Bend Pak HD-9 problem

[99SVT]

This lift is 2.5yrs old, and I love it.

I had my Mustang parked on the lift, and the lift raised up. Been up there all week.

Needed to bring it down today, and noticed that the cables had slack in them, under the ramp. That was odd, as it has never done that before.

I have the air bottle kit on mine, to unlock the lock, so I raised the lift and hit the button. Locks unlocked.

When I lower the lift, I always pull the air line at the button, so I can reset the locks automatically. They eventually do it on their own, but this way does it right away. When I pulled the line, ATF fluid came spraying out. I am like WTF, that isn't suppose to happen!!

Anyone know the reason for this happening?

I am going to send an email to Bend Pak, but thought someone might know.

 

[holdover]

my HD9 is 5 yrs old, at times the cables go slightly slack when the lift is raised for long periods of time, I double stack my mustangs so at times they might stay raised for 2-3 months, especially in winter, it is not an issue as I see no fluid leaks. As to ATF in the air line that is odd, there is no interface with the hyd pump and the air release.

 

[Cryptic1911]

Actually, with the bendpak air bottle, it is taking pressure from the piston to fill the air bottle, so if a seal in the ram is leaking, it could be filling it with fluid. With a standard air lock situation where you need a compressor, there's no way this could happen

 

[e-tek]

Cryptic has it - gotta be a leak somewhere between the hyd. ram and the air bottle. I have the same system but haven't had that happen.

On a side note, do you lower the lift onto the next lock window when the load will be staying put (like when working on it or storage)? I do so as not to leave the load on the hydraulic system/cables.

 

[99SVT]

Cryptic has it - gotta be a leak somewhere between the hyd. ram and the air bottle. I have the same system but haven't had that happen.

On a side note, do you lower the lift onto the next lock window when the load will be staying put (like when working on it or storage)? I do so as not to leave the load on the hydraulic system/cables.

Yes, I always put the lift on the locks when in use.

 

[James E]

The air line bottle gets its pressure from the dry side of the ram. Coincidentally, I just spoke with Joon at BendPak on Friday (I just installed the air bottle and had air line routing questions--he and Dave Shedlock were great, as usual) and he mentioned that it is normal for a very small amount of ATF to get past the seals in the ram and that's ok, as it keeps the air bottle seals lubed up. That's also why when you don't have an air bottle, the dry side of the ram is vented back into the fluid reservoir--so you don't have any droplets of oil spraying out of the ram vent and making a mess under the lift over time.

But if you have a measurable amount of ATF spraying out of the vent hole and your ram is extending as it sits (cables getting slack over time after it is raised), it sounds to me like you've got a leak in the ram seals that needs to be addressed.

 

[99SVT]

The air line bottle gets its pressure from the dry side of the ram. Coincidentally, I just spoke with Joon at BendPak on Friday (I just installed the air bottle and had air line routing questions--he and Dave Shedlock were great, as usual) and he mentioned that it is normal for a very small amount of ATF to get past the seals in the ram and that's ok, as it keeps the air bottle seals lubed up. That's also why when you don't have an air bottle, the dry side of the ram is vented back into the fluid reservoir--so you don't have any droplets of oil spraying out of the ram vent and making a mess under the lift over time.

But if you have a measurable amount of ATF spraying out of the vent hole and your ram is extending as it sits (cables getting slack over time after it is raised), it sounds to me like you've got a leak in the ram seals that needs to be addressed.

I would say that it is a measurable amount... dang it!!

 

[Junkman]

An ounce of ATF when sprayed out under pressure looks like a quart. I wouldn't worry about it unless it got really bad. Chances are that the oil has been in the system for a long time, and this is the first time that it vented out. I would live with a little oil, rather than having to deal with a reseal of the piston. That is bull work to say the least.

 

[99SVT]

An ounce of ATF when sprayed out under pressure looks like a quart. I wouldn't worry about it unless it got really bad. Chances are that the oil has been in the system for a long time, and this is the first time that it vented out. I would live with a little oil, rather than having to deal with a reseal of the piston. That is bull work to say the least.

Seems like it would have seen some indication of this before. If I get time, I'll take the air bottle apart, and see how much ATF is in it.

Oh, and to make it easier on me, I'd just replace the whole ram, than to deal with resealing it.

 

[c39er]

Please let us know how much that ram costs!

 

[99SVT]

Please let us know how much that ram costs!

Will do... it'll probably be more than I want to spend, but will give it a go.

I got a reply from Bend Pak, and, although they have not seen it, they are saying what ya'll are saying... bad seal. He'll make me a good deal on a seal kit, but I have no idea what is involved in rebuilding a ram.

 

[99SVT]

Just got off the phone with Bend Pak...

- new cylinder - $480

- seal kit - around $80 (he did not know for sure)

I'm thinking of going with the new cylinder, as I don't really know what to expect, or if I have the ability rebuild this thing.

I'll probably get the seal kit too, if I buy the cylinder, so I can have a spare one.

 

[ket-tek]

As long as the piston isn't scored I wouldn't spend $500 on the cylinder, if all it needs is a seal kit.

If your not comfortable replacing the seals, most any hydro shop, or farm equipment/large equipment repair shop can rebuild it for you for cheap.

 

[James E]

As long as the piston isn't scored I wouldn't spend $500 on the cylinder, if all it needs is a seal kit.

If your not comfortable replacing the seals, most any hydro shop, or farm equipment/large equipment repair shop can rebuild it for you for cheap.

This. The ram isn't proprietary and it's pretty easy to remove and install. I would think that any shop that services heavy equipment could rebuild it pretty cheaply and quickly.

 

[James E]

Seems like it would have seen some indication of this before. If I get time, I'll take the air bottle apart, and see how much ATF is in it.

Well, that's a drawback of the way the ram is vented. You could have a pretty signifigant leak and because the dry side of the ram is vented directly back into the reservoir, you wouldn't know it until the ram starts to slip--which, as you saw yourself, presents as a sag in the cables when the lift is sitting on the ladder locks.

All the more reason that the positive locks on the HD-9 are a good idea.

I'm wondering if the seals in the ram are more prone to leak over time on a lift that is used alot or a lift that is seldom used? Kinda like a rear main seal on a Porsche 997. Drive it every day and it'll never leak. Park it for weeks at a time and it will start to drip after a very few miles.

 

[99SVT]

Well, that's a drawback of the way the ram is vented. You could have a pretty signifigant leak and because the dry side of the ram is vented directly back into the reservoir, you wouldn't know it until the ram starts to slip--which, as you saw yourself, presents as a sag in the cables when the lift is sitting on the ladder locks.

All the more reason that the positive locks on the HD-9 are a good idea.

I'm wondering if the seals in the ram are more prone to leak over time on a lift that is used alot or a lift that is seldom used? Kinda like a rear main seal on a Porsche 997. Drive it every day and it'll never leak. Park it for weeks at a time and it will start to drip after a very few miles.

Was thinking the same thing, as far as use goes. It is a home lift, so it gets used a couple of weekends a month, on average.

 

[c39er]

I have a two year old HD14 and the ram on it leaks a small amount externally. A car sits on it all winter. This lift gets used maybe 15 times a year. Same for my seven year old Rotary SMO12EL commercial lift. But it has never leaked with even less use.

 

[99SVT]

Well, I ordered a new cylinder yesterday... should be here soon.

Was going to order a new seal kit too, but there was two different types it could have been, and my original cylinder did not have the colored band it was suppose to, so did not know which one.

Later on, I may order both kits and get it fixed, or just drop it off at one of the tractor place in town for repair. Nice to have a spare.

Now to disconnect the air line and clean out the air line of ATF.

 

[volaredon]

Please let us know how much that ram costs!

uhh yeah on my '86 vintage Weaver I got seal kits for $29 ea but a new ram? $900.... for that amount of difference, I'll deal with the bull work

 

[99SVT]

uhh yeah on my '86 vintage Weaver I got seal kits for $29 ea but a new ram? $900.... for that amount of difference, I'll deal with the bull work

Only $480... I would rather have it up and going in a short time. This way the lift is up and going right away. My free time is very precious, and very little, so if it cost me a little more to spare some of that, then so be it.

Now, if the ram would have been $900, then I would have been rebuilding it. LOL

 

[c39er]

Bendpak loves and wishes there were more people like you! I wish I could buy a new one for mine but it's probably seven or eight hundred.