BP HD9XW shim process

[RGaz]

My HD9XW should arrive on Thursday.

It will be delivered on a 28' truck with a lift gate. Based upon the invaluable feedback you have all given me on my prior post. I plan to pull one end into the bucket of my loader. Then drag it out such that the other end rests on the 6' lift gate of the truck. We will then lower the lift onto wooden blocks.

I have read the manual and the build post by Junkman. On page 11 of the manual, fig 3.2 the process for shimming is discussed. Assuming the floor is as level as can be, is this process to shim out the manufacturing variance in the post to post variance? If not, shimming is academic as if I use casters and move the lift to another place in the garage the shim requirements will be different.

Can't I just put a laser on a tripod and shoot post to post and measure?

Any comments on the criticality of this exercise would be appreciated.

TNX & Rgds,

RGaz

 

[HIRISC]

My HD9XW should arrive on Thursday.

I have read the manual and the build post by Junkman. On page 11 of the manual, fig 3.2 the process for shimming is discussed. Assuming the floor is as level as can be, is this process to shim out the manufacturing variance in the post to post variance? If not, shimming is academic as if I use casters and move the lift to another place in the garage the shim requirements will be different.

Can't I just put a laser on a tripod and shoot post to post and measure?

Any comments on the criticality of this exercise would be appreciated.

TNX & Rgds,

RGaz

Yes, kind of.. there is some variance from post to post with respect to the floor plate adjoining the column.

If you were bolting your lift down, then it would be worth your time to ensure that your columns are all (perfectly) vertical. As you probably have read (or will figure out) the ramp leveling is accomplished by adjusting the ladders and synching the (4) locks is accomplished by adjusting the cables.

You're correct that every time you move the lift, you would have to re-shim.

I'm not bolting my HD-9 down and only shimmed a couple of the posts that apparently sit on an 'odd' piece of concrete section or where BP manufacturing didn't result in a square end-product. The shims are just loose.

I'd suggest:
1 - Put a level on your posts without shimming.
2 - Close to square?
3 - Leave it be

My $0.02

 

[Junkman]

I haven't found shimming necessary, and I do know that one post of my lift sits on a slightly lower part of the floor. When there is weight on the lift, I never have any problems with this issue. Unloaded, one point of the bottom plate will rise enough that you can slip a piece of paper under it. Once the lift starts going up, I listen for the locks to engage, and when I have the car at the desired hight, I just go up a little further and then let it down on the safety locks. I have never even had the lift wobble a slight amount, unless I were pulling on a bolt with a breaker bar and it just wouldn't break loose. I have never felt unsafe under the lift, and I am an overly cautious person. I have never seen a need to bolt the lift to the floor, however, if you were to drive a car onto a lift that wasn't bolted down, and slam on the brakes, then the lift might have a tendency to "walk" a slight amount.