Hydraulic Lift Installation

[vwelsh]

I've had my hydraulic lift for a few weeks and finally had some time to install it today. Things are NOT going well. I have several questions if someone can help:

1 - placement of the flat mounting brackets - The instructions seem to say to place them so that the lift motor is centered on the frame. That just isn't possible with the black support bar and cross bar under the rails. Is it OK to position it to one side?

2 - The flat brackets are supposed to be attached to the bottom rail with the 4 inch U brackets with screws and 2 washers. With the long black support bracket under the rails, just how am I supposed to screw something in? And where exactly are the washers placed in the attachment order?

3 - The instructions say that the UP/DOWN switch is already attached to the bracket - it is not. Just exactly how is it attached. Can someone send me a photo of the set up - especially with the two flat brackets and their parts installed just so I can see a big picture? The photos and instructions just are not thorough.

I think with these 3 questions answered that I can get it figured out. When I am done I will send APQS some recommendations for the instructions. I am generally very good at figuring out how things go together so when I have trouble it's a bad thing. I am kind of a stickler for good instructions.

Thanks for any help!

Vicki

[quiltjunkie]

Hi Vicki,

I installed my lify sytem last month and had the same question when it said the switch was attached...NOT! so here is a picture and I hope it helps..I had one other MAJOR issue..the power box that is mounted right behind the switch has 4 holes and screws to mount to the plate..however when I did the cord was about 1 inch too short to plug in..so I had to move over and attach with only 2 screws..it seems okay and now the cord reaches to the other side.. I will attach that picture too.

Hester

[quiltjunkie]

Actually you could see the way the power box is mounted in the other picture but here's another, right behind the switch you can see it is moved to the right of the bracket and only the back to holes are screwed in.

[mountainmanda]

Vicki-

don't lose heart! I had the same issues when installing my lift as well.

1. if you look at the pictures after the instructions, you'll see that the lift isn't placed center of the machine. My father-in-law stated it best, a picture is worth a thousand words. I fretted over this same issue for 2 hours, totally ignored the pictures and then-BAM-there it was, totally different from what the instructions stated, mounted off center of the machine.

2. without an exact picture-i am truly a visional person, gotta see to understand, sorry about this-I cannot give you an educated answer

3. I had the same issue with this as well, I set out all parts one by one and by process of elimination I put the switch together. honestly I hope that I installed it correctly. I know that it works and that matters the most at this point. I will try to remember to take a photo of my set up tomorrow and send it to you.

Remember this, it took me 3 days at my shop-working alone-to get my complete machine together. The lift install was the most difficult part of the entire situation. The instructions are not-in my opinion-helpful, informative or correct. Hopefully, APQS will read this post and re-evaluate the lift instructions. I am sure that you and I are not the only people that have had issues with the instructions. Honestly, I was completely spoiled by the instructions for my Millie-they were perfect. The lift instructions are not up to par with what I have become accustomed to with the type of service I have received from APQS in the past.

Hope my info helps, sorry for the ranting!

Take Care

[vwelsh]

Thank you both for your help. To clarify question #2, take a look at this photo that is on Webshots:

Millie Setup

This is not my machine but it is configured the same as mine. Can you see the black support bar under the rails? That is what is in the way of attaching the flat brackets.

Regarding the offset of the motor. I would need to set mine almost completely left or completely right. That black support has a crossbar exactly in the middle of the frame. The one in the photo of the instructions doesn't have the additional support.

But you helped me get started and I really appreciate it! if anyone has that same black support bar under the rails and can offer any input I would be very grateful.

Thanks,

Vicki

[vwelsh]

Thanks to Hester and Amanda, the lift is finally installed! I love everything about my APQS system and I like the lift installed, but those instructions are horrible and need to be re-written. If anyone else has any problems, I have taken some photos of my installation with notes and loaded them to Webshots.

Vicki's Lift Installation

If the link doesn't work, just search for user Vickisews on Webshots.

[mountainmanda]

CONGRATS!!!!!!

glad to be of some help.

I do agree that the lift instructions need to be tweaked.

[Johnmach]

We received our Mili / hydraulic lift on Thurs (CompuQuilter on coming Monday). I agree, the instructions with the kit ARE worthless. There is no way that even an APQS tech could assemble the kit USING ONLY THE INSTRUCTION SHEET AND TOOLS SPECIFIED!

We ran in to the same problems, location of the pump and length of the cord. Thanks to our rep, Cheryl, we figured out the correct location of the pump. I found that to get the converter mounted with four bolts, I had to rotate the "Z" shaped bracket on the pump about 90 degrees to allow the mounting bracket to slide closer to the other bracket. I can post a picture if needed.

John

[TinaCollins]

John,

I thought I was going to set-up your Millie w/hydraulics on Monday when I come to install your CQ???... NOT that I am disappointed that you already did all the hard work before I got there!!! (smile!)

I have to admit the first time I set up a table with hydraulics- the directions were not very helpful. I actually laid out all the pieces and had better luck figuring it out on my own. Although now, after doing about a hundred of these, I have it down to a fine art!!!:o:P

Since I usually have to assemble these by myself (ie:without any help), the easiest way I have found is to mount the hydraulics on the table BEFORE attaching it to the legs... That way it is easier to get to the screws in the brackets without trying to hold up the weight of the hydraulic unit at the same time. However, if you are adding the lift to an existing table, it is better to have a second person to help flex the bars out of your way. I know this probably sounds very confusing without pictures to show exactly what I am talking about....

John,

I am in Livermore, CA right now and will be heading your way tomorrow evening or early Monday morning. I will see you on Monday!!!

[TracyeQ]

I see that this is an older topic, and I think the intructions have been updated as there are pretty good pictures. It is STILL nowhere as understandable as the machine manual.

It starts out "If you table is already assembled it will work best if you remove the head and tubes..." So where does that leave us who are putting it on as we set up the machine?

Which leads me to my problem. I\'ve set up the table and leveled it. Was that a waste of time? Am I supposed to attatch the hydraulics to a leveled table? Or one that is completely lowered?

In the pictures it doesn\'t show the hydraulic legs ever touching the floor. How do they work then?

I\'m too fried to think straight. I\'ve been setting up the machine all day w/only the help of a 5yo, and by golly he was good help. Couldn\'t have done it w/out him.

I\'m going to call APQS first thing in the am, unless you guys can straighten me out.

Thank you!

[Laurie]

I\'m looking forward to the answer to your question. I have had my hydraulics since May and still haven\'t installed them. I am waiting until my customer quilts for Christmas are all done.

I think my directions are the new, updated ones......that was the reason for the delay in shipment. Hopefully I will be able to figure them out!

[Myrna Ficken]

Tracye,

When attaching my lift had my table set up and level with out the head and table top. Attached the lift legs to the table legs with my table legs set at lowest and level position. I adjusted the left legs so the do touch the floor in the lowest position. They adjust just like your table legs. Then attaching the motor to the table frame watch placement so the wires reach to the legs. Hope thins helps.

Call me if you have questions

see photos http://news.webshots.com/album/561451307LFkTYE

Myrna

[jacksong]

Since my DH installed my hydraulic lift, I\'m can\'t give you any advise on installation...I do know he put something on backwards and fixed it the next day before I got home from work.

But, if you haven\'t installed yous yet, you must do it right away. I love, love my hydraulic lift.

[TracyeQ]

Thank you Myrna.

I\'m still working on it, but making good progress. I only had to call Amy twice today.

Your pictures helped, but I still needed extra direction.

Amy emailed me some even more updated directions which fill in some of the holes from the set I have now. Laurie, Amy was going to email them to you as well.

I hope to be quilting before TOO many days.

jacksong, I had hydraulics on my last machine and swear by them. That\'s why I refuse to give up! Thank you for the encouragement.

[Laurie]

I got Amy\'s email but it didn\'t have an attachment on it...I think probably tomorrow she will resend it....

Thanks!

[TracyeQ]

Well, the email\'s helpful, but not by any means complete.

I just called and interupted Myrna\'s evening. I couldn\'t wait until morning.

Just when I think I understand what\'s going on I realize there\'s something that\'s beens skipped over.

But finally, I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel now. I\'m just hoping it\'s not a train.

[Myrna Ficken]

LOL Tracye,

Hope you got everything together. If you need anything else let me know.

Myrna

[TracyeQ]

It wasn\'t a train!!!!!

I\'m down to putting on the zip ties.

There was only one more bout of tears, the picture for plugging in the cords was of cords that CAME PLUGGED IN! Which meant that there were neither pictures nor instructions for the 2 that were supposed to be plugged in at that time. Anyway, I figured it out (it was almost midnight) and today it\'s on to the rest of the main manual.

Now, I haven\'t plugged it in to see if it works. I\'m thinking positive that it will.

[Myrna Ficken]

Sorry, Tracye,

I did forget the cord issue. Check for level when you are all finished. Depending on where your machine is you may have to tweak a bit if the floor settles. Also I like to loosen the bolts of the cross tubes and slide my machine from one end of the table to the other a few times then re-tighten them. What else do you have to finish before you can actually stitch?

Remember when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, it\'s not a train, it\'s heavenly accomplishment

Myrna

[Laurie]

I finally pulled from the box all the lift parts and pieces. I have had this since May but was waiting til the Christmas rush was over before taking my table apart to do the install.

Well, I think I am in good shape to start but I am missing 4 pieces I am missing the clamps that hold the brackets to the table - (2) 4" x 1" pieces of aluminum and (2) 1" x 1" pieces of aluminum. And I have an extra screw and bracket that I don\'t know where they go.

I can do a lot of the assembly but I\'ll just have to hold off the rest of it until the parts can be ordered and shipped. Dang!

One question: My table legs are extended a bit.....should I lower them to the floor, re level the table and then put on the lift legs?

And another: Any suggestions for what I can put the head on so I can turn it upside down to repack the grease?

And another: While the poles are off, I thought I would raise them a tiny bit (my extended base doesn\'t slide under the "top" bar and I think it should). Which ones do I need to adjust if I adjust any of them?

Thanks! I will have to wait until Wednesday before calling to get those parts so I\'ll have plenty of time to figure out the rest of the directions.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!