Leveling 2 post, pads or columns?

[sasq40]

Been playing with my lift all weekend to get level, I have the lift post all sitting level at about 3', then was reading some more and keep getting conflicting info. So should I have my columns level, pads, split the middle? Right now my posts are off enough if I plumb them up the pads won't be level

 

[BobnCO]

Post must be plumb in both directions (n-s & e-w) then shim and/or grout floor pads.

 

[sasq40]

Looks like I'll be releveling them. I went off pad level and the post aren't level at all

 

[sasq40]

With the post being level I have to add the spacer on one side to have the pads level, is that alright?

 

[djbmw]

With the post being level I have to add the spacer on one side to have the pads level, is that alright?

The arms dont look level with eachother at all - you have more work to do.
The left post arms should be level with the right post arms for the entire ride up.
Lay a 4' level across and keep shimmin'

Ps... forget about each post being plumb for a minute and focus on the arms being parallell with the other side.
That big metal shim under the column in your pic likely needs to be removed.

 

[nadogail]

The Hydraulic Level, colored water in a length of clear tubing and a plumb bob will be your friends. A little food coloring in the water will show up nicely; coupled with a good Plumb Bob you can get something very close to exact.

I also have a Machine Level accurate to three seconds.

 

[sasq40]

The arms dont look level with eachother at all - you have more work to do.
The left post arms should be level with the right post arms for the entire ride up.
Lay a 4' level across and keep shimmin'

Ps... forget about each post being plumb for a minute and focus on the arms being parallell with the other side.
That big metal shim under the column in your pic likely needs to be removed.

I had the post arms all level, but the the post aren't level, so I'm not sure which one is more important. When I add the spacer to the one side like this the arm pads are level

 

[djbmw]

I had the post arms all level, but the the post aren't level, so I'm not sure which one is more important. When I add the spacer to the one side like this the arm pads are level

Both sides lifting in unison, perfectly level with eachother, is more important than the posts being perfectly plumb.

The vehicle needs to be raised and lowered with the arms remaining at identical positions throughout the travel.... otherwise more weight will be on one side vs the other, and the car can slide off the lift.

THEN check for plumb and see how far off you are.

 

[mikedodge]

If the posts are level the arms should be level. You're supposed to let the arms sit on the locks when it's raised so it is important that the posts are level.

The cables aren't adjusted right or something else is causing the arms to be off.

 

[CraigStu]

Both sides lifting in unison, perfectly level with eachother, is more important than the posts being perfectly plumb.

I disagree. If the posts are not plumb the arms will be travelling up and moving sideways at the same time. Then the lift pads need to slide along the car's lift points or the arms need to change length. neither is good.

 

[sasq40]

ill note also i havent tightened my cables at all yet, so far its just been with shimming the posts so that they are plum and parrell to each other. Can you adjust the arm height with the cables and still have them lock properly?

 

[logical]

Post must be plumb in both directions (n-s & e-w) then shim and/or grout floor pads.

I think he means the pads that engage the vehicle?

 

[mikedodge]

ill note also i havent tightened my cables at all yet, so far its just been with shimming the posts so that they are plum and parrell to each other. Can you adjust the arm height with the cables and still have them lock properly?

That's your problem. You're supposed to adjust the cables so that they are tight and the arms are level. It wont work properly if you skip that step.

Having both the posts and the arms level is the only way the locks will work properly.

 

[sasq40]

sounds good, the manual wasnt very specific on what to do for leveling, ill use the cables tonight to get the arms level then i can test to make sure my locks are engaging at the same time

 

[StickyRX]

Post must be plumb in both directions (n-s & e-w) then shim and/or grout floor pads.

Bob is 100% correct. When I had my above ground Mohawk, I used u shape plastic spacers between flange / floor under bolts. Worked perfectly.

 

[sasq40]

so might be best to shim each side to the post stay parrell to each other , but not level, to get the post level

 

[mikedodge]

so might be best to shim each side to the post stay parrell to each other , but not level, to get the post level

What?

Shim the posts to make them level and plumb then deal with the arms.

 

[sasq40]

i must not be getting it, the post are level and plumb, but isnt the only way to get the arms level by shimming the post?

 

[sasq40]

I went and leveled using the cables, but with the pads level, my posts are level and parrell only only lock engages at a time, so I'll have to fiddle some more

 

[mikedodge]

How far apart are the clicks? If they're like immediately after eachother it should be OK. Some people say they don't like having them perfectly in sinc because then they can hear that both locks are working.

You can see the notches the locks use in your picture. If the colums are level to eachother the notches should be level so the only thing left is the cable adjustment.

Some videos are better then others but you could probably find a video on adjusting it on YouTube.

 

[sasq40]

I checked the locks. One isn't engaged at all, I think I'll have to make a plate to lift up of of the post to have them level without using so much of the cable to level the feet

 

[djbmw]

The arms being level with each other is what you're after. Then the locks will also engage at the same time.
If the posts are slightly out of plumb its not a big deal as the most critical part is the arms being level to the opposite side. Use the cable adjustments, in conjunction with a small shim or two.

 

[mikedodge]

I checked the locks. One isn't engaged at all, I think I'll have to make a plate to lift up of of the post to have them level without using so much of the cable to level the feet

Does the second engage when you keep lifting? If yes and the arms are level you probably do need to do that, sounds like the posts aren't level to eachother.

 

[sasq40]

This is where I'm at and happy with it. The posts are both plumb, and parrell to each other. The arms pads are level through the complete travel cycle. My floor is slopped so this spacer on the floor makes up for having to lift the whole post up

 

[djbmw]

This is where I'm at and happy with it. The posts are both plumb, and parrell to each other. The arms pads are level through the complete travel cycle. My floor is slopped so this spacer on the floor makes up for having to lift the whole post up

But the arms are NOT level in your pic... only the pads are. Meaning the locks do not engage at the same time.
Remove the pads - they are not relevant when getting everything level.

 

[whateg01]

HIS FLOOR IS NOT LEVEL! That's why the posts are plumb but the arms are not even. It takes that amount of spacer to get the lifting pads even because one post is higher than the other

 

[djbmw]

HIS FLOOR IS NOT LEVEL! That's why the posts are plumb but the arms are not even. It takes that amount of spacer to get the lifting pads even because one post is higher than the other

If it's THAT extreme then he needs to measure the delta in height between the two column base plates and use a steel plate/block the appropriate height to lift one column up so that it's sitting at the same height as the other.

Use a laser level or string level and measure both columns at the same point of reference. Whatever the difference is equates to the height of block you need to make.

 

[sasq40]

But the arms are NOT level in your pic... only the pads are. Meaning the locks do not engage at the same time.
Remove the pads - they are not relevant when getting everything

both locks are auctally fully engaged with it set like this, and they both click together when raising the system

 

[mike93lx]

I would not call having to use different height risers ok.

At the floor level, how much lower is the left post base from the right? Have a laser level? It would be very easy to check with that. A clear hose for a water level would work fine too

 

[StickyRX]

I would not call having to use different height risers ok.

At the floor level, how much lower is the left post base from the right? Have a laser level? It would be very easy to check with that. A clear hose for a water level would work fine too

I agree. If your risers are off what appears to be 2-3 inches, I would not operate like that. Bust up the floor and pour a level floor. You will thank me later

 

[mikedodge]

Unless there's a manufacturing defect both locks clicking at the same time means the colum level is as far off as that pad spacer.

That would add up fast having to level the floor but at the same time that would be an awfully thick spacer plate.

 

[djbmw]

both locks are auctally fully engaged with it set like this, and they both click together when raising the system

So without any spacers installed, and the carriages on the SAME LOCK (lets say lock position #4 for both carriages), can you use the cable adjustment to get the arms level with eachother,... or is it really THAT far off (2" from the pic)?!

As it is shown in your picture, I would not use the lift.

 

[sasq40]

Nope, if I use the cables to level them one side doesn't have the lock engaged at all

 

[no704]

Nope, if I use the cables to level them one side doesn't have the lock engaged at all

Is it not locked because it is on a lock bar? How far out of level side to side are your posts?

 

[sasq40]

Is it not locked because it is on a lock bar? How far out of level side to side are your posts?

Yeah it sits in between two of the lock slots. It doesn't seem like that much on the floor, I will just need to go grab longer anchors if I plate it up.

Im not seeing the issue tho on using a pad spacer if the pads are level when lifting and the locks are both engaging at the same time?

 

[no704]

If you put a level from one mounting plate to the other how far is it out?

 

[sasq40]

This is the real problem. There's quite the slope in right near the wall,

 

[mikedodge]

If you put a level from one mounting plate to the other how far is it out?

Since his locks lign up It's going to be out as much as that spacer on the arm.

 

[sasq40]

Didn't think it was as bad as it is, it's about 1.5" from post to post

 

[whateg01]

Didn't think it was as bad as it is, it's about 1.5" from post to post

How would it not be that much? If a 2" spacer gets the arms level to each other, and the posts are plumb, what else would you expect?