All about pit jacks

A pit jack is a special lifting mechanism that is used in an inspection pit and is designed to partially lift a vehicle. Such jacks are used in the course of general locksmith and demolition works at service stations.

The success of any service station directly depends on the ability of its owner to provide his clients with the widest possible range of services. At the same time, the quality of diagnostics and car repair directly depends on the technical equipment of the service center. Since the adjustment of the camber-convergence process, like the main part of the work performed on the maintenance of the walker, is carried out on the inspection pit, the presence of a special lifting device - a traverse is considered an indispensable condition for work at the station.

If an ordinary full-time jack is quite enough for a motorist to perform some everyday manipulations, then in the conditions of professional repair and service, a more serious mechanism is required - it is called a pit jack, also called a ditch jack or axial traverse.

Using the traverse is considered the most optimal and practical way to lift a car in a garage, where the dimensions of the room, as a rule, do not allow you to put any other universal car lifts for cars. Often, inspection pits are, rather, a good addition to such lifts and may be of interest as a workplace for unscheduled minor repairs of the vehicle.

And if we are talking about trucks, then the only mechanism that can raise the rear or front axle of a multi-ton unit is powerful pit jack... In fact, the traverse is one of the elements of a four-post, scissor or plunger lift, which is an alternative to the traditional inspection pit... Such a lift is fixed on pre-prepared guides, the peculiarity of their design provides free and easy movement.

The main purpose of any pit traverses is to raise the front or rear axle during:

• carrying out locksmith and diagnostic work on the walkway;
• inspection and repair of the underbody, as well as the fuel and exhaust systems;
• adjustment of the wheel alignment mechanism.

There are several options for traverse jacks.

• Hand operated hydraulic car lift... Such a mechanism has a manual pump, thanks to which it raises a fairly significant weight, but at the same time to a small height. This mechanism is characterized by a fairly democratic cost.
• Pneumohydraulic car lift. This device is connected to the pneumatics of the service center and thus frees the employee from doing manual work. Simply press a button to start the jack.
• Pneumatic traverse... These scissor jacks today are the most perfect mechanism.To work with it, a car mechanic does not need to make any effort to lift a car, even a multi-ton car. The lifting capacity of this jack is quite simply determined from the calculation that to lift each ton, a pressure of about 2 atmospheres is required.

The range of pit lifts on sale is diverse and makes it possible to choose a device that will fully meet the existing needs of the workshop. Modern traverses differ:

• clearance;
• lifting height;
• ultimate load;
• size;
• type of drive;
• carrying capacity;
• swing of the paws;
• degree of reliability.

Domestic and foreign manufacturers in the production of pit mechanisms use the most modern technological solutions and materials that ensure the safety and reliability of the device. In any case, the choice of a particular design is largely determined the comfort of its use in each specific situation.

Hydraulic jack for inspection pit is of greatest interest as a budget option for service station equipment. Such a device can be used to lift small-sized machines, the weight of which does not exceed 2.5 tons. From disadvantages of hydraulics it is necessary to note the need for constant monitoring of the oil level in the system, as well as the need for periodic lubrication of all pivot joints.

The pneumatic traverse does not require any special technological maintenance, it can lift machines weighing up to 6 tons.

Pneumohydraulic traverse depending on its design features may differ in terms of carrying capacity. It is easy to operate and does not require expensive maintenance.

Depending on the structural features of the pit jacks, certain options are distinguished.

• Two-stage mechanisms with a pair of picksplaced at different heights. This mechanism combines low-grip and traditional jacks.
• Low foot lift... Its distinctive feature is a laterally protruding pick-up paw, which is capable of clinging to a load under its lowest fragment. By the way, it was from here that another name for the mechanism came from - a hook jack.
• Low profile traverse - is used to lift cars with low ground clearance.

The main point that interests any car mechanic and workshop owner when choosing a lifting mechanism is his carrying capacity. But there are also other important technical parameters.

Working stroke height - everything here directly depends on the place of installation of the mechanism. It is one thing if you place the jack in a viewing hole, and quite another when the equipment is part of a four-post or scissor lift.

Track width - you need to understand well that, ideally, the parameters of the inspection pit and the traverse should be the same. In practice, this is not always possible, so you have to look for a suitable mechanism or carry out reconstruction of the pit. However, the track width in the overwhelming majority of models can vary, so the width of the stanchions becomes a slightly more significant parameter.

Pit lift weight is not particularly important, since such a jack is installed on runners, and the locksmith does not have to move it manually.

How to make a pit jack with your own hands, see below.