Funny stuff.

All i know, is I can swap trany's in less than 2 hours with the lift, and
that, with 1/4 of the effort it use to take me before.
Way longer and painfull for me when i use to do them on the ground.

It's all good for the customers.... and me.

My lift cost me almost nothing, it was a used one. It's paid itself in a few
month.

I also find it's way more secure to work that way.

Anyway.
Ben

On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:35:48 -0700, Scott Daniel - Shazam
<scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Isn't that funny. I don't consider it arguing at all, and I think 'lively
>debate' is wonderful and healthy.
>
>And - I'll tell you all the things 'wrong' with working on a lift.
>
>
>
>One, your arms get very tired holding them above your head while standing.
>Some professionals that do this 25 years, 25 hours a weak, suffer from
>conditions similar to carpal tunnel and /or numbness.   I find about 8 time
>easier to lay on my back on a creeper, or even a piece of cardboard, and
>reach up to things that are just a couple of feet above me.
>
>
>
>Two - every time you need undo something 'up there' ..and granted there
>won't be much of that in a vanagon - but then, you have to either  lower the
>car back down, or get out a step ladder to undo that thing up there you
>forgot.
>
>Three - you need a special transmission jack,a  stall one, to deal with the
>trans 6 feet up in the air.  When the bottom of the van is only about 2 feet
>from the ground it is so much easier to deal with - you can almost
>'drop-fudge' it the ground in that short distance.  A floor jack is just
>fine even for lowering it.
>
>
>
>I've had a shop with a lift.  I had one for 50 dollars a month rent once,
>with a working hydraulic lift.   I have no need for a lift at all.
>
>You look at how race cars are built - which since I do a lot of conversion
>and 'building' work, I tend to see it as building up a chassis sometimes -
>cars like that start out getting built on a table even, and typically a race
>car is supported a couple feet off the ground - that way you can work on the
>sides, the top, and the bottom.  Plus it's safer overall to not have it way
>up in the air.  Plus you don't need that much ceiling height above the
>vehicle.
>
>
>
>I raise the whole van equally front and rear. It's more natural to have it
>sitting level. One 'mistake' I see back yard type techs make is not
>providing good access to what they are trying to work on.
>
>  You need a flat level smooth hard floor, and a roof over it at least, and
>4 solid jack stands. Truck size ones, not little dinky car ones.   And the
>ractething type too- not the pin in a hole type..nice big solid mutha, and
>TWO floor jacks.
>
> Then you can do anything pretty much.  Lower engines and transmissions and
>so forth.  How did I ever get by without a cherry picker for 4 decades !!? -
>I use overhead lifting from supported beams, for front engine cars,  or even
>an old fashioned tripod made from trees- though that's much more an outdoor
>back year  thing.
>    but 4 very decent floor stands and ideally two floor jacks - works just
>great.  Safer and more convenient overall.
>
>  For people that do a LOT of transmission pulling, I can understand a lift,
>and the last time I used one - same deal, had to climb up a step ladder and
>reach in over the fender to undo something from the top.
>
>    And holding my arms above my head a lot while standing - no thank you.
>'taint healthy.
>
>Scott
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>Benny boy
>Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 7:59 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: clutch time
>
>
>
>Hi Brendan, i don't want to argue with Scott but if you don't have a lift,
>
>and i guess you don'T, it's not that fun and easy to do that on the ground!
>
>
>
>It is possible to do so but by raising the front! Then, lowering the trany
>
>and pull this one foward.
>
>
>
>Buy the SASCH kit, nothing else. Believe me, i have tried many.
>
>
>
>Now, i agrre with Scott, you DON'T want a lighter flywheel on a stock Boxer
>
>engine.
>
>
>
>Cheers, Ben
>
>http://www.benplace.com/
>
>
>
>On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:39:47 -0700, Brendan Slevin <totorovan@GMAIL.COM>
>wrote:
>
>
>
>>I know I should've done it when I had the engine out in September but. . .
>
>>
>
>>I think I may need to replace Totoro's clutch in the next couple months.  I
>
>>felt, for the second time in a couple months, the clutch slip after
>shifting
>
>>into second on a moderate hill.  I am wondering what the best kit is and
>
>>also, can the replacement happen with out removing the engine entirely? Any
>
>>tips are greatly appreciated.  Are there lightened flywheels out there for
>
>>the 1.9 engine?
>
>>
>
>>Brendan
>
>>84 GL Totoro
>
>>Bend, OR
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>
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>
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>10:26 AM
>
>