Placed my BendPak Order Today

[SaddleBronc]

Yes, I finally took the big step and ordered a lift for my farm shop. A BendPak HD-9XL and accessories should be arriving before Christmas...fingers crossed.

I'm a new member, but have been lurking for a few days reading many threads on 4-post lifts. Like many, I prefer to purchase goods made in the US. However, I also recognize the reality of our global economy. It has been endorsed and enabled by our government - which like it or not, is "us". In that context, sometimes other factors outweigh the country of origin. Not trying to start any new debates (plenty of those already taking up space), but I do have a perspective that may be useful to others considering such a purchase.

I'm one of those "paralysis by analysis" guys who do extensive research - sometimes overboard - when considering a purchase. This board has been just one resource I've used, but a good one. In the past few weeks, I've spent many hours pouring over manufacturer and retailer websites and reading hundreds of comments and reviews.

With all of those points in play, I can say that there are three things that sold me on BendPak.

1. Extensive options, configurations and accessories. I like that they produce a wide range of products and have a global footprint with their diverse product line.

2. I believe they have solid designs, continuous R&D and product improvements that it would be difficult for a smaller manufacturer to match.

3. Finally, the fact that Jeff (a BendPak exec participating in this forum as user JSK) continues to regularly engage here on behalf of his company and is clearly passionate about customer support just flat impressed me.

​

So JSK, kudos to you for the way you interact and engage with this sizeable customer base, and take a bit of satisfaction in knowing that your actions helped sell another lift today - to someone who was carefully watching from the sidelines. I hope that in a few weeks you can add me to the list of satisfied BendPak owners.

Regards...Paul

 

[Rhsty]

Congratulations!!!,I got my bend pak back in may totally changed the whole garage for ease of working on my stuff,hope you enjoy it as much as i enjoy mine.

 

[akdiesel]

They make a garage or shop look small once installed but make a big improvement on work.
Congrats.

 

[SaddleBronc]

Thanks, guys. The main bay of the shop is 30' deep and 46' wide, with a 20' awning and a 50x15 woodshop on one end. I'm having to make room (clear out a couple of projects), but I should be able to raise my truck to the full capacity of the lift.

In that space, it will definitely be an obstacle for some activities, but should really add to my capabilities. In fact, it will almost guarantee that I've always got at least one place to pull a vehicle into that side of the shop.

I do have a question about assembly. I've read enough of the assembly manual to see that a fork lift would really help, and I have a fork lift attachment for my backhoe. Problem is, the backhoe won't fit in the shop without lowering the hoe by extending it, and that makes it very clumsy to maneuver...almost certain to tear something up.

One reason I opted for the HD9 was for the portablity, and I did get the caster set. I'm wondering if it's feasible to assemble the lift on the apron outside, where I have plenty of room to use the fork-equipped backhoe, then roll the assembled lift inside. The only issue I can see with this is that the apron is not very level...it has some fall in two directions for drainage.

So could I do a rough assembly, then roll it in and do the final adjustments? I'd just like to hear if someone who's assembled one of these sees any war-stoppers with that idea.

Thanks...Paul

 

[Crusty Nut]

I assembled mine alone with just a cherry picker and 2 furniture dolly's in about 5 or 6 hours. With 2 able bodied people it would be a breeze. I would just build it in place and skip the backhoe. The hardest part of the whole install is getting the carriages on the posts, and that really isn't very hard. Moving the runways into place is easy with the tools I used. I haven't moved mine around but cant imagine it will like moving over the transition at the apron

 

[SaddleBronc]

Thanks, Crusty...that's good info. I suspected the instructions were written with extreme caution to protect us dumb consumers from ourselves...gotta love those lawyers.

 

[akdiesel]

I also used the cherry picker / engine hoist.

 

[darkk]

ASSEMBLY PICTURES: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39357&page=13
We have our 4 post HD9XW lift install documented in pictures starting with post # 243 in our 30x30 garage addition in the forum here. It took my son and I a few hours to assemble with normal hand tools, an engine hoist and a few ratchet straps. Check my signature for the complete build link.

 

[SaddleBronc]

Thanks for the breadcrumbs, darkk. Your writeup is printed and will be used to supplement/replace the factory docs. I've got a cherry picker, straps and chains...all I need to do is entice my sons to return home for a few days to assist.

BTW, that's an amazing body of work on your garage - easy to see you have a lot of pride in your efforts.

 

[stingry]

One reason I opted for the HD9 was for the portablity, and I did get the caster set. I'm wondering if it's feasible to assemble the lift on the apron outside, where I have plenty of room to use the fork-equipped backhoe, then roll the assembled lift inside. The only issue I can see with this is that the apron is not very level...it has some fall in two directions for drainage.

So could I do a rough assembly, then roll it in and do the final adjustments? I'd just like to hear if someone who's assembled one of these sees any war-stoppers with that idea.

Thanks...Paul

Exactly what I did. Assembled myself with a tractor/loader and a cherry picker on the cement approach, put it up on the casters and pulled it inside with a riding lawnmower. My approach only slopes one way but I think you can do it. The biggest problem is getting all 4 casters pointed in the right direction!! Some help here would be great. Also, I hate to state the obvious, but make sure the door is tall enough!!

Cheers
Steve

 

[1507dennis]

Excellent purchase!!!! I got a Bendpak last year and use it more than I thought and wish I bought one years ago......

 

[roaddog359]

Congrats!! Ii got my bend pak HD9 XW and 2 rj 45 rolling jacks with there power station and airline kit as well as the bend pak ranger wheel dollies "go carts" Jeff and the gang are the best.

 

[ket-tek]

You do not need a forklift for assembly like the others mentioned. A furniture dolly and a engine hoist works.

DO NOT assemble the crosstubes with the columns standing up like the manual shows with a forklift, lay the columns down, put the crosstube on a furniture dolly and roll it into the columns all the way then stand both columns up together.

The you use the engine hoist to lift the runways and wheel them over and set them on the cross tubes.

Smooth sailing after that.

 

[SaddleBronc]

You do not need a forklift for assembly like the others mentioned. A furniture dolly and a engine hoist works.

DO NOT assemble the crosstubes with the columns standing up like the manual shows with a forklift...

Sounds like the same process that darkk documented with great pics in his reference post above. Definitely the route I'm going to take.

Congrats!! Ii got my bend pak HD9 XW and 2 rj 45 rolling jacks with there power station and airline kit as well as the bend pak ranger wheel dollies "go carts" Jeff and the gang are the best.

I also opted for the RJ-45 and the power station. I would like to hear ideas from those who've done it...which corner is best for the hydraulic gear, and the power station? There are bound to be some +/- factors, and I can run my 220V and air lines anywhere I want.

 

[stingry]

Sounds like the same process that darkk documented with great pics in his reference post above. Definitely the route I'm going to take.



I also opted for the RJ-45 and the power station. I would like to hear ideas from those who've done it...which corner is best for the hydraulic gear, and the power station? There are bound to be some +/- factors, and I can run my 220V and air lines anywhere I want.

Here's a picture of my lift
View media item 26297There is only one post that you can mount the hydraulic pump on. It can be mounted on the other side of the post if one cares to do so. I put the power station on the same side as the pump on the other post. I do not have electical ran to it yet.

Cheers
Steve

 

[SaddleBronc]

Re: Setting up my new HD-9XW

Thanks Steve - super-clean garage & cool toys! That pic helps me better visualize what I'm planning in my shop.

I've positioned my power unit like yours, and will be working on the wiring and air plumbing next. I do plan to put a 220/250V receptacle up high and plug the lift into it, so I can disconnect and move as desired.

Question - how are you providing filtered & lubricated air to the lift release valve/cylinders? Does the coiled yellow line in front feed thru the copper line to the rear coiled line? Can't be sure from the pic.

I also want 110V and air (the Utility Workstation) at the front of the lift, but don't really want to put two filter/lube setups on one lift. Kinda tricky if I want to keep it mobile.

Paul

 

[HIRISC]

There is only one post that you can mount the hydraulic pump on. It can be mounted on the other side of the post if one cares to do so. I put the power station on the same side as the pump on the other post. I do not have electical ran to it yet. Cheers Steve

True, but one may rotate the lift 180 degrees - so that the pump is on the 'front' post

Congrat's and welcome Paul.

 

[stingry]

Re: Setting up my new HD-9XW

Thanks Steve - super-clean garage & cool toys! That pic helps me better visualize what I'm planning in my shop.

I've positioned my power unit like yours, and will be working on the wiring and air plumbing next. I do plan to put a 220/250V receptacle up high and plug the lift into it, so I can disconnect and move as desired.

Question - how are you providing filtered & lubricated air to the lift release valve/cylinders? Does the coiled yellow line in front feed thru the copper line to the rear coiled line? Can't be sure from the pic.

The copper line is my shop air system. It is filtered and regulated at the compressor. I do not use an oiler. Don't like them, they just seem to leave oil residue in the lines which can be a pain, especially if you want to paint. I just lube my air tools at the tool air inlet. If you feel the need to lubricate the lock disconnect cylinders, you could just squirt some air tool oil into the lines at the disconnect, although I don't think oiling is necessary due to how little they are used. The coiled line at the front is for the lock releases. It uses a quik connect so it can be disconnected for other uses, such as the sliding air jack. The rear coiled hose supplies the power station.I also want 110V and air (the Utility Workstation) at the front of the lift, but don't really want to put two filter/lube setups on one lift. Kinda tricky if I want to keep it mobile.

Paul

Thanks for the compliment!!

Cheers
Steve

 

[2001RedCoupeBandit]

Jeff is the MAIN reason I got my BendPak Lift. Mine's been in a few weeks, but with ciompany here I barely had time to enjoy it. Congrats and I wish I had as deep of a garage as you do.

 

[Old Moparz]

I put 2 of the Bend Pak HD-9's together several years ago & posted about it here.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=636&highlight=Bend+Pak

One thing to pay attention to is the cables that run through the front & rear cross supports. You feed them through the hollow tubes, but there is a chance you can get it fed over one of the bolts & screw up the cable. I made a sketch so you can see what I am talking about so anyone else assembling one won't do what I did.

Even though Bend Pak wasn't responsible for the cable getting ruined, they sent me a replacement at no cost & no shipping. Their customer service is awesome.

------------------------------

Okay, here's the problem I had during the installation. The cables run inside the hollow supports at the front & rear of the lift, & travel under one of the parking runners to the hydraulic cylinder. There are guide wheels at both ends of the runner, but one cable jumped off the wheel & got wedged when the lift was in the up position.

I couldn't lower the lift, so I had to partially disassemble it to correct the problem. The cable ended up above the bolts that hold the parking runners to the front & rear supports. They must all be below the bolts to keep them perfectly horizontal to the floor. There's no mention of this in the installation manual, & no way of seeing where the cable is once you snake it through to the 4 posts from the cylinder.

Some of the metal strands in the cable became frayed, but after prying the cable out from where it was wedged, I made it worse. There was no other way to unwedge it, so I knew I would have to replace the damaged cable. Once I managed to get it out I saw why it got wedged in the first place & corrected it. Then I was worried about the first lift I installed & went to inspect it & saw it was fine.

I'm emailed the sketch to the salesman who sold it to me in hopes that they add this info to the manual so nobody else has the same problem. It could have been worse if the cable didn't get wedged on the first test run. I may have put a car on & had used it, maybe having the thing stuck in the up position, or the bolts would wear out the cable from rubbing against it & drop the car one day.

Hydraulic Mgt. Inc. (The Auto Lift Shop)

Spoke with Dave Harper, Proprietor

http://www.e-autolifts.com/index.html

 

[SaddleBronc]

...in hopes that they add this info to the manual so nobody else has the same problem.

Good info, Bob. Whether from your feedback/sketch or not, there are strong warnings in a couple of spots in the manual to ensure the cables run below the bolts, just as you describe.

If you're interested, they have the current HD-9 manual (even later than what shipped with mine) on their website, here.

Thanks...Paul

 

[darnelld]

Just ordered mine! BendPak HD-9WX for the home we are moving into...they won't deliver it for 6wks (when we arrive)...I can't wait!