BendPak safety system really needed?

[kcombs]

Before anyone tells me; yes I know it is a safety device.

My BendPak lift has a safety stop system that is running me nuts. It requires the lifting of a pin while positioning the yellow lift arms under the vehicle. It then engages a lock system so the arms can't be moved. While I can see in lawsuit happy society the manufacturer needing such a device, I don't see where it is doing me any good, nor is it saving me from myself. My reasoning is that once the arms come in contact with the frame of the vehicle they can no longer move, even without the locking system. Back in the day, when I worked in a service station, we did not have these types of locks on our lifts, but granted the lifts were of a different design (single post into the floor). I always check a vehicle when the arms contact the frame and again when I have the tires are a few inches off of the floor. So I don't see how the arms can move with all that weight on them. Am I missing something?

 

[wnstwolf]

On mine you can pull that lock all the way up and turn 90 degrees to lock it out. Position the arms in place and then lock it back in place. I noticed when I did not lock it back in place and my 3 ton truck was up there I could move the thing way to easy and make all the arms move with it. Not good

 

[pattenp]

I don't have to lift the pins on my arms to position them. The pins don't lock until the arms are raised off the floor. I think the locks are a good thing.

 

[metaleltr]

I don't know about Bend-Pak but on Rotary lifts when it is in the full down position that pin moves up to disengage and you can position the arms, raising the lift reengages the locking pins, yes they are necessary, otherwise they arms would move with the car on the lift.

 

[pattenp]

Something else caught my eye in your picture. Why are the anchor bolts channeled? Looks like some kind of a keyway.

 

[Bob C]

Before anyone tells me; yes I know it is a safety device.

My BendPak lift has a safety stop system that is running me nuts. It requires the lifting of a pin while positioning the yellow lift arms under the vehicle. It then engages a lock system so the arms can't be moved. While I can see in lawsuit happy society the manufacturer needing such a device, I don't see where it is doing me any good, nor is it saving me from myself. My reasoning is that once the arms come in contact with the frame of the vehicle they can no longer move, even without the locking system. Back in the day, when I worked in a service station, we did not have these types of locks on our lifts, but granted the lifts were of a different design (single post into the floor). I always check a vehicle when the arms contact the frame and again when I have the tires are a few inches off of the floor. So I don't see how the arms can move with all that weight on them. Am I missing something?

I can argue this either way.

I did see a broncoII slide right off the arms due to excessive undercoating on the frame. 31K in damage on that one. The arms never moved. They had good safety locks.

Also saw a chevy citation on a forward lift with the locks removed. Inspection mechanic was trying to put the drums back on and was not having much luck. so he was pushing on the drum instead of adjusting the shoes. He pushed the vehicle and it shifted on the rack as the arms moved. The rear right arm kicked out and down the car came.

 

[Bob C]

Something else caught my eye in your picture. Why are the anchor bolts channeled? Looks like some kind of a keyway.

pattenp, those anchor bolts are positive bite anchors. The flat washer under the nut has 2 small **** 180 degrees apart. they slide down thru the channel and push the pins that are part of the wedges on the anchor. As you tighten the nut, you push the washer down and the wedges are forced down and out to bite to the concrete. Very efficient anchor.

 

[metaleltr]

Looking at the picture closer it appears that those pins are in the disengaged position as I described earlier.

 

[lt1driver]

are those gear teeth in the picture nylon or steel????

 

[saabman]

On a Bendpak lift, the pins should lift up and out of contact with the teeth when the arms are fully down. There should be no interference when you are adjusting the arms.

 

[Bob C]

On a Bendpak lift, the pins should lift up and out of contact with the teeth when the arms are fully down. There should be no interference when you are adjusting the arms.

The same thought crossed my mind, but also considered him adjusting one arm after the lift was raised . We all had one arm not make contact at one time or another while lifting a vehicle. I thought he may be trying to adjust the arm after the lock was engaged. From that point is where I thought his complaint was focused.

 

[brownbagg]

mine would not work due to being misalign, so I never use them

 

[kcombs]

I will look at the pins tomorrow, could be that I need to do a little shimming. I posted this question on two automotive sites and got the same response, they should release with the arms down, and they are needed to safely use the lift.

 

[zollster]

Your carriages must not be going down all the way to floor, pins are suposed to come up when all the way down.

 

[stoveboltgunnut]

I am not a proponent of a nanny society, nor do I support idiot proofing the world, but some safety measures make sense.

Imagine putting a transmission in and the trans slips off the jack...

The transmission bumps the lift arm.

If your locks are engaged, probably going to be a lot less damage than if (and I know it's a big if) the trans hits the arm just good enough to knock it out from under the vehicle.

Would it ever happen? Maybe, or maybe not.