4 post lift levelling problem

[Zedder]

Back in the fall I had a Direct lift installed in my standard 18 x 20 2 car garage. At that time, I noticed that the posts closest to the wall were not totally plum due to the fact that the garage floor is slightly sloped towards the middle of the garage (like many I suspect). Since I have 2 separate 8 foot wide doors, the lift has to be located about 2 inches from the wall. In the fall, it appeared that the posts were about 1/2 further away from the wall at the top vs the bottom of the lift. Now, it appears to be about 1 inch likely because of the ground under the slab freezing over the winter. This makes me nervous and I want to correc it, but I don't think I can anchor the posts to the slab since 2 of the bolts would be only 2 inches from the slab edge and the manufacturer says they must be at least 6 inches away.

I hope I explained that clearly! Any suggestions????

 

[A747]

I'm not too clear on this. Are you saying that the two posts closest to the wall have tilted in at the top relative to the bottom or the two posts moved away from the wall. Pictures will be helpful.

JT

 

[akdiesel]

I am along the same lines as A747. It appears your posts are tilting in (from what you are saying). This sounds to me as normal since the weight of the horizontal pads them selves will tend to move the posts inward at the top. Metal will bend slightly which makes it a perfect material for deflection with a rebound back to its normal position.
Simply said I don't think it is anything to be too worried about. Check to posts before any weight is lifted on the them (everything lowered all the way down) and then check them with a load on them and then check them again with no load to see if they go back to the normal distance.

 

[Zedder]

Sorry guys, I didn't make myself too clear. The post closest to the wall leans away from the wall and the top is about 1 inch further from the wall than the bottom with the lift all the way down or up (it doesn't change on that post). When the lift is at the bottom, the other post closest to the middle of the garage is straight, but when the car is all the way up, that post now leans parallel to the post closest to the wall.

 

[akdiesel]

Ok, I can not comment on DL but the BP when no weight applied to the lift I can manipulate all four post by grabbing them and pushing or pulling them in any direction to the point of about 6" at the top. This is due to the slack in the supporting track and in the column of the post.
As for your three posts that do seem to fluctuate when weight is applied, it sounds correct but as for the post that does not change, I would try and verify the post pad is square to the post.

 

[c39er]

On my BP 4 post the pads are slightly curled upwards from the welding because of the thin 1/2" base plate metal. The posts are not 100% flat on the floor-not that it matters. The older BP lifts had a much thicker base plate. This cupping of the base plate can cause easy rocking of the posts when unloaded.

 

[Zedder]

Thanks guys! I need to shim the posts and see what that does...