Lift air bottle set-up (no compressor needed!)

[e-tek]

Like anyone else here, I LOVE my lift. Maybe more than I love my compressor. Problem with the compressor is - it's kinda loud - and I hate having to run it up, just to get my ride down. Of course I've bitched about this before - a few of us had - and Jeff from BendPak heard our cries. An idea was hatched and he put together a prototype of a bottle that would hold the air expelled from the hydraulic ram, and store it until it's needed to bring 'er back down.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34627&highlight=bottle

As it where, things conspired to get things off to a slow start, but Jeff promised me one of the first to come off "the line". Well, that was some time ago, but with a little proding, the good people at one of BendPaks major Canadian Distributors, BABCO SALES in Vancouver, sent me THEIRS. Yes - theirs! They took it right off their machine and shipped it out to me....bolt and all...strange - but cool.

So here it is, arrived today. I'll try to find some time this week to get it plumbed up, so I can use my lift without having to use my compressor! As soon as she's done, I'll post the results.

 

[gsport]

way cool... that's been along time coming. having to have an air hook-up along with the electrics was my major reason on not getting the bend-pak in the first place... i'll be waiting to hear how it performs....

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

Homeland security is looking for that pipe bomb Right now.

 

[JMURiz]

Cool idea, I'll have to look into that when I get the HD-9 I'll probably buy.

 

[Holedgr]

Ed, you can't use that!!!! It'll explode and you'll die!!!








Oh........sorry..........scratch that last comment.......I thought it was pvc painted to look like galvanzied pipe....carry on...

 

[Torque1st]

Is that brass thingy with the ring where you pull the pin to make it go BOOM!!!

I love the ****** weld on the galvanized pipe. It is nice to know others do that when they are in a hurry also...

 

[e-tek]

Bombs Bombs Bombs...is that all you yanks have on your minds? I blame BUSH (oops - kidding!) Better be careful - Homeland Security is likely tagging these words and won't like that I'm wearing gloves!

Judging by the teflon tape and welding on the bracket - maybe this is one of the early testers. If so, I'm thrilled to be on the receiving end! As well I'm writing some articles on the Challenger restoration and wanted to slide in some BendPak equipment mentions - so this item will work into it very well.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Do they use a pneumatic lock on the two post lifts as well. I didn't see anything about needing a compressor with a two post lift on their website. Maybe I missed it.

Chris

 

[Torque1st]

A person can always use an air bubble tank plumbed into the feed line for the lift with a check valve on the inlet. That way the tank stays pressurized even if the main compressor system is off or leaks down. Of course you need to make sure there are no leaks in the lift downstream from the air bubble tank.

 

[kbs2244]

Man,
I think I would trust an old Propane tank before I would use that.
I hope someone has their insurance up to date.

 

[Torque1st]

That piece of pipe will be OK.

 

[UPSHIFT]

Do they use a pneumatic lock on the two post lifts as well. I didn't see anything about needing a compressor with a two post lift on their website. Maybe I missed it.

Chris

Chris,

The 2 Post lift does not require air to release the locks. It has a single Point Safety release Lever and the two sides attach using a cable.

 

[99SVT]

Anyone have instructions on how to hook this up to the lift?

 

[ket-tek]

Yeah, ill post some pics in the morning. It came with some parts in a box a no clue. It really is easy once u lay it out and understand whats flow directions are needed.

 

[larry_g]

Like anyone else here, I LOVE my lift. Maybe more than I love my compressor. Problem with the compressor is - it's kinda loud - and I hate having to run it up, just to get my ride down. Of course I've bitched about this before - a few of us had - and Jeff from BendPak heard our cries. An idea was hatched and he put together a prototype of a bottle that would hold the air expelled from the hydraulic ram, and store it until it's needed to bring 'er back down.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34627&highlight=bottle

As it where, things conspired to get things off to a slow start, but Jeff promised me one of the first to come off "the line". Well, that was some time ago, but with a little proding, the good people at one of BendPaks major Canadian Distributors, BABCO SALES in Vancouver, sent me THEIRS. Yes - theirs! They took it right off their machine and shipped it out to me....bolt and all...strange - but cool.

So here it is, arrived today. I'll try to find some time this week to get it plumbed up, so I can use my lift without having to use my compressor! As soon as she's done, I'll post the results.

What you have there is an accumulator. It is common in the pneumatics industry. I am attaching a hand drawing of what is going on with this system. On another thread one person said that it would not work. If so then the likely problem is that a check valve is backwards or you are trying to pick the air pressure from the wrong tap. Using the picture that e-tec posted I made the drawing. The house air would be the compressor. The first check valve is the first gizmo on the left. The fitting between the checks goes to the lift cylinder. There is another check and then the feed to the lock cylinder valve and the accumulator. This is also the place to tee in the pressure gauge if your going to use it.

Lg
No neat sig line

 

[Al B]

I just ordered my HD-9XW. Does anyone know the part number for this air bottle so I can add it on to my order? I have a month wait, it is on back order, so it all should arrive the same time anyway.

 

[e-tek]

I just ordered my HD-9XW. Does anyone know the part number for this air bottle so I can add it on to my order? I have a month wait, it is on back order, so it all should arrive the same time anyway.

Sorry,no part #, but it should be on the BP site - others have ordered at the same time.

 

[99SVT]

I just ordered my HD-9XW. Does anyone know the part number for this air bottle so I can add it on to my order? I have a month wait, it is on back order, so it all should arrive the same time anyway.

The number on my invoice is #5215306.

 

[Al B]

Thanks I will call and add it on.

 

[Cryptic1911]

The number on my invoice is #5215306.

I just checked, and that number matches the item# on www.asedeals.com

 

[99SVT]

Ok, since I'm installing the air bottle, the line coming off the lift cylinder, goes to the bottle, instead of back to the HPU.

My question is, do I leave this connection on the HPU plugged, or does something connect to it?

 

[some zilch]

wow, what a jury-rigged setup. i hope you didnt spend any money on that. why would anyone buy that cob-job instead of listening to their "loud" compressor; it must be detroit-powered if its that loud?!

 

[Chris05gto]

That is cool!

 

[e-tek]

wow, what a jury-rigged setup. i hope you didnt spend any money on that. why would anyone buy that cob-job instead of listening to their "loud" compressor; it must be detroit-powered if its that loud?!

That is cool!

Differing opinions - The beauty of Garage Journal!!!

 

[99SVT]

Ok, since I'm installing the air bottle, the line coming off the lift cylinder, goes to the bottle, instead of back to the HPU.

My question is, do I leave this connection on the HPU plugged, or does something connect to it?

Anyone has any input on this?

 

[isaac338]

what's wrong with just leaving your compressor charged? what do you do when you want to top up a tire or something.. sit there and wait for it to fill?

 

[e-tek]

what's wrong with just leaving your compressor charged? what do you do when you want to top up a tire or something.. sit there and wait for it to fill?

Most of us don't want to run our compressors all the time. Unless we are working on some project, there's no need. So, without wanting to run up the compressor just to get your car down, the bottle was invented!

Wish I coul answer the question for you 99SVT.....but I'm still awaiting a proper bottle set-up!

 

[larry_g]

Originally Posted by 99SVT
Ok, since I'm installing the air bottle, the line coming off the lift cylinder, goes to the bottle, instead of back to the HPU.

My question is, do I leave this connection on the HPU plugged, or does something connect to it?

Anyone has any input on this?

I don't have a lift like this so explain to me what is the HPU, is this the hydraulic power unit. If this is so are there two lines from the cylinder to the HPU, one line from each end of the cylinder? I was assuming that the lift cylinder would have only one line on it to apply pressure to lift and then bleed the fluid out to lower.

I was making the assumption also that one port on the cylinder was open to atmosphere and this is where you would connect the accumulator. As the cylinder extends under hydraulic pressure then air is expelled from the other side of the piston and this expelling air is captured and stored in the accumulator.

If my assumptions are not correct on what is actually happening hydraulically then let me know and maybe I can figure what you need to do.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Dragster Racer]

I thought that the air was just for releasing the safety catches? I wonder how many times you could lower a car with the amount of air in that pipe? Pretty clever idea. Anxious to hear how it does.

 

[Grigg]

Sounds to me like the tops of the cylinders were plumbed into the reservoir just as a precaution to not make a mess when the piston seal seals or leaks.
but now the use the top side of the cylinder as an air compressor.
If the piston leaks now it,ll fill the bottle. I hope they have a relief valve because some of those components might not like full hydraulic pressure if a piston seal does fail.

A small CO2 tank and regulator sounds like a better idea to me. Or even a 5 gallon tank you fill every now and then.

Grigg

 

[isaac338]

Most of us don't want to run our compressors all the time. Unless we are working on some project, there's no need. So, without wanting to run up the compressor just to get your car down, the bottle was invented!

Wish I coul answer the question for you 99SVT.....but I'm still awaiting a proper bottle set-up!

My compressor only runs when I'm out there and I turn it on, but the tank stays full of air all the time.. what am I missing?

 

[Chris05gto]

Differing opinions - The beauty of Garage Journal!!!

I guess!

 

[99SVT]

I sent Jeff an email to see about getting me some info on how this thing is plumbed up... this was about 20min ago. About 2min after that, I receive an email from him saying he'll get someone on Monday to send me some stuff... he's on vacation at this time. Great Service!!

Without the bottle in the system, the hydraulic line comes off of the HPU (hydraulic power unit), and runs to a connection on the cylinder, on the end where the ram comes out. At the base of the cylinder, a piece of plastic tubing comes out and goes back to the HPU.

I ran the whole plumbing system like was suggested in the diagram that someone posted... which takes out the tubing going back to the HPU, and routes it to the bottle. Don't know if this is correct or not, but have not powered anything up yet, so no fowl.

I am starting to think that the plastic line should go back to the HPU, and then some plastic line should be connected to the HPU, and out to the bottle.

Hopefully I'll get something in the email tomorrow from Bend Pak... I'll post up what I receive.

 

[e-tek]

My compressor only runs when I'm out there and I turn it on, but the tank stays full of air all the time.. what am I missing?[/QUOTE]

Well, we'd tell you...but we have faith you can figure it out...

 

[99SVT]

Got the instructions on the installation of this bottle... I'll see if I can get them posted.

I believe that the schematic that Larry G posted is correct, so I think what I have done is good. Just need to go home and verify the plumbing.

SO cord should be here this week, so looks like I can try and operate my lift this weekend.