Direct Lift Pro Park 9 experience

[Kapt]

Here's the good and the bad.

First the good.

I ordered from Greg Smith equipment in DE and it arrived on a flat bed which they unloaded into my garage. Didn't have to mess with truck rental or unloading.

No parts or hardware were missing. After the lift was assembled there was nothing left over and nothing missing.

It's a heavy duty piece of equipment. Seems a little overkill for my car needs (no trucks), but the wide stance makes it nice for parking a car under it. My garage doors are 9' wide and the inside width between the columns are about 9'.

I read a few posts where some criticize the unlocking mechanism because it uses rods, but I like it. I don't have to start my compressor to unlock the locks, and the hardware for the rods seem well engineered. They can also be hidden behind a removable metal panel. I left mine off temporarily until I get more experience with the lift.

The 220V motor is nice and fast. According to the specs, 220V is not available but I asked and they included one for no additional charge. I think this lift is almost identical to the Revolution, and its an option on that lift.

I ordered two 4500# rolling jacks and they roll like they are on ice. Very smooth. Since the lift is slightly longer than the standard, there is enough room to move the jacks to one end or the other to get them out of the way. No need for the bottle jack tray that comes with the lift.

Now for the bad.

The directions that you can download from the Greg Smith site are wrong when it talks about the unlocking mechanism. The picture shows it backwards.

The lift is powder coated, but there were some pieces that had welding spatter on them. I know its a tool, but this would have taken no time to grind off before painting. Needs a little more attention to detail.

All the holes lined up during assembly except for one. The unlock handle needed a little grinding to fit. No big deal.

I bought the manual hand pump rolling jacks and it takes a lot of pumps to get full extension. Perhaps the pneumatic ones would be better.

This last problem is a biggie for me. The lift is very noisy. The hard plastic blocks that are attached to the crossbeam make a lot of noise as it rises in the columns. It makes no noise when its not under load, but when a car is on it, the columns vibrate slightly and emit this growling noise. The first 3' are fine, but then it starts. The columns are perfectly straight and level and everything is adjusted level. I sprayed WD-40 inside the columns, but it didn't help too much. I called the guy who installs these lifts for Greg Smith equipment, and he said they all make noise. He said some are louder than others, and try WD- 40. The lift still goes up fine without bogging down the motor, and on the way down its quiet.

Is this normal function for a 4 post lift? How many of you have quiet 4 post lifts? I'm still experimenting with different fixes for the noise and any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[Junkman]

I can hear a mouse run across the floor when my Bend Pak HD9XW is going up and down. Not sure if it is because the lift is so quiet, or I have mice with very large feet wearing tap dancing shoes...

 

[usa#1]

I have a Rotary Revolution that I purchased several years ago. It has the 220v pump. No noise going up loaded or unloaded except when passing a new lock position. It's quiet when moving between locks.

 

[e-tek]

I have the same BP as Junk - I've heard a little "shudder" noise a few times going down, but not up - certainly not louder than the 220V motor and the locks engaging every 4 inches... Maybe you should try a heavier oil or silicone in there?

If you think about it, the likely reason it would make so much noise is because it's binding a bit. Just becuase everything is straight and level doesn't mean that's the tract they want to take...if the floor - or the leg plates - aren't perfectly level and square, then the legs will lean and bind the blocks - enough to make noise, not enough to bind the motor.

 

[Blown71X]

Just a quick comment, My 9 was noisy also when it was new, as it was used and the scrub blocks wore in it did quiet down quite a bit...Not as quiet as some, but not obnoxious.

Rick

 

[ovilla]

My BendPak HD-9 was only really noisy when I had first installed it and hadn't yet bled the hydraulic lines properly. All it took was me following the directions and hitting the button for up on the pump as I also pulled on the lever to lower it. After that, it was, and has remained really quiet.

Check again to make sure a cable isn't rubbing on something (or getting caught up against a bolt). All of the pulleys should also be spinning freely so check them to make sure nothing is seized up. I'd also measure all of the columns at different heights just to see if anything is off. My thought is that excessive binding or movement of the columns would have to come from either bent columns or columns that are perhaps a bit tighter (perhaps narrower) throughout different sections within the same one respective column.

Finally, don't get hung up on the appearance of the lift. Within a few months you'll have scratches on the ramps from setting tools/parts on them and just other natural wear and tear from using sprays and general use. Remember that this is a tool. Otherwise, you'll want to start a seperate thread titled "What wax do you use on your lift?".

 

[fxdlryan]

kapt, I responded to your PM as well but had an additional though that might help someone else so I'm posting here.

I have the DirectLift ProPark 9+ as well, and I only have the normal hydraulic pump and lock catch noises. Mine was a little noisy the first few times up and down the first few times. Once I put the casters on it and moved it to it's final resting location, I realized it was much quieter and smoother. I’m assuming yours isn’t bolted down. When it's on the casters the columns will seat where it's most natural for them as the lift comes off the casters. If that doesn’t work, I’d recommend an 8' level, try it on the ramps front to back and side to side, at the bottom, mid way, at the top, and where it's the noisiest and I'll bet with a bit of leveling you can eliminate the noise.

 

[revlover]

... Remember that this is a tool. Otherwise, you'll want to start a seperate thread titled "What wax do you use on your lift?".

Wow... that was a good laugh...


Thanks

 

[480rider]

kapt -- thanks for the detailed writeup. All the info helps a lot.

Of course I was hoping for an all "great" report, but overall it sounds like you're happy with your purchase. Good luck on sorting out the noise issues.

 

[Matti]

One of the reasons I didn't look at this lift is because they didn't offer 220v motor which should provide a faster lift. Did they just change the motor and the pump too? If the pump remains the same I would think that the lift doesn't go up any faster than the 110v version.

 

[Kapt]

One of the reasons I didn't look at this lift is because they didn't offer 220v motor which should provide a faster lift. Did they just change the motor and the pump too? If the pump remains the same I would think that the lift doesn't go up any faster than the 110v version.

The salesman told me it would reduce the lift time, but I can't remember the exact amount of time it saved.

 

[Kev442]

I wanted to minimize wear, so I used bearing grease in my columns. I suppose it will get dirt built up on it eventually, so I'll just wipe it down and reapply.

 

[Kapt]

The noise problem is fixed.
I spoke with another lift tech from Greg Smith and he listened to it over the phone and diagnosed the hydraulic cylinder as the problem. He suggested Caterpillar hydraulic additive IU9891 and it did the trick. I just wonder what was wrong with the cylinder in the first place.

Also, I wrote about the manual hand pump rolling jacks requiring too many pumps to get them to go full extension. Another board member said they get better the more use they get and he was right. Maybe they just needed to get the air worked out of them from shipping.

 

[zapper]

I too have the Pro Park 9 I purchased from Greg Smith in Indy. I've had the lift for a few months now and I sure do enjoy working on cars again. My lift also moans while lifting and the lift is perfectly leveled. Where did you purchased the Caterpillar Hydraulic additive?? Does it have to be Caterpillar brand? Thanks for the sharing your experiences with Pro Park.

 

[Piper]

I've found this thread really informative; one I could have started myself so thanks to the OP. I plan to purchase the same lift this July. One thing I negotiated in the quote was the air option instead of the manual pump for the rolling jack. It is going to cost an additional $100 but I have to install the air components and return the manual parts. I don't know if this is something that you have asked about or considered but for $100 it's a pretty good deal I think. The only thing that may affect this deal for you is I am purchasing the lift in Toronto, Ontario from the manufacturer. If you want more info, shoot me a PM and I'll elaborate.

Piper

 

[Kapt]

I too have the Pro Park 9 I purchased from Greg Smith in Indy. I've had the lift for a few months now and I sure do enjoy working on cars again. My lift also moans while lifting and the lift is perfectly leveled. Where did you purchased the Caterpillar Hydraulic additive?? Does it have to be Caterpillar brand? Thanks for the sharing your experiences with Pro Park.

I'm not sure if it has to be the Caterpillar brand, but that's what the Greg Smith lift technician recommended. I Googled "Caterpillar parts Maryland" and found it reasonably near my house. One quart size cost around $27 and treats 3 gallons. I put in half at first and ran the lift up and down a few times and it quieted down significantly, so I added the rest and it was totally quiet.

 

[zapper]

Thanks Kapt

 

[ovilla]

The noise problem is fixed.
I spoke with another lift tech from Greg Smith and he listened to it over the phone and diagnosed the hydraulic cylinder as the problem. He suggested Caterpillar hydraulic additive IU9891 and it did the trick. I just wonder what was wrong with the cylinder in the first place.

Also, I wrote about the manual hand pump rolling jacks requiring too many pumps to get them to go full extension. Another board member said they get better the more use they get and he was right. Maybe they just needed to get the air worked out of them from shipping.

Just curious, what fluid did you initially put in (ATF or hydraulic)? Thanks

 

[Kapt]

Just curious, what fluid did you initially put in (ATF or hydraulic)? Thanks

I put in AW-32 hydraulic fluid. Owners manual called for ISO-32 light hydraulic oil. Not sure what all the letters and numbers mean.

 

[RobSmith]

I have a Direct Lift hoist with no problems at all. DON'T use WD40 it evaporates...Spend a few bucks and find a quality dry film teflon or silicone spray to coat the tracks. This stuff is magic. No chatter no noise no nuthin! You can use it on all the moving parts and it doesn't stick and hold dust and dirt.

 

[480rider]

I'll post the details of my experience when I get mine -- which should be by the end of the month.

Kapt -- now that you've had yours for a little while, any new info to add? Any others want to chime in on good or bad Pro Park 9 experiences?

(By the way, is yours a Pro Park 9 PLUS? I don't know what the "plus" is supposed to mean, but that seems to be the latest thing.)

 

[The Alchemist]

I've got the ProPark 8 and love it. I went with the 8 due to size limitations in my garage, but I'm completely happy with it.

Glad to hear yours worked out for you.

 

[tdkkart]

The slider blocks in the columns are made from Ultra High Molecular Weight(UHMW) plastic. This stuff is wonderful for high load applications, but it does have it's small "issues". While it is very tough, it is not the slippery-est plastic. I can be a bit "sticky" in sliding applications, and may growl a bit until worn in,
Also, it sometimes changes dimension slightly after machining. If you cut a groove in a block, or drill/bore a hole it will "close up" over a period of time. A groove width that is OK when machined today will shrink slightly if if you check it tomorrow. If the specs aren't watched carefully things will fit tighter than intended.

Hydraulic cylinder seals will alos groan, especially when moved slowly as these are. The noise will lessen once the seals wear in.

A bit of teflon spray lube will help a bunch. Throw away your WD40 and go get some Tri-Flow.

 

[LVDell]

Fantastic thread! I have been wondering how to get the piston on my 4-post lift from making so much noise and it seems like the additive might do the trick.

My question is does it have to be the specific one mentioned here in the thread (Caterpillar Hydraulic Additive IU9891)? Has anybody tried any other type that might be purchased at a more easily located store?

 

[4-RunDog]

I plan to buy this lift or one like it. What is the big advantage to the 220 pump versus the 110 pump? Thanks, not trying to highjack the thread but I didn't want to start a new thread for one newb question.

 

[Junkman]

110 is easier to find an outlet for, but 220 will be slightly faster in lifting the car. In the end, it really doesn't matter, unless speed is important to you.

 

[LVDell]

So I picked up a quart of the Cat Hydraulic Oil Additive. By the way, it's 1U-9891 not IU-9881 so if you call a local dealer they will know exactly what you are looking for. It ran about $30 with tax.

Anyway, I haven't added to the lift yet to give it a good testing but I will start a new thread with my results. Here's a picture of what the product looks like.

 

[Kapt]

I'll post the details of my experience when I get mine -- which should be by the end of the month.

Kapt -- now that you've had yours for a little while, any new info to add? Any others want to chime in on good or bad Pro Park 9 experiences?

(By the way, is yours a Pro Park 9 PLUS? I don't know what the "plus" is supposed to mean, but that seems to be the latest thing.)

Mine is a Pro Park 9 PLUS. I'm not sure if a Pro Park 9 without the PLUS is even available.

I've had my lift almost a month now and I gotta say I like it a lot. No more noise issues, and since my floor is almost level, I took the shims out from underneath the columns with no issues. I couldn't see shimming the columns every time I moved the lift with the casters. Also, now that I have a little more experience with a lift, I don't see the need to have the columns "perfectly" plumb and level. Perhaps a two post lift would be a different story.

Also, since my garage is fairly new I don't have a workbench set up yet. I had to spend a few days cutting a bunch of window trim so I laid a piece of plywood across the ramps to make a portable workbench that I can have at any comfortable height I want. At the end of the day, I raise the lift with all my saws, routers, sawdust, etc on it and its out of the way until I need it again, and I pull my car back in underneath.

My only additional advice to those thinking of getting a four post lift is to measure out the dimensions and especially the locations of the columns on your garage floor to get a real sense of how much room you need. The extra large models like PP9 Plus and some of the Bend Pak models have a very large footprint.

 

[Spotsart]

At http://www.liftandlube.com

http://www.liftandlube.comwe sell rotary revolution and it is very low noise since it is made for the home garage. Direct lift is owned by rotary but not made in the US.

 

[LVDell]

At http://www.liftandlube.com

http://www.liftandlube.comwe sell rotary revolution and it is very low noise since it is made for the home garage. Direct lift is owned by rotary but not made in the US.

Ok, I'll bite since that makes ZERO sense. The Pro Park lifts are made for the home garage and share many of the same parts as well so please do elaborate.

 

[480rider]

I've got to chime in on that question as well. I've done quite a bit of research, including direct inquiries to Revolution (via the contact link on their website), and my local Revolution dealer. Both claim definitively that the Pro Park 9 and the Revolution RFP9 are in fact the same lift, just badged differently for different price points. Looking at the published specs, you'll also notice that both lifts are virtually the same in all dimensions and weight.

Are you saying that the Revolution is actually manufactured in the U.S., and that there are substantial differences between it and the Direct-Lift?

 

[c39er]

Does the "Direct Lift Pro Park 9" lift have a high quality chromed cylinder piston rod ? Or is it a black color? Anyone have closeups of the Pro Park 9 ram? The ram piston and or the cylinder hone micro-finish can cause noises. Cheaper hydraulic cylinders do not have highly polished or chrome piston rods. I agree too as the lift is used the noise from a some what cheaper ram will go away.
Bob

 

[LVDell]

I just looked at mine and it's pretty shinny chrome

 

[Shocker]

the one I saw at Best Buy Auto was chrome. hard finish.

 

[480rider]

I finally ordered mine today -- went with a Pro Park 9 Plus and two manual 4500 jacks. I ordered from Best Buy Auto Equipment.

I'll post a comprehensive review when I get it here and set up.

For now, though, the ordering experience. I called Greg Smith first. I don't really like the "call for lower price" pitch on the website, but I bit. I was first quoted the price listed on their site, until I said I'd looked at Benco, Best Buy, and Derek Weaver as well. They then offered the same price. On the jacks, though, they would not budge. (The jacks are generally $100-$200 less from the other sellers.) I said I'd think about it.

I then called Best Buy. I spoke with David, who was very helpful on the phone, and seemed willing to stay on the line as long as I wanted, and answer all my questions. His price was as listed on their website, but shipping was less than from Greg Smith, as they are closer to me. It's supposed to ship tomorrow, and arrive as soon as Monday.

A while ago I started a thread on the Revolution RFP9 v. the Bendpak. Those were the two I was considering before I decided to think about the Pro Park. I had originally decided the Pro Park must be a "bargain" brand, and not worth considering. I've since found out that the Pro Park 9 is in fact the same as the Revolution (and Forward) lifts, all made by Dover. David at Best Buy again confirmed what Revolution and my local distributor said: the only difference is the name and the stickers. (And, of course, the price!)

As for a lift-specific thread (as suggested elsewhere in the forums), it would be great, if a bit impractical. Instead, it would be good if we could decide whether lifts fit in General Garage or in Tools. For those considering a lift, be aware that there are good threads in both categories.

 

[e-tek]

My only additional advice to those thinking of getting a four post lift is to measure out the dimensions and especially the locations of the columns on your garage floor to get a real sense of how much room you need. The extra large models like PP9 Plus and some of the Bend Pak models have a very large footprint.

VERY GOOD ADVICE!!!! They can be MUCH bigger than you think, with the posts and the ramps. I went with the BP - XTW (extra Tall and Wide) and I nearly SH!T when I set it all up. Had it not been for the size of my shop, I might have said it was too big!! Lucky for me - it fits my shop and my Galaxie is HUGE!

 

[480rider]

As noted above, I ordered the Direct Lift in March. Well, it's been quite the (lousy) experience, and it's still not resolved. I was going to await the final resolution to post, but it seems appropriate to provide a status report now.

I ordered from Best Buy Automotive Equipment -- or so I thought. Their toll-free number actually connects to "Quality Tool" in Temecula, CA. I was first told they had the lift and it would ship that day. They called me a short time later, and said they were mistaken, and they had none in stock. It would take a month or more to get them in. I said to cancel the order, as I didn't want to wait. I was planning to call Greg Smith and order from them.

Best Buy/Quality called again a short time later and said the warehouse guy was wrong -- they did have some in stock, and would ship one out right away. There is where the nightmare began. I'm in Utah, and the lift was shipped to Montana. The seller claimed his warehouse guy screwed up again, and put someone else's address on the lift. It was loaded/unloaded at least six more times (more stops in Montana and in Idaho) on the way to me, and it showed. The wrapping was torn, strapping broken, rust all over everything that was exposed, etc. I noted the damage on the shipping slip, loaded it onto my trailer, and took it home. (I know, I could have rejected it there, but it would take complete unpacking and unloading until I was aware of anything wrong besides some paint scratches.)

When unpacking and setting it up, in addition to multiple scratches (not a big deal to me), I found the following problems: rolling jack pump broken (with fluid spilled everywhere,) large dent in one runway, and more rust/water damage than was immediately apparent. I still wanted to think all would be OK, so I set it up. (They could just replace the damaged parts, right?) I adjusted it all perfectly (plumb, level, square, shimmed as necessary,) but it still didn't work right. Upon closer inspection, I noticed one of the posts was so badly bent (twisted), that it took a lot of extra work for the pump to lift that corner. Then I noticed the big one: no ALI/ETL certification sticker. Probably the biggest reason I chose this lift over the similar Bendpak was because of the certification.

A call to Best Buy/Quality confirmed that it should be certified. That's what I ordered and expected to receive. To make a long story short, to date Best Buy/Quality and Direct-Lift can't seem to get their story straight on what happened or what to do. Direct-Lift wanted me to agree that it's "just like" a certified lift, so I should think it's all ok. I don't. Best Buy/Quality has agreed that they need to replace this POS with a new, certified lift, but they still haven't actually done it. Promises made and broken. Their own deadlines come and gone. I'm giving them a little more time to make it right before I resort to the legal process, as that's a last resort, and an avenue I'll avoid if at all possible.

For now, I have a barely-functional lift that I'm uneasy working under. I also have a pretty sour feeling about Direct-Lift and their products, no to mention their agents. I really hope they make this right and I can report a good final experience. For now, I've got a pretty expensive lump of **** taking up space in my garage.

(For those thinking of suggesting I should have gone with Greg Smith or Bendpak: I'm feeling that way myself already, no need to rub it in.)

 

[LVDell]

Why would you have a negative feeling toward Direct Lift. They aren't the ones that created this mess. I have ordered my Direct lift and many other items from Greg Smith and have nothing but great things to say about them. It's the vendor (Best Buy) you should be upset with not the lift itself.

 

[fxdlryan]

480rider,

Sorry to hear about your poor experience, it's completely the opposite of my Greg Smith / Direct Lift experience. I hope that Best Buy Automotive Equip does everything they can to make your situation right.

Ryan

 

[480rider]

My bad feelings about Direct-Lift are twofold: 1) The only experience I have with their products is a beat-up, twisted, weak-running lift which barely works at all; and 2) It is Direct-Lift (not the distributor) who first lied about this lift being certified (via e-mail exchange), then suggested that a non-certified lift should be accepted as being the same as a certified one.

Best Buy/Quality called me this morning, and offered $500 off to make it all good. They still haven't given me any timelines on replacement parts for the damaged pieces (which amounts to about 1/2 the lift), and don't seem to be in any hurry to make this right.