Bendpak Air Bottle Installation Question

[Usonian]

I have a BendPak HD-9 lift and I recently purchased through Summit Racing Bendpak's 9" air bottle kit to avoid having to connect an air hose to release the lifts safety locks.

The instructions BendPak provides with the kit are not the best and I am stuck with figuring out how to route some of the lines.

Specifically, one of the steps involves connecting the air bottle to the air fitting at the top of the lift's hydraulic cylinder. Trouble is that there is no instruction on what to do with the line that is there now (prior to air bottle install). This line runs to the hydraulic pump motor, connected to a return port there.

Does anyone have a diagram showing how everything hooks up? BendPak does not provide one.

Thanks!!

MIKE

 

[ket-tek]

Bendpak has complete instructions on their web site. Here is the link to the PDF.

http://www.bendpak.com/9 Inch Air Bottle Kit Manual REV C 08-12-10.pdf

 

[ket-tek]

Here is a diagram I drew a couple years back. And there are a few other threads about it if you can dig them up.

 

[ket-tek]

- The hose at the top of the button at the gauge goes directly to the fitting that is closest to the bottle. (fitting between the bottle and checkvalve)

- The hose out the bottom of the button goes directly to the locks as it did before.

- The hose from the fitting between the two check valves goes directly to the back fitting on the main hydraulic ram.

- The old hose that went from the back of the main hydraulic ram to the side of the hydraulic pump get completely disconnected, and you install a plug in the side of the pump where it was connected.

So the air pressure that was bleeding off the ram into the pump reservoir is now being pushed into the new air bottle.

 

[Usonian]

This is great...will try this out. Thanks!!!

 

[Usonian]

Got everything installed and it works, but I notice a small leak (about 5 PSI pressure loss per hour). BendPak shows push-on type tube fittings with their kit, but they delivered brass compression fittings instead. I've tightened everything, so I am unsure as to the cause.

Is one type fitting more reliable than the other?

 

[jhelrey]

Time to get out the soap and water mix in a spray bottle and spray all of your connections..

 

[Olyar15]

Not sure if it is even possible to have a completely air-tight system. They seem to pop up everywhere. I have the push-in fittings and they are extremely finicky. The air in the air bottle eventually leaks out after about a week or so, so I have to constantly refill the bottle, which makes having a compressor nearby a requirement, which of course negates the point of this air bottle.

 

[Usonian]

Exactly. I sprayed everything with soap suds and did not notice any leaks, but it is leaking down. Starting to wonder myself why I bought these things as I too wanted to eliminate the need for a compressor hook-up.

 

[ket-tek]

It doesn't take much lifting to fill the bottle, so if it is empty and the car is up just lift it a few inches then open the locks. Even if the lift is maxed on height just hold the button for a couple of seconds and it will fill.

 

[Olyar15]

It doesn't take much lifting to fill the bottle, so if it is empty and the car is up just lift it a few inches then open the locks. Even if the lift is maxed on height just hold the button for a couple of seconds and it will fill.

Of course, if you use the lift for storage, then the lift would already be in the up position. And if you are storing a car that you don't drive that often, then you'll have to start the compressor to get the car down. Real pain in the a$$.

 

[ezzzzzzz]

I put a shutoff valve at the output of the bottle to the gauge/air switch. That eliminated the bleed down for me. I suspect it is one or more of the push fittings at the locks that are slow leaking.

 

[ket-tek]

The bottle I installed doesn't leak at all, if your having thread leak issues loctite pneumatic 545 works great, and on the PTC fittings you have to make sure you cut the hose Perfectly Square on the end with a brandnew razor blade and make sure the collar engages and pulls back to seat it properly.

Of course, if you use the lift for storage, then the lift would already be in the up position. And if you are storing a car that you don't drive that often, then you'll have to start the compressor to get the car down. Real pain in the a$$.

I'm not sure what you mean here? If the car is up already it doesn't matter, just hit the up button to raise another couple inches and it fills the bottle very quick. Not like it takes a full run or anything to fill it. And if the lift is max out out height it still wouldn't matter because it will still fill even faster when running the pump for just a second.