MADISON, Ind. — Rotary Lift’s new MW-500 Mobile Wheel Lift can remove and position any size wheel or tire weighing up to 500 pounds, making it much easier and more ergonomic for technicians to work on buses, heavy-duty trucks and construction equipment, company officials said.

“The removal and installation of heavy-duty tires and wheels can be a difficult, time-consuming process that sometimes involves two or more technicians,” explained Ron Lainhart, parts and service manager for Rotary Lift. “With the MW-500 Mobile Wheel Lift, a single technician using a vehicle lift can lift the truck to a comfortable working height, raise the wheel lift to cradle the wheel, remove the lug nuts and lower the wheel to the ground without strain. A job that used to require multiple people can now be completed by one operator.”

The MW-500 wheel lift’s arms are spaced wider than those on Rotary Lift’s MW-200 light-duty wheel lift to facilitate moving heavy-duty wheels and tires. The arms feature rollers that are designed to allow the wheel to be easily rotated 360 degrees when aligning it with the hub and are mounted on an offset column to provide unobstructed access to the lug nuts.

The MW-500 wheel lift is capable of dually holding wheels to maximize efficiency, according to the company. Each arm’s roller is designed to split in half, so a technician can load two wheels onto the lift, raise them into place, and rotate the wheels independently to align them instead of repeating the same process twice with a single wheel. A tie-down strap is included to prevent wheels from falling off the wheel lift.

The MW-500 wheel lift’s rise time is designed to be six seconds, so it does not disrupt the repair process, according to Rotary Lift. Since the MW-500 wheel lift is powered by air, there is no need to charge or replace batteries, company officials said. The lift comes equipped with an air hose and features an additional air tool connection on the column to reduce the number of hoses running from the compressor. The column also includes a tray for parts to keep everything organized.

A single lever is used to raise and lower the MW-500 wheel lift, designed to make it easy to operate. Needle valves enable the adjustment of raising and lowering speeds, and the lift includes a pressure regulator to prevent overloading. The MW-500 wheel lift rolls on four casters built to negotiate shop floors, according to Rotary Lift.