Bendpak 4 post lift lock inconsistencies

[DerStig]

I have had these two issues with my lift since day 1. I was wondering if this is normal or what it can be:

1) The locks are perfectly in sync until lock 9. Including lock 10 and all the way to the top they go out of sync. It gets worse as it goes up.

2) The lift runways shake/vibrate unless I grease every single pulley every time I use the lift with a grease gun. Even if I use a grease gun today, tomorrow morning it does the same. While lowering or raising the lift you get this bam bam bam shaking. If I stop the lift and resume, it stops for several seconds and happens again. If I stop and resume again, same thing, it improves but comes back.

* The posts are all level and plum
* Corner to corner and diagonally all posts are equal distance. Equal at baseplates and equal at the top of the columns (so columns are not bent).

Could it be that one or more of the pulleys is not freely moving or what else can this be?

 

[NitroPress]

I just put up with the slightly syncopated lock action, myself.

How much weight are you lifting when it shudders? I'd guess something in the valving is bad or sticky... back pressure on a check valve, something like that.

 

[DerStig]

I just put up with the slightly syncopated lock action, myself.

How much weight are you lifting when it shudders? I'd guess something in the valving is bad or sticky... back pressure on a check valve, something like that.

The vibration is worse when there is no weight. With weight it still happens but obviously you cannot feel it unless you hold the runways with your hands.

 

[lakeroadster]

Is the lift bolted down to the floor?

 

[DerStig]

Is the lift bolted down to the floor?

No its not

 

[LXCam]

Sounds like it might not be square. bolted down or not mine has never done what you've described that badly.

 

[DerStig]

Sounds like it might not be square. bolted down or not mine has never done what you've described that badly.

I have measured it using numerous tools including 8' level. Its square to the 1/16" and level side to side front to back and colums are plumb.

 

[Jazzman442]

Spray the inter channel where the plastic guide and the post touch with liquid silicon. It will fix your vibration. Do not use any other kind of lube as will will start to brake down anything that is not metal.

 

[DerStig]

Spray the inter channel where the plastic guide and the post touch with liquid silicon. It will fix your vibration. Do not use any other kind of lube as will will start to brake down anything that is not metal.

Any specific brands/products you can link? I tried wd-40 as well as lithium grease (this is what bendpak reps told me) but it didnt make a difference.

 

[bobabuee]

wd-40 is not a lube lithium is just mess use spray silicon any brand on cables or pb plaster garage door spray. wd collects dust


also you can pull pins for pulleys buff and polish them like i told you to do months ago when you started assembly only use molly grease ti is the best for the lifts pulleys pins because constant pressure under load it can shake some time without a load as it is not bolted down it is normal as for lock issue aligment issue i not going to re-visit the long list of fixes people told to try.

 

[DerStig]

For cables, I was using gear oil. I think cables are fine. I can remove the pulleys under the runways fine but the ones in the crossbars, how do you remove those without removing the crossbars?

Please lets not confuse the problems. My issues from months ago are all addressed because bendpak admitted it was an issue with the lift and sent me new cables all cut to right lengths. I havent reported these issues I am reporting now because to be honest they werent as high priority. But its been a few months and now i m getting a bit worried.

My theory is one of the pulleys (most likely the ones in crossbars) is not freely turning and is slow so that one constantly plays catch up with the other corners.

Remember the first 9 locks engage simulatenously and suddenly past that it gets out of sync and by lock 14 all 4 locks are severely out of sync. This is a problem with one of the posts and somehow that side is slow. I think the shaking is also happening because of the same reason. I think both of these issues are causes by the same source.

 

[DerStig]

Would this work? I spray this inside and outside the plastic guides inside columns? Is it safe for pulleys?

https://m.uline.com/h5/r/www.uline....BqavmcGOp9JO6gBKUNAaAtOlEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[lakeroadster]

Is the lift bolted down to the floor?

No its not

If it's not bolted to the floor, it's walking around (so to speak), and that movement means things aren't always square.... it's the nature of the beast.

My Direct Lift did the same shudder routine you are describing... but it would never hang up.. I just let it shudder.

The locks also were a bit off... but when I let it down it always engaged into the locks.

Again, I think what you are experiencing is due to the nature of the design and not a symptom of a problem or an issue that needs addressed.

Any lube you are putting in the columns will collect dirt and filth... which is in no way a good thing.

 

[DerStig]

If it's not bolted to the floor, it's walking around, it's the nature of the beast.

My Direct Lift did the same shudder routine you are describing... but it would never hang up.. I just let it shudder.

The locks also were a bit off... but when I let it down it always engaged into the locks.

Again, I think what you are experiencing is the due to the nature of the design and not a symptom of a problem or an issue that needs addressed.

Thank you. My columns do not move though, I dont want to give you the wrong impression. The base plates havent moved a mm in fact since I set it up even with multiple loads/unloads. I think its best I record a video of the issue I am describing - but I have a feeling you may be right.

 

[tomshep]

I just finished assembling my hd9.

For the pulliess in the cross bars, you have to remove the snap ring (a PITA) and the pin comes out. I did remove all of the pins on all 8 pulleys and found machining debris in a few of them. I cleaned everything with wd40 and assembled with grease. I didn't bother polishing the pins, but I am sure that would be even better.

Mine also shuddered when I first operated it. The first time I put a vehicle on it it seemed to purge air from the system. Have you raised the lift all the way up and let it "top out" for a few seconds like the instructions direct?

Once I ran it a few times with a vehicle, it was smooth.

Tom

 

[Junkman]

I have been using CRC Chain and Wire Rope Lubricating Spray, (Net Weight: 10 oz) 16oz Aerosol since I got my lift about 5 or 8 years ago. It penetrates the strands of wire, and lubricates from the inside out. I bought a case when I got my lift, and spray all the cables twice a year. Haven't seen one broken strand of wire, and the cables are dirt free, and not greasy to the touch.
The pins on my lift, don't have grease fitting, and I greased them manually, when I assembled the lift. I was thinking of drilling mine, but don't know exactly how they were drilled at the factory.

 

[jrkrace]

Did you adjust the cables after using it a few times? I had a similar problem and after lifting a few vehicles, the cables were naturally stretching. I adjusted them and no issues after that. The lift goes up and down smooth and the locks click off all at the same time.

 

[ALinCarolina]

I don't think a pulley would cause it to be out of sync. Even if it didn't turn at all the cable would still slide but with more difficulty. Might cause the vibration though. Can you measure the distances from the floor to each of the steps in the ladders from #10 up? Another way you could maybe be sure they are all level is with a laser.
If they are all in the same plane then I guess I would look at the cabling.

 

[S54_2UZ-FE]

I am having the same shake/vibrate issue when raising the lift with a BendPak HD-7P that is bolted down.

Was there ever a known cause or solution for the shake/vibrate?

 

[DerStig]

I am having the same shake/vibrate issue when raising the lift with a BendPak HD-7P that is bolted down.

Was there ever a known cause or solution for the shake/vibrate?

I have now had this lift for 4 years I think and operated it a few hundred times. This issue has never been resolved and my short summary is the pulleys that turn do so at different paces most likely due to being badly machined or their shaft not being straight. The only way to address the shake is to squeeze grease into grease ports periodically. This addresses the shake right away and its good for another few weeks/months. Also the shake happens more when temperatures raise or go down very quickly.

 

[66cj225]

Air in the intake to the pump will make shutters. Like others said, not uncommon, second guitar slightly out of tune makes a harmony.