greetings, i am a newbie so please be easy on me. I have a (handy motorcycle lift) handy is the manufacture name, the lift table has a forward and reverse electric motor in it to raise and lower. It has a cord that you plug into a regular 110 receptacle. It has a handle that you slide to the left to raise the table and move the handle to the right to go down with the table. I have had it for 25 years and it has always worked great. Now if you go up with the table it shuts off like it is suppose to but when you move the handle to go back down it still wants to go up. The only way i can get it to reverse itself so it goes back down is to take the electrical cord and unplug and plug in back in 4 or 5 times very quickly and it will go in the other direction. Then you have to do the same thing once the table is down to get it to reverse itself so it will go back up. Sometimes it may work 3or 4 times without a problem. It is an intermittent problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...

 

... The problem could be a switch that has accumulated oxide or some other film such that there is no longer efficient electrical connection. Try using some electrical contact cleaner, in a spray container, aiming for any switch or other suspicious connection. Be sure that moving mechanical parts have sufficient lubrication, oil, grease, or whatever is appropriate.

 

A switch or a sticky relay. Not sure how the motor is controlled but it sounds like a “mechanical” issue with the power-switching contacts being corroded, worn out or such. Does it look like you can open up the switch box? I suspect you’ll see the problem if you can.

 

I would check if it has limit switches that sense end of travel. Check those for integrity.