Harbor Freight 1000lb lift table - Unboxing, assembly and overview

Harbor Freight #69148

ATTENTION: Now that I have had it a while, it no longer takes nearly 90 pumps to get to the top - it now only takes about 23 pumps. I am sure there was air in the system that has now been purged.

#briggsandstratton #realmanskills #smallenginerepair

[JoshStreetDesign]

I got this today to work on my electric scooters, bikes, and dirt bikes while standing up. I LOVE this thing. it's freaking awesome and so convenient. Solid as a rock too.

[bobitnyre]

I've got one. bought it about 6 or 7 years ago. Never had a problem with it. It has saved me no end of back pain. I'd buy it again, in a heart beat.

[kimchee]

I bought two of 1000 lb lifts from HF 10 years ago. The only thing broken was the brackets on one of the locking caster. Otherwise, no repair or maintenance for 10 years, maybe a little wd40. Had no need to lift anything over 500 ib, so didn't stress it. During that 10 year period a lot of stuff craped out like couple TVs, couple of refrigerators, a dish washer, a washer and dryer, A/C unite, floor drill press, rollings chopsaw table and so on. Those two lifts keeps on going strong. The little lady and me unloaded 9 foot long granite slabs off the truck for our kitchen remodel. It was a life safer to replace 50 gal hot water heaters, mine plus couple of neighbors. BTW, my lifts could go down without anything on it really slow or really fast. Mine aslo have steel casters, not the rubber ones.

[qfdforme]

Dropping too slow? Need to adjust the length of the cable that attaches to the release valve on the hydraulic cylinder. To do so on my 2023 lift table you need the following.
1. 14 mm box wrenches. One for the top bolt and the other for the backside nut.
2. A couple of hemostats so you can adjust the cable length to desired length.

To shorten, you move the mechanism that grabs the braided line to the desired length. First hemostat is installed. Need it shorter? Move mechanism to the shorter position. Attach 2nd hemostat. Adjust engagement point on cable again. Add second hemostat and so on. This is a “just right” length. Too long? Shorten the cable.

[kenabi]

much like all hydraulic items, you should fill and bleed this like you would a jack after purchase, import/transport regs do not allow hydraulic systems to be full during shipping if the item is cargo. so you need to deal with that after you buy it. this is the #1 issue most people have with hydraulic stuff and the vast majority don't realize it.

[thebambini]

We use this at work and we've dropped a 2006 Lexus GS3 engine and transmission assembly on to it and then reinstalled it by jacking back up into place. A really solid tool

[mikesmukula]

I just bought this 1000lb unit, on Mother’s Day, & used a 25% coupon which bought the unit down to $195.00 Plus they gave me a 1year card for extra tools & I just need to bleed off the pump!

[timshaw]

Helpful video, thanks! I would have eventually determined that I needed to raise the platform to get at the difficult screws, you saved me (a lot of) time. The Insider club coupon saved me 25%. The HF staff helped me load the heavy box into my trailer, where I assembled it still inside the trailer when I got home, I rolled it down the ramp & into the garage. Mine also worked just fine.

[kamaka]

For those having problems with raising the cart, you need to bleed the hydraulic system first. From the Manual:

Note: The Control Lever controls the operation of the Hydraulic Ram unit. To lower
the Ram and Table, squeeze the Control Lever. When the Control Lever is released,
the Ram and Table movement will stop and the table will remain stationary.

Bleeding the Hydraulic Ram
Note: Before using this tool, the hydraulic ram must be
purged of air (called bleeding).

1. Raise the Table with no load. To do this,
first release the Control Lever, then
repeatedly pump the Foot Pedal.
2. When the table has been raised, remove the
Filler Bolt from the Housing. Use a
rag to catch any fluid leaks. Keeping your hands
and tools clean, squeeze the Control Lever while
pumping the Foot Pedal several times rapidly.
3. Release the Control Lever, and pump more
slowly to raise the Table to its full height.
4. Add good quality hydraulic fluid into the opening in
the Housing where the Filler Bolt has been removed.
Fill until the Housing will hold no more fluid.
5. Replace the Filler Bolt and its Seal Washer
into the Housing, tighten, but do not
overtighten to avoid damaging the Washer.
6. Check the condition of the Hydraulic Lift Table before
use. Raise and lower it several times before adding
any load. Be sure that all controls work properly.

[TomsChevelle]

Got one.. its a bargain! I use it in my Coffee Machine business, the machines are in two parts and using this allows me to assemble both parts without bending. Back saver! I can also demonstrate my machines without using the lower half, with the upper half in the raised position. Great Harbor Freight buy!

[CommercialForest]

Thanks for posting. I bought one a few days ago and am putting it together this morning

[suleshangodoyin]

I know this is very tough & hard assembly that someone need to learn hard some lessons about Harbor Freight 1000Ib lift table- Unboxing, assembly and overview thoroughly carefully and thank you for the shows Sunday 21/01/2018 !
Sule Shangodoyin.

[tcorneliust]

one thing you might come to see, if you haven't already, is the weight of whatever you have on top will help with the seed at which the platform lowers. Also, I was taught that a bolt, if there's enough clearance, should always face down and the nut on the bottom. That way if the nut were to come loose and fall off the bolt would, at least, keep the two parts together. I understand that you may have gone by the assembly instructions however it appeared that you weren't. Granted all this is subject to ones opinion and personal preference, good video nonetheless.

[ericpigg]

I bought the 500 lb model today for doing small engine stuff. I had to immediately widen it. Push mowers and even pressure washers were too wide to sit on it. Other than that, it seems well made. The prices are crazy now. I paid $249 for the 500lb model. The 1000# was nearly $400 with tax.

[dannydee]

Thanks for posting this video! I could not get that nut located at the bottom where the handles are. I gave up last night after fighting with it for about 15 minutes, I was so frustrated I wanted to load the cart back on my truck and drive down to harbor freight and just launch the cart through the window of harbor freight but I said "probably not a good idea " . So I did the civil thing and went to bed and decided to you tube an assembly video this morning. Welp, didn't think to jack up the table, felt so stupid, hahaha.

Happy memorial day to you and yours!

[SandraSantos-rpyl]

It’s slow because there is no weight on the table yet, and the only thing helping it is that coil return spring, I would rather have it lower slowly than to over adjust the release and have premature creeping 👍🏾

[kcjones]

Any way you could get a lift to assemble it up off the floor? :-)

[dickr]

Thanks for the very helpful video. I ran across this video accidentally and after watching it I went to Harbor Freight last Saturday and purchased one of these Hydraulic tables with a 20% off coupon. I had the same problem you did with the down speed being adjusted very slow. My unit was so far out of adjustment I had to jiggle the cable to get the foot pump to work at all. I also will build a 24" by 36" plywood top for lawn mower repair.

[raymondcampbell]

I got one like yours. I also heard on other you tube channels that you might have to bleed the piston and the directions were clear as mud. One person actually pulled the rubber plug and tapped the hole for a bolt as the plug was difficult to put back in. On Bruce​ Pender'S​ channel on his table installed 3/4 inch plywood to it for larger machines including big 2 stage snowblowers. He also made a ramp to roll the heavy machines up onto the table. If you notice on his table the overhang on the opposite side to the handle helps in unloading from a pickup truck.

[qfdforme]

Thanks, mine drops too slow. I will make the adjustment to find the sweet spot for adjusting drop rate.