Decal Dilemmas
Subject : GS-1930 electric scissor lift manufactured by Genie Industries, Redmond , Wash.
Serial number : 41932
Date in service : March 2001
Hours in service : 842
Equipment owner : Ross Equipment Rentals-owns dozens of the GS-1930 model, used primarily by drywall and electrical contractors.
Service location : Phoenix , Ariz.
Date of review : 6/16/04
Elevator-class 19-foot scissor lifts, so called for their ability to fit into a typical freight elevator, are a staple of any product line. Noted for their compact design and maneuverability, 19-foot scissor lifts are ideal for limited-access applications. Since being introduced in 1997, as many as 60,000 units of Genie's GS-1930 are in service today.
Overall appearance
With the exception of a few worn decals, this GS-1930 has held up well. My previous experience with Genie equipment leads me to believe that the decal wear is more likely attributed to the efforts of an over-zealous wash rack attendant than to the inferior quality of the decals themselves.
To many owners and users of scissor lifts, the straightness of the guard rails says a lot about a machine. If the rails look straight, then the unit looks better maintained. This unit is fitted with 1.375" diameter tubular guard rails featuring 0.095" wall thickness, which appear to have resisted any sagging or drooping. If you own a more recent version of this or any other Genie scissor lift, the rails will likely be 1.25" square tubes. This change was made in early 2001 prompted by customer requests. I tend to favor round tubes for their inherent strength, however, square stock is easier to repair and the flat edge is better suited to carrying material.
Thanks in part to the E-coat paint system used by Genie and Arizona 's dry climate, I found minimal surface rust on the still-bright paint surface.
Service and maintenance issues
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Genie uses dual swing-out component trays or boxes. On one side you will find four Trojan deep cycle 6-volt batteries. On the other side, as shown in Image 2, is the plastic hydraulic tank, Curtis-produced motor controller, and control valves. An operator-friendly, self-diagnostic system alerts operators to problems and helps with trouble shooting.
Ross Equipment has experienced a few very minor on-going service issues with its fleet of GS-1930s. First, hydraulic fluid weeps where the fittings attach to the plastic hydraulic tank. The second problem relates to the failure of the Siemens-supplied 24-volt relay located next to the ECM (Electronic Control Module) on the battery side. See Image 3
The relay was installed to prevent a minor power draw coming from the ECM. According to Ross's service department, originally the relay wasn't secured very well and got jostled around a bit. It was also sensitive to moisture, again something that might likely be tracked back to that wretched 5 bizillion psi pressure washer used to clean the machine. To protect it from shock and the elements, Genie now secures it with a bracket.
Finally, there is a problem with the placement of the mechanical limit switches for the high speed cut-out and pothole protection systems. Over time, drywall dust has built up on the switches, effectively disabling the drive system. A design update since this model was built eliminated an opening in the chassis exposing two of the three switches. According to Genie, this design change has significantly reduced the problem.
My impressions
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Latch releases for the dual swinging component boxes are tucked under the side of the chassis, providing excellent protection. I found both to be easy to release. Additionally, the hinges that support these very heavy boxes remain strong and secure. Both boxes swung out and back in perfect alignment with the latches.
The non-slip traction strips on the deck will need to be replaced soon, but otherwise, the solid-steel deck is in good condition. Deploying the deck extension was a smooth affair using the foot-release mechanism. See Image 6. It's more typical for this to be a difficult task on older scissor lifts, especially one like this that has seen extensive duty by drywall contractors.
Spring-loaded pins used for keep telescopic end rails in place were stiff, which I think had more to do with lack of use than anything else. Once released, they worked just fine and as intended. The telescopic rails are used for loading 4-foot wide material.
The large guard that protects the sturdy joystick, as shown in Image 7, has done what it was designed to do. I really like the size and feel of the joystick. The proportionality provided by the quiet-running motor controller still delivered precise, smooth, and virtually silent operation . Note in Image 5 that the coil cord connecting the control box to the deck continues to provide the proper tension when the deck is either stowed or extended. Additionally, I checked the manual/emergency platform lowering system and the manual brake release. Both were easy to identify and easy to use.
Non-marking tires supplied by I.T.L. (Industrial Tires Limited) have worn well under the circumstances-drywall installation is typically rough on tires.
Owner's impressions
Service records indicate that most maintenance costs on this unit center around the replacement of decals-specifically warning decals. The total number of replacement decals that Ross Equipment has purchased: I stopped counting when I got to 30. (But there are at least that many on the machine.) Generally speaking, however, this unit has been trouble free in nearly 40 months of service.
