I have a motorcycle lift and one thing that I find is that it doesn't stay up unless you put the mechanical bar in, the hydraulics "leak" around the seals like any of this sort of jack. Of course a motorcycle like mine weighs in at about 560 pounds, just a bit heavier then a shopsmith.
Others might have other experiences but thought you might want to keep this in mind. Yes mine is from HF so again maybe it was the luck of the draw.
Ed
lowering the shopsmith
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