LIFTS DOCK SYSTEMS MANUALS FAQ LITERATURE DEALER LOCATOR

FAQ for your:

FAQ : Vertical Lifts (Older Models)

Lower frame made of 2" x 5" or 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" material
Q
What is the biggest problem with the old vertical lifts?
A
The #1 problem is cables are adjusted incorrectly.
The early lifts could be adjusted using eye bolts at the top of the cables. Often customers try to adjust the slack out of the cables at the rear of the lift. Slack is needed in order for the lift to go up and down. (See "How the Lift Operates" below.) Each rear post has 2 cables connected to it. The cables closest to these rear posts need to be loose. If your cables have no slack, readjust them so they do. You will love the results. 1" to 4" of back and forth movement is fine.

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Q
How does this lift operate?
A
Example for 3800 lb. boat:
The front cable (winch cable) lifts the entire weight of the boat and that part of the lift which goes up and down = 4000 lbs.
The two side cables lift only the rear of the lift and 1/2 of the weight of the boat = 2000 lbs. (or 1000 lbs. per side cable)
The two rear cables only balance the load from side to side = 50 lbs. per cable. These two cables need to be loose (see #1 Problem above.)

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Q
If each of the cables carry different loads why aren't they different sizes?
A
Putting small cables on the rear of the lift generated too much speculation that we had put on the wrong cables. Therefore we put oversize cables all the way around.

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Q
How are these cables strung?
A
See Diagram below:
(diagram will be coming soon)

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Q
Can I put the winch on either side of my lift?
A
No. But if you want to move the lift from one side of your dock to the other, simply turn your lift 180° at the same time. It doesn't matter which end of the lift you drive onto.

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Q
Why does my lift crank down hard?
1.
The rear cable may be too tight. (see #1 Problem above.)
2.
The winch shaft and wheel need grease. The red wheel needs to thread on and off the winch shaft to activate and release the brake.
Q
Do you still make canopies for these older lifts?
A
Q
Why doesn’t my lift stay up?
A
If the winch doesn’t click going up, the winch is wound backwards. Clockwise: up. Counterclockwise: down.
The winch needs a load to activate the brake. An empty lift may not stay up.

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Q
How much weight will my lift hold?
A
Look at the first two numbers in your model number and multiply by 100:
Example: 36108 = 3600 lbs., 108" wide.

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Q
Why is there a galvanized cable on the front and stainless steel cables on the sides and rear?
1.
Stainlesss steel resists rust better than galavanized cables. Because a portion of the side and rear cables are always in the water, stainless steel is the best material.
2.
Galvanized cable is stronger and has better wear resistance than stainless steel. Because the front cable is almost always out of the water and does the most work (see How the Lift Works) galvanized is the best material for the front cable.
Q
How do I tell which model lift I have?
A
to determine which lift you have.

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To download a printable version
of these FAQs including lift identification