Bendpak HD-14T 4-pos lift problems
- Thread starter ggeh
- Start date
I wanted to let everyone that's been following this twisting/bending post issue know that Bendpak has sent the other three post and has honored the warranty. The post arrived today April 24, 2017. I would like to thank every one here, Garage Journal, and Bendpak for all your help. I don't think I would have got this done with out your input and advice.
Thanks to all
Gary
Thanks to all
Gary
ybnormal70
Well-known member
Are they having the posts installed for you or did they just send replacements?
Kevin
Kevin
Am I reading this right.. bendpak lift with capacity of 14,000 lbs has post made of 1/8" thickness (not even) and 3/8" base plates?
I would think these posts, even the hobbyist grade 9,000 variety, should have 5mm (1/5") to 1/4" steel.
I would think these posts, even the hobbyist grade 9,000 variety, should have 5mm (1/5") to 1/4" steel.
They just sent replacements.
To be honest with you guys I originally had it professorially installed by a contractor Bendpak recommended in my area and I still had all these issues. I'm going to take my time and do it my self. That way I will know for myself it was done right and to spec. These reps from Bendpak wore me down with all the time I spent taking pictures, phone calls, and emails showing them what was happening and for four Months this back and forth went on. With out sending someone from Bendpak to inspect the lift Pat Henthorn seemed completely comfortable reassuring me the lift is safe all I need to do was grease the slides and the lift was safe to use even though they could see from the pictures I sent that the posts were twisting/bending. I just want to be done with Bendpak and their Reps. They claimed they have called me numerous times and even talked to someone at my phone number named Crystal. Even sent me a copy of phone call records to prove to me that they left countless messages. The only problem with that was, My wife's name is Julie and I'm Gary. We are retired and the only two that live here and answer the phone, "No Crystal here". Like most every one else that has a land line we have an answering machine with caller ID. I received One phone call from Pat Henthorn on 4/19/2017 at 12:11 pm. The rest of their claims never happened. So you can decide on where the truth lies.
Thanks, Gary
To be honest with you guys I originally had it professorially installed by a contractor Bendpak recommended in my area and I still had all these issues. I'm going to take my time and do it my self. That way I will know for myself it was done right and to spec. These reps from Bendpak wore me down with all the time I spent taking pictures, phone calls, and emails showing them what was happening and for four Months this back and forth went on. With out sending someone from Bendpak to inspect the lift Pat Henthorn seemed completely comfortable reassuring me the lift is safe all I need to do was grease the slides and the lift was safe to use even though they could see from the pictures I sent that the posts were twisting/bending. I just want to be done with Bendpak and their Reps. They claimed they have called me numerous times and even talked to someone at my phone number named Crystal. Even sent me a copy of phone call records to prove to me that they left countless messages. The only problem with that was, My wife's name is Julie and I'm Gary. We are retired and the only two that live here and answer the phone, "No Crystal here". Like most every one else that has a land line we have an answering machine with caller ID. I received One phone call from Pat Henthorn on 4/19/2017 at 12:11 pm. The rest of their claims never happened. So you can decide on where the truth lies.
Thanks, Gary
The post are .111inch thick, so not even an 1/8 inch thick. The base plates are 3/8 inch thick and if you use the spacers supplied by bendpak will flex under load. The first picture is the bendpak spacer on the left and the spacer I made on the right. The Bendpak supplied spacer does not extend under the post or the post gussets and allows the post plate to flex. The spacer I cut extends under the post and the post gusset eliminating the plate flexing. One of the guys here that has a rotary lift said in his instruction manual to put grout under the plate to close the gaps under the plates. I had thought that the steel would be stronger than the grout.
Thanks, Gary
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mcnair06goat
Well-known member
Damn i hate to see this. I am about to pull the trigger on a hd9xw in gray but im having second thoughts.
New update on lift
I just got a call from a lift installer yesterday 04/26/2017. The installer said Bendpak called him to set up an appointment to change out the lift. Believe me I was stunned and relieved.
I again want to thank every one here on this forum for your advice and comments, Big boys Garage Toys where I purchased the lift from, and Bendpak for following though and honoring the warranty and a positive outcome. It feels good to get rid of this lift related stress.
Again Thanks to all, Gary
I just got a call from a lift installer yesterday 04/26/2017. The installer said Bendpak called him to set up an appointment to change out the lift. Believe me I was stunned and relieved.
I again want to thank every one here on this forum for your advice and comments, Big boys Garage Toys where I purchased the lift from, and Bendpak for following though and honoring the warranty and a positive outcome. It feels good to get rid of this lift related stress.
Again Thanks to all, Gary
Well maybe I spoke to soon. These new post are warped every place there is a weld. I'm thinking all this twisting and bending is being caused by the floor plates that come warped from the factory from their poor welding practices and when they get bolted to the floor surface it straitens the plates out which in-turn stresses the post causing the bending and twisting. Check out the pictures of the new post from Bendpak and let me know your thoughts.
Thanks Gary
Thanks Gary
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Wow - that baseplate in pic #1 looks awful. If you bolt it down not only do you stress the column by flattening the baseplate, but also add unnecessary strain on the floor anchor bolts trying to pull the baseplate into contact with the floor. Heat distortion when welding is pretty obvious, if a manufacturer can't take precautions to avoid it then they shouldn't be producing welded product.
Do you have another brand of lift you'd consider? Personally I know I'd have a hard time feeling good about this lift, knowing the first one was so bad it went back and the second one also is poorly assembled. After a lifetime of hobby car work, I finally got a (two post) lift five years ago. It always has a car stored on it, and makes me smile every day as I walk under it.
Do you have another brand of lift you'd consider? Personally I know I'd have a hard time feeling good about this lift, knowing the first one was so bad it went back and the second one also is poorly assembled. After a lifetime of hobby car work, I finally got a (two post) lift five years ago. It always has a car stored on it, and makes me smile every day as I walk under it.
lakeroadster
Well-known member
Photo's 1, 3 & 4 are the nature of the beast. Weld distortion is normal.
John your correct that weld distortion is normal. But what you didn't say is that it is controllable. Clamped down, jig welded and short beads no longer than an inch could have prevented this. One of the post they sent by mistake is missing the gussets on the base to the posts. Guess what, the base is not warped. As a welder I will make my best guess to why that is. The post and the plate are clamped in a jig and then welded. Since the plate and the post are now aligned and welded, the post is removed from the jig the brackets and gussets are welded on later to the plate and the post not in the jig. If you look at a earlier picture in my post there is a picture of the pump bracket that is installed on both sides of the post. There is a level on the post and also on the bracket. You can see that the bracket is not square with the post. That is a dead give away the bracket and the gussets are not jig welded. For a non business hobby welder that's probable OK, I guess. For a worldwide multi billion dollar business that has millions of customers and a reputation to protect that is totally unacceptably. I would never let a a project like that leave my shop in that condition for three reasons. A paying customer deserves my best work. I take pride in my work, and word travels fast. That's just my opinion and everyone knows what opinions are like.
Thanks Gary
img1498 shows the plate is warped from the welding process
img1495 shows the base setting on a level surface at zero degrees
img1493 shows the post leaning two degrees from plum because of the warped plate
img1475 shows a thickness of three pennies can fit under the raised portion of the plate caused by the warp-age from welding
img1481 shows the warp-age in inches
img1499 shows the post from a distance with that two degree from plum caused from the warped plate
img1469 shows the twist/warp-age in the post before its installed caused by the bracket for the pump being welded on
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good to see they sent replacement that is less twisted. Since you are shimming them to get it to level anyway, I think worrying about the warp is a moot point. Maybe put shims where it is needed and don't try to use the concrete anchor to force the baseplate flat down..
My concrete is not perfectly flat anywhere either after they machine grind and put globs of flakes on floor coating job. I do not know if my baseplate is warped, mine are thicker but they do wobble a bit on their own. But with all 4 post there is just very little to be concerned. It would just not really tip over especially yours is shimmed and bolted. I was told if I put a peel and stick vinyl on the post bottom it would take up some of the uneveness.
It's really a shame they forgot some of the gussets, the welds looked like they did it pretty hot to me. That poor < 1/8" vertically probably grew orange for an inch all arorund.
The twist doesn't look as bad and if the sliders doesn't make as much noise I think you have an acceptable solution.
My concrete is not perfectly flat anywhere either after they machine grind and put globs of flakes on floor coating job. I do not know if my baseplate is warped, mine are thicker but they do wobble a bit on their own. But with all 4 post there is just very little to be concerned. It would just not really tip over especially yours is shimmed and bolted. I was told if I put a peel and stick vinyl on the post bottom it would take up some of the uneveness.
It's really a shame they forgot some of the gussets, the welds looked like they did it pretty hot to me. That poor < 1/8" vertically probably grew orange for an inch all arorund.
The twist doesn't look as bad and if the sliders doesn't make as much noise I think you have an acceptable solution.
lakeroadster
Well-known member
I agree with all your points Gary, for a top of the line product.
What needs to be remembered is Bendpak isn't a top of the line product. It's more of a mid-quality lift.
Step up in quality to a product such as Rotary, and the quality you are wanting is there.
The Good-Fast-Cheap rule seems to always apply to these types of fabrications that are mass produced...
As I previously mentioned, the twisting is an issue as it will cause pre-mature wear... that, unlike the weld distortion, should be a rejectable condition.
What needs to be remembered is Bendpak isn't a top of the line product. It's more of a mid-quality lift.
Step up in quality to a product such as Rotary, and the quality you are wanting is there.
The Good-Fast-Cheap rule seems to always apply to these types of fabrications that are mass produced...
As I previously mentioned, the twisting is an issue as it will cause pre-mature wear... that, unlike the weld distortion, should be a rejectable condition.
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ybnormal70
Well-known member
I am more and more excited to get my WORTH brand lift that I ordered but I am also hoping that it doesn't have any issues like this. I'm hoping to do a write-up on the lift and install hopefully. Good luck with getting these issues fixed with Bendpak. Seems like you are going to need it.
Kevin
Kevin
lakeroadster
Well-known member
Only if "bent" into or past it's yield point... That's not applicable here.
Hi John
Thanks for the Good-Fast-Cheap comment. That's helpful. I commented in an earlier post that I went to the local Ford dealership that just installed a bunch of rotary lifts, 2 and four post. As I stated in that post I would have went with the rotary 14k 4-post but it didn't have the under the lift clearance that the Bendpak offered, and I needed. It had nothing to do with cost because the rotary 14k and the Bendpak 14k are both $5,000.00 lifts plus or minus a few pennies.
Thanks, Gary
UPDATE on Bendpak HD14T lift
On Saturday May 6th Bendpak sent an installer out and changed out all four post on my lift and did all the necessary adjustments. Bendpak has honored the warranty in full at their expense and no cost to me. I could not be more pleased knowing that Bendpak stands by their product. I would like to thank Pat Henthorn and others at Bendpak for resolving this issue and all of you here at Garage Journal for your support.
Thanks, Gary
On Saturday May 6th Bendpak sent an installer out and changed out all four post on my lift and did all the necessary adjustments. Bendpak has honored the warranty in full at their expense and no cost to me. I could not be more pleased knowing that Bendpak stands by their product. I would like to thank Pat Henthorn and others at Bendpak for resolving this issue and all of you here at Garage Journal for your support.
Thanks, Gary
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lakeroadster
Well-known member
Greg,
So glad this has been resolved to your satisfaction.
Are the columns still twisted?
John
So glad this has been resolved to your satisfaction.
Are the columns still twisted?
John
Gary,
I followed your post and must admit I'm leery to buy a BendPak 14T lift. Now that you've had the lift for about 5 years, do you regret the purchase? Have you had any more problems?
thanks,
Scott
1/4" steel in a 5"x6" post would be extreme over-kill. If you look at the compressive strength of a 6" diameter 1/4" column it's over 100,000lbs. That might be necessary for a building, but not this application. A 2-post lift is much thicker because it is designed for a worse case off balance load that would generate a leveraged torque at the base of the lift. A 2-post lift will never fail in compression.
The problems with the twisted columns is more likely to cause other weakness or failure of another component such as the safety locks not fully engaging or excessive wear.
