UPDATE:

I let the lift run today. Runs like a top. No running issues.

The trans issue. I drained the transmission fluid. I refilled and installed new filter. I blocked it up. Let lift run in fwd and reverse for 15 minutes. I drained it again. Cleaned the filter. Refilled. Repeated the fwd/reverse procedure and drained it again. I refilled. Each time the amount of material was significantly less, and the last time i checked there was no material in the filter. I returned lift to service. I will recheck tomorrow.