Bandit's BendPak Runway Height Issues with Pics!

[2001RedCoupeBandit]

Guys I wanted to create a concise thread that focused on this specific issue to ask for additional advice. I want to say this is in no way BENDPAK quality issue, but a set up issue . My guy was decent, but a little rusty on the BendPak (I wasn't aware of this) so there were a few hiccups and I want to get it perfect. he said it normally takes him 3-4 hours. He was there a tad over 8 hours.

Actually I MIGHT find a guy (BendPak expert0 that can come over and fine tune my lift and double check this guys work. My guy's done many lifts, but he made some errors and didn't inspire confidence in him.

OK Here is the issues:

1. My Passenger’s side Rear Runway is 1 INCH LOWER than the Driver's Side Rear Runway.

2. My locking slots on the rear posts are off by .50" to .70" from one side to the other. The front's both are at 13.5"!

*Note: I am measuring to the piece on the rear where my aluminum ramps slide into from the top.

Here is the Passenger’s Side Rear Runway Measurement (41"):

Here is the Driver's Side Rear Runway Measurement (42"):

Here's Slots for Locking Mechanism inside the Post (Rear Driver's Side) at 13.5"

Here's Slots for Locking Mechanism inside the Post (Rear Passenger Side)at about 14"

I Called a few guys at BendPak and the FIX is a one of these, or a combination of these two solutions:

They said Raise Lift and Don’t lower it on the air locks and measure the runways. IF they are the same Height, then the locking metal panel with the slotted positions inside the posts needs are the issue and should be adjusted.

If the runways are STILL different Heights (and they were still off 1 inch!) then I need to adjust the Steel Cable by putting a vice grip on the nut at the top of the cable, so it doesn't turn, and tighten the top screw on the Top of the Column by turning the bolt clockwise until the ramp raises up.


My Questions:

As you can see, the Locking mechanisms are off by 1/2" on the passenger’s side so the Locking piece needs to be raised up 1/2" so it is also at 13.5". I assume I just tighten the other screw (one that's NOT for the metal cable) on top to raise this locking slotted metal part. I also KNOW to make sure the lift is in the Middle of the locking positions so it has room to go Up.


I just wanted you guys to SEE this so you can tell me any tips. Should I raise andf adjust the locking slots on the air lock metal bar first? Or, should I raise the Passenger’s side Runway up 1 inch first by tightening the metal cable?

Does this sound right???

Also, I am sure it is just because I moved the lift on casters, and it might have got out of position, but the passenger’s side rear post (the one that is giving me issues with the runway height that I will be adjusting) is bowed out a little toward the outside of the lift. Looking at it from the back of the lift, it is slightly leaning to the RIGHT (East).
The other 3 Posts are firm and don't move at all(even with NO CAR on the lift), but that Passenger’s side Rear Post I can rock back and forth (East to West)


Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!!

Why am I doing this ****! I thought I paid someone who knew this stuff already!

 

[Cryptic1911]

yes just tighten the nut on the center stud and it will pull the ladder bar up.

and as for the post leaning, don't worry about it. If it isn't bolted down, they will do that. It will straighten out next time you go up and down

 

[buzz4041]

Why am I doing this ****! I thought I paid someone who knew this stuff already![/QUOTE] The question I would be asking is why you don't have them come fix what they did. After paying the amount you did on a Bendpak this doesn't impress me at all.

 

[sublimate]

BTW, have you put a level on it? Measuring down to the floor might not be the best thing if you floor is not level (most have some slope).

 

[Cryptic1911]

The question I would be asking is why you don't have them come fix what they did. After paying the amount you did on a Bendpak this doesn't impress me at all.

his issue has nothing to do with Bendpak, the installers all work for different companies, and he just didn't fully level the ladders

 

[2001RedCoupeBandit]

Yes, this guy has nothing to do with BendPak, but I did get his name from their site. He has done many lifts and does them for dealerships all over DFW. He just hasn't done a Bendpak in awhile. He leveled everything and it level now if I put a level on it.

I should make him come back out and fix it, but hea 45 minutes away an ha no incentive to come back out. He was really nice and did get everything working, but he accidentally broke my plastic button you push before you use air release. Now I have to mess with fixing it. Bendpak graciously sent me a whole new part that had that plastic piece free!

I assumed this guy was a BendPak expert because he's been installing lifts for 20 years. He was competent, but not a BENDPAK expert.

It was my fault for not checking in more detail. I talked to him for an hour and he seemed to know his stuff. Again, it's not like he didn't get it installed, but he could have spent more time tweaking and testing it with me. It took them am longvthatbthey were ready to get out of there. Plus, they left all the stuff for me to throw away, but I never clarified that part of the install includes that service. I paid $525 which included him getting it from the freight company.

As long as I can fix it ill be happy and it sounds like a minor issue.

Thanks so much guys. Ill let you know how it goes.

Bandit.

 

[c39er]

Lets see a normal car up on your lift! Please....Too much drama with the corvette.

 

[2001RedCoupeBandit]

The MAIN issue on my post was the passamger rear runway being 1 inch too low as compared to the other drivers side.

I will tighten the steel cable and also adjust te ladder.

I put a level on the floor of the garage next to the posts and the floor seemed pretty level, no major or rramatic level issues on the floor.

 

[ket-tek]

If the ramps aren't level when sitting on the locks, adjust the ladder bars.

If the ramps aren't level when not sitting on the locks adjust the cables.

New cables will stretch after some use and may need to be adjusted again in a few months, so it's good for you to understand the adjustments anyway.

When you raise it do all the locks 'click' at the same time? They should be close, but it's ok if they aren't 100% in unison, but you don't want them being 2-3 seconds behind.

Have you checked level of the runways in all directions and not only measuring off the floor? (with a good long level, not a torpedo level)

How does the level look on the crosstube between the runways on the rear section that your off side to side?

My XW sits in a bay that slopes 1.5" back to front for drainage (as most home garage slabs are poured to do, maybe not as extreme as mine but will slope some) So I set the runways on the locks and leveled it in all directions with the ladder bars, so when a car is on the lift in the air it is level. But when I lower the lift it will rack to the floor and lay flat, but the ramps are then not level and sloping towards the door.

When in the air and sitting on the locks with a car on it level, if I were to measure the front and rear crossbars to the floor the measurements would not be the same.

Sorry to hear the lift installer you used wasn't familiar with the multiple adjustments the hd9 series has, but having the adjustable ladder bars is one of the great things about the bendpak design so you can level it on an unlevel floor unlike the 'welded tab' style four posts.

 

[darkk]

Your guy was a Lift expert? I've never installed a lift before purchasing our BP HD9XW. My son and I picked our lift up, unloaded it and installed it ourselves. It's pretty straight forward. It was actually pretty easy to figure out. The only mistake we made was installing the cable sheaves on the end of the runway before running the cables. It took about 1 1/2minutes to remove the bolt so we could push the cable around the sheave and then bolt it back in. The whole install was relatively easy...adjustments were very easy. As said, the cables will stretch over time with usage and require readjustment a couple times. Good luck. BP also makes lowered RJ45 rolling jack assemblies for guys like us that have lowered vehicles...as for the entry ramps, we needed to place a 2x6 under the very tip to make the transition as flat as possible to allow our lowered VW's to drive on the lift without dragging where the ramp and runway meet. Even then we're very very close...

 

[HIRISC]

his issue has nothing to do with Bendpak, the installers all work for different companies, and he just didn't fully level the ladders

This ^^

Simple fix.. nothing to do with the lift.

If the ramps aren't level when sitting on the locks, adjust the ladder bars.

If the ramps aren't level when not sitting on the locks adjust the cables.

Do this ^^

 

[2001RedCoupeBandit]

Lets see a normal car up on your lift! Please....Too much drama with the corvette.

Exactly! I will try to put my wife's Lexus RX330 on the lift, plus that is our HEAVIEST Car (SUV).

I have driven on a lift before at my buddies work, but I am slightly scared for some reason. Maybe the first time jitters like at High School Prom Night

 

[2001RedCoupeBandit]

Again, to reiterate, BendPak has went OUT of their WAY on everything!

I kept hearing customer service, customer service. I am cheap and said who cares, once you buy it, you never talk to them again!

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the second day I had called them (I hate to admit this) 5-6 times and they shipped me out 3 different parts, all of which they weren't required to do so, AND, when I call a guy on the phone, they actually KNOW THEIR STUFF!!!

Amazing Company! They are Responsive, Smart, Conscientious, and Wonderful people, you know what, they remind me A lot of Myself!

Hell, I even laugh at my own jokes. Are you sure you guys aren't sick of me???? I would be sick of me, with all my long posts and repetative questions. Just think how my wife feels after 14 years, she hates me!

 

[rbonitz]

One thing they never put in the installation manual is that you should always put someone elses car on the lift for the first lift. Only put your own car on once you know it is working correctly.

 

[2001RedCoupeBandit]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't even put a car on the lift yet, but I like your thinking. Why don't you come over to my house in Texas. Oh ya, make sure you bring your car. You could be lucky contenstant #1 to drive on my lift rbonitz..........


I am going to move my lift that is on casters to the area it was originally. Just to make sure that when I moved it, it didn't get on an uneven area of garage floor.


Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!

 

[2001RedCoupeBandit]

I JUST SENT my Installer a Long e-mail with pictures of everything and asked him if HE THOUGHT this was correct? If not I asked him what is he going to do to fix it.



I will let you know what happens.


YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


(Update) He offered to come over and fix it!!!!!!!!!! he is coming tomorrow (Friday the 21st) and not an excuse, but his normal helper was in the hospital (he really was out, as he told me that the week before), so he had a friend helping him that never done this before. Again , he said not an excuse, but he was having to watch him and do his part too. he said I STAND Behind my work! I offered him Gas Money, he said no!

He is a super nice guy 9always was), but I still want my stuff done right! I don't think that is too much to ask. if I knew what I was doing, I WOULD have done it myself, but I dont!

OK there are Good People in the world!

Here's is what I sent. Photo bucket wasn't working as I took pictures of some other things in my e-mail to help him.


Here is what I wrote him:

Billy,

I know you had a long day and were ready to get home, but the lift seems to not be adjusted/aligned right. The Passenger’s side Rear Runway is 1” Lower than the Driver’s side Rear Runway. There were also a few bolts and screws that weren’t tightened on the posts (they were on the other 3, but not on that same back rear post). I tightened this, but I am having some concerns about the lift being assembled and set up correctly. I am NOT pointing fingers at anyone, but just want my lift to be set up right and operate correctly and be SAFE, that’s all. That is why I hired an expert like you that has done this for 25 years like you told me. I sent Pictures below, so YOU tell ME if this looks right to you?

I measured the Runways that are not the same heights Two ways just to make sure:

1. With the runways Resting ON the Ladders all the way down, and resting on the ladders at various points along the lift.
2. With the runways in between the Ladders or OFF the Ladder Locks.

Also the metal Ladders inside the posts are at different heights too. Maybe you did this on purpose to get them leveled?
However, all of the issues seem to be centered around the REAR Passenger’s side Post not being correct?


Here are some Pictures of the Different Height of the REAR Runways. I Measured from the long metal area that the aluminum ramps slide into from the Top. I also too measurements at various raised heights and they are ALL off by 1” no matter what height I measured at, and no matter if the runway is resting on the air locks, or the runway is suspended in-between the air locks.


Driver’s Side REAR Runway (42”)


Passenger’s Side REAR Runway (41”) It is 1” LOWER than the Driver’s side runway.
Driver’s Side Rear Ladder @ 13 ½”
Passenger’s Side Rear Ladder @ 14”

Also the Top of the Bolts sticking up through the Top of the Posts seem to Match this Difference in Height.

Passenger’s Side Rear Post Threads (12 threads showing):
Driver’s Side Rear Post Threads (16 & 6 Threads Showing):

Also I noticed on that SAME Back rear Post, there is a Gap on Top. All the other posts do not have this so I just wanted you to see it.

Billy, If this lift was done correctly, and everything is perfect, let me know. If it looks like it was not, please let me what you can do to fix this so it is right. I don’t feel safe putting a car on the lift right now.


Gary

 

[2001RedCoupeBandit]

BendPak's so Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! I already recieved the plastic circular pressure switch that goes on the motor that my installer broke off accidentally.

He's coming tomorrow to fix the lift, so he can fix that too!

BendPak is TOP NOTCH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy Moly BatMan!

 

[darkk]

BP's customer service is second to none.....

 

[2001RedCoupeBandit]

I'm just GLAd my guy is coming over. I will feel better after he gives it the once over the 2nd time!