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Bendpak XPR-10A lift install - foaming ATF ?

chargernut69

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Sep 9, 2014
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Location
North Carolina
Hello everyone --

I just completed my install of my Bendpak XPR-10A, and after all the usual issues during install – microswitch connections, trying to locate tab inside tower for equalizer cable, dealing with lousy directions, etc. I get it working – then lift my first car ! Yeah ! it works ! I’m done !

But wait -- I am having some issues with the hydraulic fluid gushing out of the reservoir with white foam after I run the lift up to the top and then back to the bottom. I am sure the level was correct … So I call up Bendpak and they say that is has a leak, etc., so I remove the reservoir tank and double check the suction tube that runs to the pump, no obvious loose connections or cracks.

So I call Bendpak back again, and come to find out that the MAG1 hydraulic fluid (ISO 32 10W) from Northern Tool is a detergent fluid, and was not recommended by Bendpak to use. So I spend hours to drain out all the MAG1 hydraulic fluid & clean the lines, and luckily get a refund from Northern Tool since it does not say anywhere on the product that the oil contains detergent.

Next -- I replace with some more expensive Castrol Dex/Merc ATF from Advance Auto, which is acceptable since it is equivalent to Dexron III. And then run the lift up and down about 10 times, but still getting red foam that comes right to the top of the fill cap… even though the level when the lift is down is just at “Min” on the tank. This is improved, but still foaming ? Plus, I try to bleed the lift cylinders, and it appears that the oil foam gets into the cylinders – since they seem to have air in them after each up and down of the lift…..

So I call back Bendpak and they tell me that I should wait a week and the foaming will go away ? I don’t see how.

Any ideas on this ? do I need an oil additive ? or is this normal for these lifts ?

Bendpak is not really giving me a straight answer....

Thanks,
Jack
 
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Ign

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Not normal IME but no help beyond that.

I've always just run the least expensive Dex/Merc O'Reilly house brand, about $11-12 per gallon.

Post up your resolution, may help others in the future.
 

T-Mac

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bubbles in hydraulic fluid usually mean sucking air on inlet side or a restriction somewhere causing cavitation
 

Lil Toe

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Labadie, MO
Did you bleed the air in the cylinders (step 18, page 30) or just run it up/down? Are the bleeders tight (leaking air back into the system)? I assume they will self bleed if you use it for a week which is why they said that. :dunno:

Glad I wasn't the only one that had issues finding that stupid tab. :lol_hitti

May have to double check my hydraulic fluid, though I think I used Napa brand AW32.
 
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chargernut69

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Sep 9, 2014
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Location
North Carolina
Yep, have been bleeding the air out according to the procedure, but air still accumulating in cylinders it seems.

Pump and everything seem to be working ok, no leaking, no strange noises or evidence of crimping of lines, lift goes up and down fine. Just the foaming fluid.....
 
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chargernut69

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Probably about 15 cycles empty, and 5 with a car with the MAG1 oil in it, and only about 6 cycles with no load with the new ATF fluid...
 

HAP

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Sounds like you have a bad suction line. It will pull in air much easier than the fluid if there is a way for it to get in.
 
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chargernut69

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North Carolina
Re: Bendpak XPR-10A lift install - foaming ATF - photos

Here are a few photos of the reservoir tank after running lift up to top and down again.... (Oil was at "min" line at rest [lift all the way down] before I ran lift, now it is foaming to the top)

Pump suction tube runs all the way down to bottom of the reservoir, so not sure how there can be a vacuum leak....

Bad pump ?
 

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RandyL

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We have all had the problem of finding that cable tab!

Sorry to hear that you have foaming problems, I did not..I feel fortunate.

I don't think that detergent caused foam... induced air or cavitation is more likely.

I am using dexron III.

I filled my tank...raised the lift about 2ft as I recall ( whatever the book said ), bled both cyls. Raised the lift near the top and let it back down to 2 ft again and bled again. Then repeated this process again to get air out of the lines and cyls. Mine has worked fine all summer now.

If you ever get foam in the system ( and you do now ) it is going to take a while to get it all turned back to solid fluid and no air in the system.

It may take the best part of a day for the fluid to return to solid fluid with air pockets. These pockets of air have to be bled out of the tops of the cyls or it will foam all over again. I think this is why they say it should go away in a week or two.... eventually these air pockets will return to the tank. They could be correct.....

Leave the lift down tonight..let things settle. Raise it 2 ft and bleed the cyls...both of them. Raise it another foot or so and let it set a few minutes or so...bleed it again. Let it down, let it set...then repeat the whole thing again. The point being is to get lightly disturbed air pockets into the tank where the air is let off and to bleed the air pockets from the cyls where the air pockets are let out. Hopefully a slow take on this will get the air out and get it running smoothly.

Randy
 
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chargernut69

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Re: Bendpak XPR-10A lift install - foaming ATF ? -- problem solved

Well, after many attempts to remove air from the system, I called Bendpak and told them that this power unit must be defective.

And after talking with them this time they finally admitted -- " Oh, yeah... we have had problems with the power unit you have". So after all this grief, you would think they would have known this after about the 4th time I called with the same issue !

So after installing my new power unit yesterday evening, it seems that all issues have been resolved -- no foaming ! :bounce:

Note -- the new power unit is made in USA..... and runs alot smoother than the China one I had the first time.

So after all this effort, I am not sure I would say that Bendpak is the best 2-post lift..... hope my issues are just an isolated case. :dunno:
 

sbosecker

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Sep 25, 2012
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Peachtree City, GA
Re: Bendpak XPR-10A lift install - foaming ATF ? -- problem solved

Well, after many attempts to remove air from the system, I called Bendpak and told them that this power unit must be defective.

And after talking with them this time they finally admitted -- " Oh, yeah... we have had problems with the power unit you have". So after all this grief, you would think they would have known this after about the 4th time I called with the same issue !

So after installing my new power unit yesterday evening, it seems that all issues have been resolved -- no foaming ! :bounce:

Note -- the new power unit is made in USA..... and runs alot smoother than the China one I had the first time.

So after all this effort, I am not sure I would say that Bendpak is the best 2-post lift..... hope my issues are just an isolated case. :dunno:

chargernut69,

Just last evening I was looking at this thread and I wondered what the final outcome had been.

Thanks for posting - this is good to know since I just took delivery of an XPR-10A-168 and it will be a while before I can install it.

Can you provide any identifying information on the Power Unit that was giving you problems as well as the new good one?

Best regards,

Scott
 

RandyL

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Kansas
Well that is a mixed bag for sure... Happy to hear it is working, but that is sure a poor way to get there.

Enjoy your lift.... I will check my power system as well. I have no problems but now I at least want to know.

I too had been waiting to hear the outcome..it sure wasn't what I would have expected.

Randy
 

Ign

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Re: Bendpak XPR-10A lift install - foaming ATF ? -- problem solved

chargernut69,

Just last evening I was looking at this thread and I wondered what the final outcome had been.

Thanks for posting - this is good to know since I just took delivery of an XPR-10A-168 and it will be a while before I can install it.

Can you provide any identifying information on the Power Unit that was giving you problems as well as the new good one?

Best regards,

Scott

I found NO mention of what hardware was to be used for -168 extensions but it became obvious because the size was about right for the holes, the qty was correct and it was some of the only hardware NOT mentioned in the instructions.

I had plenty of other issues during install but this was specific to the -168
 
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chargernut69

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Sep 9, 2014
Messages
7
Location
North Carolina
The defective power unit was made in China --

Date code - DL1F43396
SKU - 5585280
MODEL - F2.1F3H1

Here is a photo of the "foaming pump" ===
 

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RandyL

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Mine looks slightly different and has a made in the usa sticker on it...

Randy
 
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