all that's available.
 
Just got over the cv boot fiasco (still holding), now another one. I went to a rent a ramp place today. Removed the old speed sensor, losing a lot of gearbox oil in the process.

Turns out that while the new sensor is identical on the outside, in the hole on the sensor where the shaft goes that has the gear on it, the new one has a small square drive inside. Mine is empty. So because the new one has this drive, my shaft won't fit in. Ooer, missus!

As I had let the gearbox oil drain into the waste oil tank they had there, I was committed to putting the old sensor back in and 1.85 litres of new oil, so I can get home. The garage that rents the ramps tried to get me another sensor, and when the factor brought it, it was the same as the incompatible new one I already had.

So after getting up at dawn to drive up M5 to the ramp place, spending money on a wrong part, more gearbox oil (hopefully I can reuse it next time when I get the correct sensor), diesel to get there, load of aggro, I still have the defective sensor fitted to my van.

Still, at least I managed to change my oil and filter while I was there. :rolleyes:

[GALLERY=media, 108760][/GALLERY]

This is the one I bought.

www.ebay.co.uk

Speed Sensor (Gearbox) fits FIAT SCUDO 220 1.6 2.0 1.9D 2.0D 96 to 06 Speedo New 4027816386841 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Speed Sensor (Gearbox) fits FIAT SCUDO 220 1.6 2.0 1.9D 2.0D 96 to 06 Speedo New at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk

The number on the Ebay listing corresponds to the Fiat part no in the diagram. Part no 9635080680
 
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I didn't want to say anything or tempt fate, but I did wonder what happens if something goes wrong? A recent job I did on mine went quite wrong (admittedly largely due to inexperience and poor planning on my part) and stretched out over a week - timing belt, water pump, leaking auxiliary water pump - the crankshaft locking tool was faulty and wouldn't fit, the new auxiliary pump didn't include the wiring connector and the original had burnt out, the water pump in the kit was the wrong one, I didn't realise most if the bolts were stretch bolts and needed to be replaced, auxiliary belt looked suspect when removed, and it's a VW TDI so I had to wrestle with the engine mount for a good few hours.

I presume they'd have to just push it into their yard if you couldn't get it back together in time.
 
Sort of related, but it's 1 of the reasons why i don't fit customers parts.

If I supply parts and they are a problem its down to me to sort. If its the customer it can be days before the right parts arrive and i have an immobile vehicle in my way, or I charge for time I can't work on another vehicle. Either way it causes bad feeling.

wrong parts are a regular occurrence, but frustrating EVERY time
 
cdbe said:
I didn't want to say anything or tempt fate, but I did wonder what happens if something goes wrong? A recent job I did on mine went quite wrong (admittedly largely due to inexperience and poor planning on my part) and stretched out over a week - timing belt, water pump, leaking auxiliary water pump - the crankshaft locking tool was faulty and wouldn't fit, the new auxiliary pump didn't include the wiring connector and the original had burnt out, the water pump in the kit was the wrong one, I didn't realise most if the bolts were stretch bolts and needed to be replaced, auxiliary belt looked suspect when removed, and it's a VW TDI so I had to wrestle with the engine mount for a good few hours.

I presume they'd have to just push it into their yard if you couldn't get it back together in time.
Click to expand...

Your job sounds like a nightmare. There's always someone worse off. I always said that every job in plumbing is a bastard, think that may also be true of cars too.

I just put the old sensor back in, drained down what was left of the gearbox oil and refilled with new oil to the correct quantity. Then drove home, very peed off. :mad:
 
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