4 post lift help

[BLKF350]

Help please advise am installing a 4 post bend pack lift 14 thousand lbs .The left front post is 2 1/2in out of level the other three are within ¾ of an inch this is because of a drain slope in the area of the left front post.causeing the 2 ½ inch difference .This is my plan place 2x2 x12 inch steel square I/8 tubing welded together .and filled with non shrink grout .under the left front post. And use longer wedge bolts in 4 inch 4000psi concrete floor,any slight voids after leveling the post will be filled with shim and or anchoring epoxy .Have done mock up with plywood under the one post and all post are now under ¾ of an inch of totally being level all the way around. I feel this is good plan but it is what I don't know that scares me that I may not be thinking about sorry for the long post but wanted to be complete in my description please advise or any ideas Thanks in advance Mike

 

[nota4re]

You would want to make sure that you have a flat "pad" under the post that would allow the weight on the post to be evenly distributed to the concrete. Say the current pad is 12" x 12". You could make a "spacer" by using (2) 12" x 12" x 1/4" plates sandwiching 3 or 4 2"x2" square bars. Perhaps overkill - but the primary consideration is to maintain (or increase) the column's pad area so that you have the same or less weight per square inch while loaded.

 

[BLKF350]

yes i have a 12 x10 x 1/4 steel plate that I will use just like you said i forgot to mention that.Ihe base on post is 12x10 x3/8

 

[Stuart in MN]

Have done mock up with plywood under the one post and all post are now under ¾ of an inch of totally being level all the way around. I feel this is good plan but it is what I don't know

The four post lift in my garage has been sitting on plywood pads for close to 20 years now without issues. Unless you get a lot of standing water around the base of the post I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[wssix99]

yes i have a 12 x10 x 1/4 steel plate that I will use just like you said i forgot to mention that.Ihe base on post is 12x10 x3/8

Is this attached sheet also your base plate??? I took this to a steel shop and they cut this out on a plasma cutter for me and primed the plates. I took can's of touch-up paint from Bend-Pak and painted them to match.

I only had a 1" difference with some others a tad off. While they were cutting the pattern... I ordered some 1" plates, and a collection of 1/16", 1/8", and 1/4" plates. By stacking one or two, I got everything perfectly level.

^ This is not needed, but I was able to do it. The ladder racks allow one to deal with some small differences in elevations.

The left front post is 2 1/2in out of level the other three

I think this is out of spec for Bend-Pak. If not in the instructions, you can call them to confirm. I think they ask to limit to 2", but they may be able to advise on your particular situation.

This is my plan place 2x2 x12 inch steel square I/8 tubing welded together .and filled with non shrink grout .under the left front post.

Given that you are pushing the Bend-Pak spec, I would definitely not do this and only go with solid steel plate. (Make a platform shoe, matching what it already wears.) The legs lean and move, so a plan to have a metal ring with grout could break up.

 

[finn]

Make a form and pour concrete on the low spot to level the floor. You should probably remove the existing floor in the low area, and pin the patch.