installing new lift this weekend... any suggestions

[tankwilson]

Hey guys ordered my new bendpak 10,000lb clear floor lift last week. Planning on it coming in this week and hope to install it this weekend. I have never installed one before, i am having a friend that has come over and help.

Anyone got any good advise or suggestions on installation?

Thanks
matt

 

[Ign]

I laid out my floor the night before w a straight edge, tape and paint markers. Be damn sure you understand how the hydraulic fittings go at the bottom of the cylinders, which they tell you to install before raising the lift. I posted a pic on the forum; you can find it in a search if you care. The instructions are vague on several points, and lacking on basic illustrations in others. Make sure you've got at least three gallons of ATF.

I used epoxy on my floor anchors and cut off the mechanical "wings," but whatever floats your boat. Have a good hammer drill of course.

 

[OneTon]

1) Don't drop the columns on your toes (or your head). They are "squash you flat" heavy!

2) Don't do what my installer did (drilling completely through the slab). The WedgeIt anchors come with instructions that include the proper hole depth.

3) Don't rely on supplied measurements when setting/drilling the second column. The overhead piece that joins the two columns could be off by an inch or so in length. Instead: Drill/anchor the first column, put the second column in place, then attach the overhead piece. Now you'll see where the second column will actually sit (which may be different than supplied measurements). Drill/anchor second column.

4) Don't answer your phone again, ever. Everyone for 30 miles around who learns you now have a lift will suddenly become your best friend!

5) Enjoy not having to crawl under your car again while supported by jackstands.

 

[LSVLance]

Have your electrical source ready to go and hook it to the pump as soon as you can.

Have several large ratchet straps handy to lift the carriages up and let them down while routing the cables, hydraulic lines, and lock release cables.

Have two large step ladders to use when walking the top piece up to put on top of the two posts.

Maybe have a rebar cutter on hand in case you hit rebar while drilling the holes in the slab.

Also have some extra shims handy in case your floor has more slope than your lift supplier supplied shims to compensate for. I ended up cutting 3\4" washers into "Cs" and using several of them to get both posts plumb and level.

 

[Ign]

Also have some extra shims handy in case your floor has more slope than your lift supplier supplied shims to compensate for. I ended up cutting 3\4" washers into "Cs" and using several of them to get both posts plumb and level.

I thought about that, but assumed no one's floor is as screwed up as mine. I wound up using various thicknesses of plate and flat bar for shims.

On a different note, don't see anything wrong w drilling all the way thru the slab. Generally accepted practice if you think you'll ever want to remove the lift and punch the anchors all the way thru. I guess in my case epoxy negates that possibility tho...........of course my floor is 10-12" under the lift so I wasn't gonna bother to drill all the way thru that anyhow.

 

[jabberwoki]

Really think carefully about placement go over all the various situations you`ll be it with your projects first.

 

[regguy1]

Might be worth a read.......
Some discussion about setting the anchors in concrete in this post:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71225

 

[brassspike]

1) Don't drop the columns on your toes (or your head). They are "squash you flat" heavy!

2) Don't do what my installer did (drilling completely through the slab). The WedgeIt anchors come with instructions that include the proper hole depth.

3) Don't rely on supplied measurements when setting/drilling the second column. The overhead piece that joins the two columns could be off by an inch or so in length. Instead: Drill/anchor the first column, put the second column in place, then attach the overhead piece. Now you'll see where the second column will actually sit (which may be different than supplied measurements). Drill/anchor second column.

4) Don't answer your phone again, ever. Everyone for 30 miles around who learns you now have a lift will suddenly become your best friend!

5) Enjoy not having to crawl under your car again while supported by jackstands.

#3 above is the way to go!!! I did it that way and it saved me a lot of problems. Hook the top beam in loose and THEN square and level the second column!!!!
Also, add a quart of friction modifier to the atf to stop the cylinders from making noise.

 

[tankwilson]

thanks guys for all the great info. I just got my lift in today. Got it unloaded and in the shop. Will try and install it this weekend.

In my research i came across someone else that had his bendpak installed by a pro installer. If i remember correctly the installer used different anchors other than the ones that come with the lift. Does anyone know what anchors those are. I think there is even a you tube video about it.

thanks
matt