TECH TIPS

ENGINE WON'T START?

Imagine you have just tried starting the engine of your boom lift, rough terrain scissor lift, or telehandler but it spits and sputters. Have no fear! The experts at C-Tech are here to help!  We carry a wide array of ignition associated parts from oil pressure switches, spark plugs, solenoids, glow plugs, and sensors to fuel related parts and engine governors.

It’s common that machines equipped with carbureted engines may encounter difficulty starting in weather conditions of 15°-20° F or colder.  After a few unsuccessful attempts of starting the engine, you should troubleshoot the cause of the starting difficulty by checking the carburetor, ignition system, and fuel system. 

TECH TIPS

FILTERS

Filters are often an overlooked part in most daily maintenance checklists, but it is important to know that it only takes a tiny amount of dust to ruin engines or contaminate hydraulic systems. With your equipment on the line, daily inspections of your filters are critical.

TECH TIPS

JOYSTICK TERMINOLOGY

What is a joystick controller? A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Some joysticks are proportional, meaning that a variable electrical signal controls the stroking of the valve spool over metering ports. This produces a variable flow of hydraulic fluid thereby providing the ability to vary the speed of the actuator being controlled. This variable positioning allows spools to be designed with metering notches to provide flow/speed control as well as directional control functions all in one valve, instead of requiring separate valves for direction and speed. To put it simply, the further your push the joystick from center, the faster the equipment will go. Many of these proportional joysticks can be adjusted slightly with trim potentiometers on the board. 

TECH TIPS

NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH

With June being National Safety Month, it is the perfect time to discuss mobile elevating work platform (MEWP), scissor lift, and boom lift safety.  As we all know, safety is something that we all must practice on a daily basis. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reviewed data and indicated that the extended height of the lift or the vertical position of the worker as a result of the lift were significant factors for fatal injury. 

TECH TIPS

C-Tech Control Boxes

Recently a customer contacted us requesting some parts to repair a SkyJack® Control Box.  The customer said they needed a quote on a new Joystick, Battery Indicator, Lift Toggle Switch, Key Switch, and Emergency Stop Switch. Our Customer Support Specialist then asked why they needed all of those parts, and the customer informed us that he was repairing an old used control box after theirs was stolen. Our team worked to identify the model and serial number of the Scissor Lift, discussed any equipment options, and identified that the customer would still need decals and other parts to repair his control box. Our Customer Support Specialist suggested that they purchase a new control box instead, and offered our FREE shipping option for orders over $500 saving the customer time on the repair and keeping their equipment safe.

TECH TIPS

C-Tech Decals

Decals are an important part of every piece of equipment. They denote branding, instructions, and mandatory OSHA safety warnings. If you are not buying decals from C-Tech now, it is a great time to start.

There are several reasons why you should buy your decals from C-Tech. Our decals are a better choice than the OEM’s because C-Tech decals are less expensive and our quality meets or exceeds OE specifications in form and function. We have two production facilities with roughly 10,000 decals in stock for same day shipping in most cases.

TECH TIPS

Wheels & Tires Tech Tips from C-Tech

Wheels and tires are critical components for scissor lift and boom lift equipment. Aside from their most common function of keeping us moving, they provide the foundation for maintenance, comfort, and stability. When wheels and tires suffer wear and tear, it is important to know when and how to replace them.

TECH TIPS

How to Configure a Battery Drain Alarm on Genie Scissor Lift

We recently received a call from a customer who had purchased one of the control boxes we designed and manufactured to replace Genie® 100840 Generation 5 Control Box. There was an issue with an alarm that would constantly sound when the scissor lift was left unused.  This is the battery drain alarm and while the issue sounds alarming, the solution is simple.

TECH TIPS

C-Tech Redesigned Hall Effect Joysticks

C-Tech Industries is a leading manufacturer of joysticks and control boxes for Boom and Scissor Lift equipment. Our products are designed to meet the form, fit, and function of the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s part and, at times, even improve upon the original design. 

Some of our most popular joysticks, used to replace Genie® joystick controller part numbers 101174, 101175, 101005, and 101173, feature a C-Tech exclusive redesign. 

TECH TIPS

DC Battery Care, Maintenance & Charging

Electric powered scissor lifts are most often 24 volt DC systems using four 6 volt deep cycle batteries, connected in series to give us 24 volts. Batteries also act as part of the counterweight of the machine, so it is very important to install the correct battery. The minimum weight of these batteries is usually around 61 pounds per battery, but always check manufacturer’s parts and/or service manual for proper information.