Boat Lift Help

[crittermo]

I'm hoping that someone here can help me. I have an older hydro hoist A arm boat lift and the metal bracket that holds

the large 4 inch square bushing has broken. I called the guy that has worked on my lift for the last 10 years and he

told me it would be a month before he could fix it. I called two other places and neither have gotten back to me. Does

anyone know or have a good lift repair person that is dependable and reliable that I could call? 

I also found a place that makes a replacement bolt on bushing
bracket that would work great and I'm thinking about trying to repair

it myself, anyone ever try to remove the A arm or replace the bushings on one of these old lifts? I believe that I should be

able to do it but thought I would check the forum first. Thanks everyone!     

[WeekendWarrior]

2 hours ago, crittermo said:

I'm hoping that someone here can help me. I have an older hydro hoist A arm boat lift and the metal bracket that holds

the large 4 inch square bushing has broken. I called the guy that has worked on my lift for the last 10 years and he

told me it would be a month before he could fix it. I called two other places and neither have gotten back to me. Does

anyone know or have a good lift repair person that is dependable and reliable that I could call? 

I also found a place that makes a replacement bolt on bushing bracket that would work great and I'm thinking about trying to repair it myself, anyone ever try to remove the A arm or replace the bushings on one of these old lifts? I believe that I should be able to do it but thought I would check the forum first. Thanks everyone!     

Welcome to what they call "laketime" 😄. I have not had any boat lift work done but have heard Sumerset is decent, but none are cheap I can guarantee that.

[crittermo]

thank you WW, i will look them up. the bracket is only 32 bucks that is why i would like to try and fix it myself.

[fishinwrench]

I know several good dock/hoist businesses but they all are swamped and aren't going to get to you for awhile.

[Jerry Rapp]

sounds like a good business to get into.

 

[Old plug]

It sure is Jerry. several are millionaires around this neck of the woods.

I can weld a bit and fix my own dock ad lift

CRITTERMO..,  Have you considered replacing it. I have a fiber gllass  box lift under mine that locks up against pins when it is up. They are very good boat lifts and do not have those plastic bushings.. I know soneone who might be able to help you and that is B&B boat dock on the gravois I think John has several used lifts he might sell you.,

I have changed one arm with my neighbor. It is no real hard but youvgot to rase the lift up enough to get the arm loose with a come along. Think you might have to have that frame welded before you do anything else though.

[MOPanfisher]

Sometimes the actual repair isn't difficult, but having the knowledge and or tools to do it safely and or well is more difficult to come by.  Is it a big problem to.simply get on their waiting lift and wait?  Sometimes if there is another job close by they might do yours to finish out a day for the crew.

[crittermo]

Thank you everyone for your input. I will check with b&b dock. I currently have a chain holding it together and that seems to be working ok for now, not sure how well it will hold up over the weekend. If it makes it to Monday I will feel a lot better about waiting it out for a repair person, other wise I might get the tools and come along and see what I can do if it looks worse. I'm trying to avoid getting a new used one, a halfway decent one is a few grand not including installation. It doesn't look like it should be that difficult to pull the arm off and bolt on the new bracket but I have never worked on one before. Thanks again for your help and input.

[shrapnel]

I just had Young's Boat Lift save mine from making it to the bottom of the lake 2 weeks ago, they were here the day after I called them, reasonable and professional.  I had them go ahead and replace ALL bolts and install new pitman arms while they were here so hopefully it's good for a couple years.

[crittermo]

thanks shrapnel, i will see if they come to the northshore area.

what i would really like to do is replace it myself, has anyone ever replaced the 4 inch

bushings on their own lift? it looks to be only 3 bolts to remove the A arm but i don't know if i can

just remove the one A arm that i need to work on or if i have to unbolt both of the rear arms to

be able to get one side off.