BendPak HD9XW Questions

[mossy66]

I recently assembled my Christmas present:
HD9XW with the RJ45 rolling jack, caster kit and plastic drip trays. I went with BendPak because of their reputation, and I figure that they'll be around if I ever need parts or anything.

That being said, I have a couple of questions for other BendPak owners. The first one is about the caster kit. I found the "BendPak caster kit" thread started by Maxxpower, and I have the same issues. I can't move the lift with a car on it. I snapped some pics of what was happening at the caster assembly and I'm wondering if this happens to the rest of you who have the caster kit.:

This is with a 3,000 pound car on it.

Here's what it says on the BendPak website:

Caster kit
Optional 4-piece caster kit makes your lift portable, with or without car.

I called BendPak about this, and talked to Scott, I think. He said that they had problems with this design and are in the process of redesigning them. They will be ready about Feb 1, and he's to call me then. He also said that it will not be designed to move the lift with a car on it, just the empty lift. I told him that I have to be able to move the lift with the car on it, just like in their advertising, and he pretty much said I'm out of luck. I guess I'll have to take their new design and modify it to make it work for me.

I also am a little concerned about the sliding blocks inside of the posts. It would seem to me that if they were a little thicker, the posts wouldn't lean over so much when pushed around. (On the casters. The posts are solid when not on the casters and a vehicle is on it) Scott says they are supposed to be that way. Here is a picture that shows about 1/4" of clearance on that sliding block. Are the rest of yours like this?

The drip trays don't fit unless you move the offside runway to the narrow position. I must have missed where that was stated

Anyway, thanks for taking a look.


Gerry


Edit 4/11/12.

I received the replacement caster frames from Bendpak a couple of weeks ago, and while I haven't tried them yet, I thought I should update this thread.

The new design has three changes that I noticed.
First, the frames are shorter than the last design, which in theory should make them stiffer
Second, there is a notch in the frames to keep the frames from sliding off center of the crossbars

Third, the holes for the pin that goes through the post is drilled much closer to the diameter of the pins. On the old frames the hole was much larger than the pin.

Here are some pics:

I have not tried them yet, but I don't feel confident that they will do the job. Why?
Because the frames are indexed to the posts with the pins. The posts have a sloppy fit to the crossbars, and as soon as the posts tilt, the caster frames will tilt too. This will be aggravated by the fact that the bottom of the crossbars aren't flat, but the bottom of the notches are.

Scott from Bendpak told me that the new frames are designed to move the lift without a car on it. (notice that you can't watch the video anymore on Bendpak's website?) Looks like if you want to move the lift with a car on it, you will need to do some work on these yourself.

 

[snowphun]

Bummer about the casters, odd that they used to have a design that worked, this isn't a new product for them. I looked at my sliding blocks, definitely no gap like you show, the blocks are snug up against the platform. Did you send the picture to BP? This is on an HD9ST but I can't imagine a different design due to the width?

 

[langss]

Personally those wheels look a little small for the combined weight of the lift and a car, not to mention that the thickness of the brackets is pretty thin. I would let them fix whatever they are going to do and make my own adjustments after the repairs.

 

[NXGTS]

I have a 9Xw that I assembled back in November. I got the caster kit but I have yet to put it on. I will be soon to move the lift out of the way to finish drywall. I have to say that first picture is downright scary. I don't think I could really trust that to hold the lift with my car on it. I got the caster kit mainly to move the lift around the shop when needed (hopefully unloaded). Have you tried to move the lift empty? If so how hard is it to move? My casters look like they are the same as the ones pictured.

I think it's funny, or just my luck, some of the posts that have come up recently about Bendpak in particular, after I buy my lift.

 

[Crusty Nut]

I agree it seems they are advertising something they can't deliver. (moving while loaded) However, in your first pic, the caster is offset to the outside. It looks like maybe if other ones are offset, then if you switched your left and rights, then the load would be over the wheel instead of next to it.

 

[mossy66]

Thanks for the replies.

Bummer about the casters, odd that they used to have a design that worked, this isn't a new product for them. I looked at my sliding blocks, definitely no gap like you show, the blocks are snug up against the platform. Did you send the picture to BP? This is on an HD9ST but I can't imagine a different design due to the width?

That particular sliding block in the picture is loose on the pins that it mounts on, and I was able to slide it out to the outside to get a better picture of the gap. The rest of the blocks are tightly fitted to the cross beam and the gap is on the outboard side of the block. Also, the cross beam in this picture is not centered in the post, so there is no gap on the other side. That 1/4"-3/8" gap is the total amount of clearance. The other posts all have the same amount of clearance. I am trying to determine if this is normal. I have been thinking about taking the lift apart and shimming those blocks out 1/8" and putting it back together. That would tighten up the connection, but I don't want to void any warrantees.

I have not sent any pics to BendPak. I want to find out if this is normal first.

I got the caster kit mainly to move the lift around the shop when needed (hopefully unloaded). Have you tried to move the lift empty? If so how hard is it to move? My casters look like they are the same as the ones pictured. I think it's funny, or just my luck, some of the posts that have come up recently about Bendpak in particular, after I buy my lift.

Yes, I can move the lift empty. It's not easy. The clearance I described above allows the posts to tip over far enough that the plate on the bottom of the posts drags on the floor. That happens mostly when pushing forward or backwards. Pushing sideways is easier, although, once the caster frame is out of level, it's hard to get it to steer in a different direction. It's pretty unnerving to have the posts move around that much when pushing it around.

I agree it seems they are advertising something they can't deliver. (moving while loaded) However, in your first pic, the caster is offset to the outside. It looks like maybe if other ones are offset, then if you switched your left and rights, then the load would be over the wheel instead of next to it.

The casters are centered in the frame. What happens is that when you try to push forward or backward, the casters don't roll very well and you have to push so hard that you push the post over in the direction of travel. Since the caster frames are pinned to the posts, they tip out of level, and then they kind of slide into the position shown in the pictures.

If you want to roll the lift sideways, and have the casters aimed sideways, then the flexing and twisting does not occur, and I was able to move the lift with the car on it about four inches over. But it was not like the video, but more like football training camp where they are running at and pushing that sled.

Gerry

 

[mossy66]

ttt

Gerry

 

[James E]

Not sure what happened, I posted to this thread earlier and it didn't showup.

At any rate, that is not normal in any way. There should be enough weight on the caster frame (even with the lift unloaded) that the tilting of the column should not allow the caster frame to deflect and flop over like that.

My caster frames are so large and solid I have a hard time even imagining a situation where they could have enough torque put on them to bend them like that.

 

[mossy66]

Not sure what happened, I posted to this thread earlier and it didn't showup.

At any rate, that is not normal in any way. There should be enough weight on the caster frame (even with the lift unloaded) that the tilting of the column should not allow the caster frame to deflect and flop over like that.

My caster frames are so large and solid I have a hard time even imagining a situation where they could have enough torque put on them to bend them like that.

Thank you for the reply,
The steel that my caster frames are made of measure 1/4"x 2". Are yours different?

Thanks,
Gerry

 

[scott67chevelle]

You are having the exact same issues with the casters, as I had. Your caster frame is bent in the photo, mine bent too. You have too much slack in the cables, when the lift is down on the casters. I have also been in contact with Scott at BendPak since October. You could possibly have a noncurrent assembly manual for the lift like I got, which steers you in the wrong direction for getting the cables set right. I have been patiently waiting for the new casters, but I was not told about the new design, on how it would not allow the lift to be moved with a vehicle on it though. Scott

 

[mossy66]

You are having the exact same issues with the casters, as I had. Your caster frame is bent in the photo, mine bent too. You have too much slack in the cables, when the lift is down on the casters. I have also been in contact with Scott at BendPak since October. You could possibly have a noncurrent assembly manual for the lift like I got, which steers you in the wrong direction for getting the cables set right. I have been patiently waiting for the new casters, but I was not told about the new design, on how it would not allow the lift to be moved with a vehicle on it though. Scott

Hi Scott.

Are you saying that I'm not supposed to lower the lift completely onto the casters, but to leave some tension on the cables? I guess I assumed that you are supposed to let it down all the way.
I think I have the cables set right though. I first adjusted the ladders to get the platform level, then I lifted it up off the locks and adjusted the cables so that all the locks are the same distance off the ladder. When I raise the lift, all locks click into place at the same time when the lift is empty. With a car on it, they are not clicking in at the same time, but they are close.

Gerry

 

[rburke65]

Makes me glad I bought a used Mohawk. This stuff is scary.....a brand new lift doing this!?

 

[scott67chevelle]

Hi Scott.

Are you saying that I'm not supposed to lower the lift completely onto the casters, but to leave some tension on the cables? I guess I assumed that you are supposed to let it down all the way.
I think I have the cables set right though. I first adjusted the ladders to get the platform level, then I lifted it up off the locks and adjusted the cables so that all the locks are the same distance off the ladder. When I raise the lift, all locks click into place at the same time when the lift is empty. With a car on it, they are not clicking in at the same time, but they are close.

Gerry

Sorry, I didn't explain myself. Your photos look like how my lift did, the first time I had it on the casters. Are your columns leaning, where your baseplates are digging into the concrete when you have it on the casters? If they are, you do not have the cables adjusted properly. The columns should stay vertical. Scott

 

[c39er]

Makes me glad I bought a used Mohawk. This stuff is scary.....a brand new lift doing this!?

Americans want cheap Chinese things! Wait till Mohawk has the Chinese fabbing up they're lifts. Just like Snap-on.

 

[c39er]

Thank you for the reply,
The steel that my caster frames are made of measure 1/4"x 2". Are yours different?

Thanks,
Gerry

My caster frames are .375" thick X 2" on the sides and the end plate is 1/2". And yours are only 1/4" thick?, I guess this is this the cheap thin Chinese steel equipment that BP is now going to sell to purchasers? I sure hope not. I have noticed the lifts seem to have thinner steel in the last couple years-on 4 posts they have the 3/8" slightly curled 12"X12" base plates. They look thin and cheap. I think they were 1/2 plate.

 

[mossy66]

My caster frames are .375" thick X 2" on the sides and the end plate is 1/2". And yours are only 1/4" thick?, I guess this is this the cheap thin Chinese steel equipment that BP is now going to sell to purchasers? I sure hope not. I have noticed the lifts seem to have thinner steel in the last couple years-on 4 posts they have the 3/8" slightly curled 12"X12" base plates. They look thin and cheap. I think they were 1/2 plate.

Thanks for the reply: Yes, my caster frames are made from 1/4" steel all around. The base plates for the posts are 3/8" thick. They are flat, not slightly curled. They are advertised as 12"x12". From their website:

Large base plates
12" x 12" base plates provide a solid foundation for the HD-9XW.

Yet mine are 10"x12". I'm sure they're adequate.

Gerry

 

[darkk]

We have that caster kit with our Bend Pak HD9-XW. They do work but it requires two people with significant effort to move with a vehicle loaded on it. The lift is nice but the caster kit in my opinion ***** ***....!

 

[mossy66]

We have that caster kit with our Bend Pak HD9-XW. They do work but it requires two people with significant effort to move with a vehicle loaded on it. The lift is nice but the caster kit in my opinion ***** ***....!

I concur.


Gerry

 

[c39er]

BP started cutting 2" off the 12'x12" 1/2" base plate to save $ I think. Then the base plate got thinned to 3/8". I have seen several and they are curled from the welding. True it doesn't do much for support but is just another cheaping of their Chinese product.

 

[mossy66]

TTT with an update

 

[darkk]

My caster wheels still **** ***...