Narrow in Size and Slim on Expenses
Subject: SJIII-3226 scissor lift manufactured by Skyjack, Inc.,
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Image 1: Skyjack's SJIII-3226 scissor lift.
Serial number: 27414, manufactured in October 2000
Date in service: November 2000
Hours in service: 200
Equipment owner: Premier Platforms, Inc., is an independent aerial work platform and telehandler sales, service, and rental operation located east of
Service area: All of
Date of review:
Skyjack's claim to fame has always been its well-earned reputation for producing robust, dependable products. The company has also long adhered to the principle of keeping electric and hydraulic systems as simple as possible. First introduced in early 2000, the SJIII-3226 was the first unit on the market under 33 inches in width that provided a 26-foot platform height.
Appearance
There's no question that the guardrails and steps take the most abuse on any scissor lift. But the top guardrails on the SJIII-3226 are straight as an arrow. According to Darryl Sweeny, Premier's service manager, th
Image 2: Robust control box built to withstand abuse.
ese original guardrails have never been straightened. The same goes for the steps .
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The humidity in the south has not been particularly kind to this machine. That and countless encounters with a high-pressure washer have taken their toll on the machine's general finish. Some paint degradation along the lower part of the chassis is evident along the lower slide track for the scissors. (See Image 1.) Partly to blame for this condition are the odds and ends that get dropped or dribbled from the platform, striking or sticking to the upper edge and either chipping the paint or becoming caustic to the finish. Under the circumstances, it really looks as I would expect. Decals, on the other hand, have held up wonderfully — especially the large warning decal that faces the operator as he or she stands at the upper controls.
General condition
The control box (Image 2) is as rugged as they come and can be easily removed. This serves two purposes — to allow for safe storage or to connect at the base of the machine, allowing operation from the ground. Control from the ground is a great help when troubleshooting or loading the unit.
As is typical with most removable boxes, the electrical cable has taken quite a beating, especially where it protrudes from the bottom of the all-aluminum housing. This inevitably results from people forgetting that the cord is only so long. Premier Platforms has employed a little duct tape to extend its life.
One minor problem reported by the owner was corrosion on the backside of the cables' electrical connectors. Quick disconnect pins are soldered into place. They can become corroded, and the corrosion migrates up the wire over time. When this happens, the repair often requires more than a simple re-soldering job. In some cases, extensive migration of corrosion causes the entire cable to be replaced.
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Batteries and all components are carried on sturdy swing out service trays. These long trays (see Image 3) are hinged at one end • and all the weight they carry puts a lot of extra leverage on the pivot pins. When initially introduced, I had some concern that the hinges would succumb to all of this weight and stress, but not so on this machine. They swing out and back perfectly aligning with the heavy-duty latches that secure them in place.
Image 3: Swing out trays hinges have maintained their tolerances.
This unit comes with a standard manual roll-out deck. Although not a back-breaker, it takes a pretty good shove to get it deployed. There is little doubt that the combination of humidity and a lot of dry wall dust contributed to the sticky operation of this deck.
Other service issues
A review of the service records for this SJIII-3226 show virtually no breakdown service repairs, with the exception of the corroded control box repairs. In addition, there have been two factory-ordered updates: a steering cylinder upgrade and counterweight addition — both of which were ordered and performed in July 2004 and paid in full by Skyjack.
Another simple but important item to keep an eye on is the lug bolt tension. The lugs on this machine have been known to back off, and if not caught in time, they can elongate the steel wheels.
Records also indicate that the pigtail that extends from the battery charger was replaced after an operator forgot to unplug it when he started his shift. Sweeny noted that this has happened several times and commented he wished the factory would secure them a little better. On this particular machine, the charger was supplied Motor Appliance (Part #BA610). However, in talking with Skyjack's representative, I learned that since production of this machine, all of the company's chargers are now equipped with an interlock, which disables the unit's drive function until the machine is unplugged from the charger. Now that's what I call idiot proof!
The total out of pocket expenses not related to normal preventive maintenance on the SJIII-3226 is less than $100 — and that's no typo!
Owner's impressions
David Cooper, the owner of Premier Platforms, has nothing but praise for the SJIII-3226. “When we first got these narrow 26-foot machines in, they were a great niche product,” he said. “Five years later, it is still an excellent product that continues to deliver us a great return on investment.”
