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Originally posted by Alan Coles:
Originally posted by Thinkmoto:
I'm going to get my car aligned on wedsnesday. I ws looking at the alignment rack at the shop. They had a tri axle dump truck on it at the time. it sat level with the ground and was located in a pit so they could work under the car. I don't care how low your car is you should be able to get an alignment.
I didn't think there were many of those around anymore.
They've been illegal in this neck of the woods for at least the last 30 years due to their significant safety issues, but they certainly made some things quicker and easier.
Regards, Alan
 You must be kidding. There is alot of those around. Belle tire uses them alot. I personaly work out of two different ones myself. There great for certain things such as alignment. I have fit all kinds of slammed cars,corvettes,and race cars. Plus for alignments they can be more accurate!
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Originally posted by livinsvt:
Originally posted by Alan Coles:
Originally posted by Thinkmoto:
I'm going to get my car aligned on wedsnesday. I ws looking at the alignment rack at the shop. They had a tri axle dump truck on it at the time. it sat level with the ground and was located in a pit so they could work under the car. I don't care how low your car is you should be able to get an alignment.
I didn't think there were many of those around anymore.
They've been illegal in this neck of the woods for at least the last 30 years due to their significant safety issues, but they certainly made some things quicker and easier.
Regards, Alan
You must be kidding. There is alot of those around. Belle tire uses them alot. I personaly work out of two different ones myself. There great for certain things such as alignment. I have fit all kinds of slammed cars,corvettes,and race cars. Plus for alignments they can be more accurate!
The shop I'm going to is a fairly new shop. So, I highly doubt they're illegal. I would see this setup much safer then a lift etc.
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livinsvt, I was referring to my "neck of the woods". It's just that I've not seen any for so long. I may be wrong about them being illegal, here (Nova Scotia), but if they're not, they're non-existant or virtually so. I've not run across one in the last 30 years and I'm usually in a garage every week or so. I seem to recall that they discontinued them here about thirty years ago due to safety problems but I certainly could be wrong as it's a vague recollection (like too much of my memory recently  ). Thinkmoto, they actually have several safety problems that are easily addressed by an above ground lift, the two most significant ones are: 1 - Unless they have a properly setup exhaust system close to the base of the pit there is a real danger of gas vapours collecting in the bottom of the pit and any spark can set off a deadly blaze. 2 - If there is a fire or if something falls from the vehicle above, there is at most only 2 directions of escape versus at least 6 with an above ground lift. Many of the pits that I've been in and seen had only one entrance/exit. As I said there are some jobs that they're better suited to than an above ground hoist but I've just not seen one in sooooo long. Regards, Alan
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Originally posted by Alan Coles:
1 - Unless they have a properly setup exhaust system close to the base of the pit there is a real danger of gas vapours collecting in the bottom of the pit and any spark can set off a deadly blaze.
I suppose this could be a problem if you left the vehicle running while doing the alignment. Other than that that isn't an issue.
Originally posted by Alan Coles:
2 - If there is a fire or if something falls from the vehicle above, there is at most only 2 directions of escape versus at least 6 with an above ground lift. Many of the pits that I've been in and seen had only one entrance/exit.
The ones I use have two entrance's one on either side of the car, and its acutaly three levels realy. One level goes underneath, the two steps on either side lead to a level that puts your head even with the fender, than a step up to get into the car or on the hoist. But yes it ultimatly does not have the escape route of a two post hoist, but than again you don't have to worry about the car falling, and you could climb the wall all around to get out in case of major fire. But point taken 
Originally posted by Alan Coles:
As I said there are some jobs that they're better suited to than an above ground hoist but I've just not seen one in sooooo long.
Thats very true there are alot of things I can not do on those hoists. Just surprised you don't see any around up there.
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Originally posted by livinsvt:
Originally posted by Alan Coles:
1 - Unless they have a properly setup exhaust system close to the base of the pit there is a real danger of gas vapours collecting in the bottom of the pit and any spark can set off a deadly blaze.
I suppose this could be a problem if you left the vehicle running while doing the alignment. Other than that that isn't an issue.
Actually, livinsvt, I believe its not the vapours from a running car exhaust that were the major concern, but gasoline vapours that could collect down in the pit. This happens when a person is doing any head/intake/etc., work where you're going to have an open fuel delivery system or some "standing" fuel. Especially in older non-fuel injected vehicles that don't have the same shut-off systems for the fuel. That's my recollection anyway.
Regards, Alan
03 Volvo S60 2.5T AWD
98 Mystique 2.5 MTX
99 SVT - Inheriting Lil Monster's parts
98 SVT - Lil Monster (RIP) 183.7 whp
Quaife/Fidanza/UR UD Clutch
AFE/MSDS/SHO-Y/Bassani/MagnaCore
GC/Koni/22mmR/EndLinks/ES/
KVR Slotted/1144's/SS Lines/MASItaly
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Originally posted by Alan Coles:
[Actually, livinsvt, I believe its not the vapours from a running car exhaust that were the major concern, but gasoline vapours that could collect down in the pit. This happens when a person is doing any head/intake/etc., work where you're going to have an open fuel delivery system or some "standing" fuel. Especially in older non-fuel injected vehicles that don't have the same shut-off systems for the fuel. That's my recollection anyway.
Regards, Alan
Our pit actualy does have a vent that sucks air out. Your right though it is stagnet air down there and if there was a fuel leak under neath than that could potentialy be a problem. But I also have a portable fan that I use to push the air around a little. Plus, again its not that type of hoist you would use for any of that work. For one you couldn't stand in front of the car to do head/intake work, unless you were hanging from the ceiling  . Though only thing I could see would be changing fuel filters, and maybe lines. But besides a quick lube station, alignments is all I have seen them used for around here. Were not allowed to weld in them or use a acetlyne(sp) torch
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