Garage Lift Emergency
- Thread starter tjharri1
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ace10
Well-known member
Looks like the near right post is bound up.
Did you try to raise it up a bit and get all the corners back into a locked position?
Did you try to raise it up a bit and get all the corners back into a locked position?
rlitman
Well-known member
Before you go moving anything, can you put a piece of wood cribbing in there to prevent total collapse? Say, a block in each corner cut to just fit under the lowest height corner.
As for lifting it now, with the corners out of whack, that may cause other issues. Tread carefully.
As for lifting it now, with the corners out of whack, that may cause other issues. Tread carefully.
cvairwerks
Well-known member
When in doubt, crib it til you get help.
BTW... unless it's due to the camera angle, the left rear post bottom plate appears to be bent pretty bad.
BTW... unless it's due to the camera angle, the left rear post bottom plate appears to be bent pretty bad.
CombatNinja
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I'd crib it and leave it until a pro can get out there.
ace10
Well-known member
How do you operate the power unit and the lock release when they're on opposite ends of the lift?
At the root cause of this I am going to say something unpopular.... I think it is because it isn't bolted down, which led to a post getting bumped out of vertical, which caused it to bind.
Crib it and if you aren't comfortable wait for a pro. If you want to dive in, crib each corner with a jack. slowly working your way around get it back to level. At that point I am willing to bet that it starts working again.
Crib it and if you aren't comfortable wait for a pro. If you want to dive in, crib each corner with a jack. slowly working your way around get it back to level. At that point I am willing to bet that it starts working again.
Good luck on a Saturday.
I would crib it, (block it) up. Run over and buy some 4x4 posts and cut them into 12" long pieces and stack them under the corners of the lift.
Monday look for a rigging company, check with crane companies, and they should have the jacks and tools to lift it all and get it back to the floor. It won't be cheap, but it will be quick.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=rigger+pittsburgh+pa
I would crib it, (block it) up. Run over and buy some 4x4 posts and cut them into 12" long pieces and stack them under the corners of the lift.
Monday look for a rigging company, check with crane companies, and they should have the jacks and tools to lift it all and get it back to the floor. It won't be cheap, but it will be quick.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=rigger+pittsburgh+pa
seems like the best bet but I'm afraid to try anything. I did put a floor jack with a cinder block under the back left corner.
there are releases on both ends, only have to run one. this lift is setup where you can mount the power controls on the front of the back of the lift.
The left side looks fine but right is looking pretty stressed out with the plate still flat but a big lean on the column.
We're you trying to lower it when that happened?
yes, I was lowering it
Without fully seeing what's going on, If you can put a jack or post on the left side to stop it from dropping further you might be able to jack up the right side enough to get the lock to release if that's what part of the problem is.
Of course this sort of thing always seens to happen on a weekend.
Of course this sort of thing always seens to happen on a weekend.
finn
Well-known member
Doesn’t look like anything actually failed, but, rather the lock cables were improperly adjusted and one or more of them didn’t completely release and the lock block hung up in the ladder.
Raise the lift so it’s level and release all four locks. It can then be lowered normally and you can readjust the rock release cables.
May have to use vice grips or something to get the snagged lock to release.
It doesn’t look like anything is actually bent. The left post is leaning, like it has to when that corner is lower than the others.
Don’t panic.
Raise the lift so it’s level and release all four locks. It can then be lowered normally and you can readjust the rock release cables.
May have to use vice grips or something to get the snagged lock to release.
It doesn’t look like anything is actually bent. The left post is leaning, like it has to when that corner is lower than the others.
Don’t panic.
jbfsr
Well-known member
My Atlas did a similar thing. One of the ladder catches needed adjustment. I raised mine up until level then lowered again.
You have to keep release lever FULLY engaged. Carefully check cables are on all pulleys first. Mine were on OK.
You have to keep release lever FULLY engaged. Carefully check cables are on all pulleys first. Mine were on OK.
HeadsUp
Well-known member
This happens with my Dannmar 4 post lift from time to time. Likejbfsr said "You have to keep the release lever FULLY engaged." When lowering I'm always watching and stop immediately when one of the lock catches on the ladder. Never gone as far as the OP. As other's commented I'd add cribbing to all (4) corners. Little hard to tell but looks like only the right rear column didn't release. May be able to raise up the other (3) corners to level out.
No I'm not a lift expert and didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn last night. Best of luck.
CombatNinja
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For the love of all that is holy, bolt that thing down!
HeadsUp
Well-known member
Glad it worked out! Good idea to have the installers to perform a full review. Please report back results.
BTW need to post more pics of the Jag! There are many car guys here.
HeadsUp
Well-known member
Curious... Why do you say that? My 4-post isn't bolted down since I do move it around a little.
nvrenufrm
Well-known member
Great advice on here as usual..be sure to get everything sorted before putting that XKE back up on it..always thought those were one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
wssix99
Well-known member
This happens all the time to me. Are your locks pneumatic? (My comments assume so...)
No matter how well things are adjusted, if your load is off center on the lift, one or more corners will be off from the others and one or more locks will be closer to the ladders and can stick. (Or if your air pressure is down, sometimes they won't retract all the way.)
Making sure the load is perfectly centered on the lift will help this a lot. I still lower my loads slowly until I see that everything is going down level and nothing is hanging. When it does, I just bump everything up a little higher, make sure the locks are disengaged fully, and then try again.
kbuhagiar
Well-known member
To the OP:
I can't begin to imagine how unnerving that must have been. Glad to hear you and the car are OK. Please keep us posted on your post-mortem progress.
Different folks have different ideas about bolting down a four-post lift. Bolt it down if you wish, but it isn't a safety requirement. My lift is not bolted down, my choice. If the manufacturer had recommended to bolt it down I would do it in a heartbeat.
My friend has an identical lift as mine (DirectLift ProPark 9) and his is bolted down. He experienced the same kind of problem as the OP (one lock hung up while lowering), but fortunately he caught it right away before the lift lowered very far. No damage done and a simple adjustment fixed the lock release alignment.
IMHO if the OP had the lift bolted down it wouldn't have made a difference in this instance.
I can't begin to imagine how unnerving that must have been. Glad to hear you and the car are OK. Please keep us posted on your post-mortem progress.
Different folks have different ideas about bolting down a four-post lift. Bolt it down if you wish, but it isn't a safety requirement. My lift is not bolted down, my choice. If the manufacturer had recommended to bolt it down I would do it in a heartbeat.
My friend has an identical lift as mine (DirectLift ProPark 9) and his is bolted down. He experienced the same kind of problem as the OP (one lock hung up while lowering), but fortunately he caught it right away before the lift lowered very far. No damage done and a simple adjustment fixed the lock release alignment.
IMHO if the OP had the lift bolted down it wouldn't have made a difference in this instance.
CombatNinja
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Bolting them down will prevent this issue to an extent. It is going to be readily apparent much earlier that there is an issue and you'll stop and sort it before it gets to that extent. No bolted down and the columns will walk on you and you end up with this. You run a higher risk of catastrophic failure if it is not bolted down. I can see the selling point of being able to move it around but from the OP's photos, not sure where he'd be moving it.
Locks are not pneumatic, just mechanical with a lever that should release all 4
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
I tell kids in my class to NEVER take your eyes off the 4 post lift when lowering. People think they are safer, but if one corner gets hung up and the other starts dropping you get this, and a lot of the weight on one corner. As soo as it gets wonky, STOP and go back up to get off the lock.
I'm glad everything is lowered without injury or damage!
I had a similar issue on my BendPak because of an air leak. Luckily I found it while my lift was empty so my sphincter probably didn't pucker nearly as much as yours!
Your mechanical release probably just needs a slight adjustment or lube. I think this is a good reminder to all lift owners to watch closely as the lift is lowering to make sure it is staying level. This seems to be a common issue where 1 corner can get hung up.
I had a similar issue on my BendPak because of an air leak. Luckily I found it while my lift was empty so my sphincter probably didn't pucker nearly as much as yours!
Your mechanical release probably just needs a slight adjustment or lube. I think this is a good reminder to all lift owners to watch closely as the lift is lowering to make sure it is staying level. This seems to be a common issue where 1 corner can get hung up.
It's a project...
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finn
Well-known member
I wouldn’t bolt it down. Part of the allure of a four post lift is its portability.
In this case, where one lock hung up, bolting it down would have made little or no difference.
Just keep an eye on things.
I actually had a lock hang on my two post. Just raised it back up, adjusted the release cable, and went on with life. Works fine still after a few years.
In this case, where one lock hung up, bolting it down would have made little or no difference.
Just keep an eye on things.
I actually had a lock hang on my two post. Just raised it back up, adjusted the release cable, and went on with life. Works fine still after a few years.
Docbentley
Well-known member
Crib and call a flatbed wrecker and remove that nice E-type before anything else.
ace10
Well-known member
Step 1: Hire an engineer
Step 2: Carefully deconstruct the garage
Step 3:
Step 2: Carefully deconstruct the garage
Step 3:
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Viper98912
Well-known member
I had a corner hang up once, I noticed things started to get wonky and went ahead and stopped it. Raised it back up, all was good, nothing slipped off the pulleys, so I just came back down without issue. Hasn't happened again but it was fine, no issues.
nadogail
Well-known member
Glad you have your car back on the deck, please forgive me for thinking you just might be driving a Volvo.
firebirdparts
Well-known member
Glad you got it down. The problem is fundamental to that style lift. It is what it is, 4 independent legs sliding through moment connections in a flexible platform. Nothing anybody says will change what it actually is.
It is really 100% necessary not to lower it without carefully watching to see all 4 locks remain released the entire time. Bolting it down will simply damage it more in this situation, but it does contribute to rigidity, which is good, when it’s up and you’re not having an emergency. If I had that lift I would bolt it down, but I will warn you that it won’t help if you do this again, and it’ll still be up to you to watch it.
or, plan B:
1. Hire an engineer
2. Carefully deconstruct the entire garage
3. …..
I am relieved that nobody blamed the manufacture yet, I will say that.
It is really 100% necessary not to lower it without carefully watching to see all 4 locks remain released the entire time. Bolting it down will simply damage it more in this situation, but it does contribute to rigidity, which is good, when it’s up and you’re not having an emergency. If I had that lift I would bolt it down, but I will warn you that it won’t help if you do this again, and it’ll still be up to you to watch it.
or, plan B:
1. Hire an engineer
2. Carefully deconstruct the entire garage
3. …..
I am relieved that nobody blamed the manufacture yet, I will say that.
02camaro86
Well-known member
first, glad everything turned out good. but how on earth does one let it get that far befor relizing its not lowering down evenly? it seem drastically off balance in the picture, maybe it looks better in person?
RPH
Well-known member
Step 3: Remove checkbook and pen.
Step 4: Proceed to drain account.
My Bendpak 4 post has done that. Scared me. It means one of the posts is out of adjustment. The ladder or cable depending on style. The locks must disengage at the same time. Holding the release lever the entire time helps and us quieter. And watch the posts. Bolting down won’t adjust an incorrectly adjusted lift — same thing could happen.