Fix For Bendpak 2 Post Lift Safety Switch

HAP · Feb 5, 2012

Ok, those of us that have purchased a clear floor 2 post Bendpak lift know about the short falls of the safety switch. Here is the MOD I did to fix the problem. Using a 12mm split shaft collar and a 3/8" wire clamp all available at ACE Hardware. The pic's make it obvious how it works. Oh yeah, you will need a 3mm allen wrench for the cap screws. Feel free to ask for more details if needed.
I know that some have welded on small extentions and some have had to just live with the ineffectiveness of the design. Not sure if it meets the ASI certification if the safety switch does not work as intended.

Anyway, Jeff this is the biggest/only problem your customers seem to complain about regarding satisfaction of your product. Please consider sending out a modified lever microswitch to those with registered Bendpak lifts. That would be a fantastic show of customer relations and would bring this safety feature back into compliance.
Safe lifting...
R,
HAP

Andy Griffith · Feb 6, 2012

HAP said:
Ok, those of us that have purchased a clear floor 2 post Bendpak lift know about the short falls of the safety switch.

No, I don't. What's the problem?

HAP · Feb 6, 2012

Andy Griffith said:
No, I don't. What's the problem?

If you look close at the microswitch lever you'll notice that it is about 1" too short. It is supossed to make contact with the padded bar that runs accross the head beam. For some reason, most of the owners discover that the switch is useless for it's intent. So adding some sort of extention is the simplest solution... BTW: sliding the foam padding over does not work either.

R,
HAP

brownbagg · Feb 6, 2012

why do you raise it all the way up, dont you eyeball the lift while raising?

JimVonBaden · Feb 6, 2012

While that is an elegant fix, and looks great, an appropriate sized one of these would do just as well for under a buck, and available all over!

Fully adjustable, and inexpensive.

Jim

chickenhauler · Feb 6, 2012

I welded an extension made from a piece of jigsaw blade onto my switch.

Andy Griffith · Feb 6, 2012

HAP said:
If you look close at the microswitch lever you'll notice that it is about 1" too short. It is supossed to make contact with the padded bar that runs accross the head beam. For some reason, most of the owners discover that the switch is useless for it's intent. So adding some sort of extention is the simplest solution... BTW: sliding the foam padding over does not work either.
R,
HAP

Ok thanks, I'll take a closer look at it. The lever-arm is missing the cross-bar completely during it's range of motion on new-from-the-factory lifts?

Mine has been working ok for the last 12 years but I also tend to be ocd and watch closely when it gets to the top. In fact, now that I think about it, I only really put seven different trucks/cars on that lift and don't remember if the cross-bar has ever been engaged by any of them before the lift topped out. Nevertheless, I'll check it out and make sure there is positive engagement as that's not something I want not working properly of course.

HAP · Feb 6, 2012

brownbagg said:
why do you raise it all the way up, dont you eyeball the lift while raising?

While your point is taken about raising it all the way up. My point is the safety should function as intended.

HAP · Feb 6, 2012

JimVonBaden said:
While that is an elegant fix, and looks great, an appropriate sized one of these would do just as well for under a buck, and available all over!

Fully adjustable, and inexpensive.

Jim

Jim, ironically, that is exactly what I used foa a few days until I found the correct size split collar. It worked quite well...

JimVonBaden · Feb 6, 2012

HAP said:
Jim, ironically, that is exactly what I used foa a few days until I found the correct size split collar. It worked quite well...

Great minds! I have a few of the collars you used. They are used on a lot of things, like motorcycle frames for attaching saddle bags. Nice kit.

Jim

PS I agree on the safety switch working correctly. It is for those moments when you get distracted, not for daily use as a flip the switch and forget it practice.

Andy Griffith · Feb 6, 2012

Alright, checked it out. My switch seems to have plenty of engagement.

Thanks again for the heads-up. It's definitely worth checking out.

HAP · Feb 6, 2012

Andy, thanks for taking the time to post your switch. Nice to see that it works for some... I don't know what changed in the build, but some switches are short by about an inch. Could be that the arms for the rod are longer. Your blue is a little darker shade as well.

Regards,
HAP

Gixerfixer · Feb 6, 2012

Slightly off topic and this may or may not be a heads up for you boys :headshake

Bendpak are mentioned. http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/sectors/manuf/030812.htm#_Conclusions

mslisaj · Feb 6, 2012

So appreciate the post. My lift is two years old now and the lever is long enough. I test it too a couple of times a year with a broom handle to make sure it works. I am very cautious about watching that too. But the lift so far has topped out way before I would hit the bar but it's there for a purpose and it's nice to know it works..............

Again I appreciate the heads up about this potential problem.

Lisa

HAP · Feb 6, 2012

fixer, thanks for sharing that link. That's the same type of wareness I'm hoping to raise in Bendpak's quality department. Although Bendpak's arm lock mechanism in my opinion, is of higher design quality than those shown, their two post overhead safety switch literally falls short of the task.

HAP

e-tek · Feb 6, 2012

I'm pretty sure this item worked as intented when designed and tested. I'm wondering what is it about your set-up that it doesn't contact the trip lever?? Have you tried to install the arm the other way around?

Have tou PM'd Jeff about it? In all the years I've been talking and posting about BP lifts on MANY different sites, this issue has never come up. Who are these other people having the same problem?? It appears others in this same thread don't have the issue you refer to.

Do you reall think they would WANT lifts going out with a key safety design flaw?

HAP · Feb 6, 2012

e-tek said:
I'm pretty sure this item worked as intented when designed and tested. I'm wondering what is it about your set-up that it doesn't contact the trip lever?? Have you tried to install the arm the other way around?

Have tou PM'd Jeff about it? In all the years I've been talking and posting about BP lifts on MANY different sites, this issue has never come up. Who are these other people having the same problem?? It appears others in this same thread don't have the issue you refer to.

Do you reall think they would WANT lifts going out with a key safety design flaw?

Two of them have replied to this very post: one had to weld on an extension, the other used an Adel calmp... I read every post on here associated with 2 post lifts before I bought mine. That's how I knew about it and expected to encounter this problem...

e-tek · Feb 6, 2012

HAP said:
Two of them have replied to this very post: one had to weld on an extension, the other used an Adel calmp... I read every post on here associated with 2 post lifts before I bought mine. That's how I knew about it and expected to encounter this problem...

Firslty - sorry, I read those and still said that....my bad!!

But, then my biggest question is: "Why would you buy something you knew had a design flaw?" :wtf:

I would have either chosen something else (different type lift or manufacturer) or, I would make sure the manufacturer had a "properly" designed fix for the issue that satisfied my level of quality assurance!

e-tek · Feb 6, 2012

Looking at this further - I don't mean to come off as though YOU'RE the issue here - not my intention at all - but it could read like that! Sorry.

I'm surpirsed something like that would be an issue for them to supply a fix for - and change! Weird.

HAP · Feb 6, 2012

e-tek, some of the archive posts indicated that Jeff sent them a replacement switch of the correct length. So, after reading that I was hopping that Bendpak had made the correction in the production. Even with this issue, Bendpak still had my pusrchase. It just seemed to be the better product for the $$ as seen in the comparative reviews.
I would like to PM Jeff, but I don't know what his full board name is.

HAP

JSK · Feb 7, 2012

Sorry for the switch issue but supplier specs change and not always with our knowledge. This correction was made months ago. The newer adjustable width XPR-10 series models should not have the same issue as the box/trip-bar components were relocated.

I love your modification but may be a little more than necessary. The simplest most effective fix is to force a piece of ¼” polyethylene tubing (the hard plastic stuff) over the switch arm as shown.

e-tek · Feb 7, 2012

Too easy.

HAP · Feb 7, 2012

JSK, thank you for posting that information. At the very least, it aknowledges the variations of switches that one could encounter. Your solution is exceedingly simple but functional. I would have been reluctant to offer this solution myself as I'm sure some would say that it could soften of deform over time and go unoticed. But, I do like it. At a minimum a little note and those photos in the switch packaging would be very helpful.

Thanks again for taking your time to respond and your reputation is in good standing with me. :thumbup:

R,
HAP

Fix For Bendpak 2 Post Lift Safety Switch

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