Run away Bendpak lift

[jpig]

I installed my XPR-10 about a month ago. When I ran the the power to the lift I decided to install a disconnect box on the power side column to give myself a quick method of securing the power if need be. My cousin and I were under the lift looking for a grounding problem on my truck when the lift powered on and started to go up! No one around the controls, I was able to get to the disconnect to stop it. After calming down a bit we did some investigating. Disconnected one side of the push button and turned the power back on and up she went. We figured it must have been the relay (microswitch) that the push button is connected to that failed. Called Bendpak twice no return call, called Jessica from M & J Distributing she called Bendpak. Got a call from Bendpak pretty quick, they said there was a problem with some of their relays. He said he would ship me another one on Monday. With all of that I guess what I'm saying is I would suggest that you install a disconnect somewhere fairly close to your lift. My main panel is about 40 feet from my lift. By the way I love my lift!

 

[T_R]

I've had it happen at work. The button stuck and the lift took off in the bay the next to mine with a car on it. That lift had a disconnect and we hit it. The rest of the lifts don't. It's not a bad idea. You can just yank the power cord out too.

 

[RobSmith]

Thats not good...what if nobody was around and the relay failed....disaster.

 

[raddksn]

A disconnect nearby is never a bad idea! Glad nobody got hurt!!!

 

[Richard Cranium]

sounds scary to me.

 

[sublimate]

When I ran the the power to the lift I decided to install a disconnect box on the power side column to give myself a quick method of securing the power if need be.

Can you post pics? I need to do this.

 

[Streetbu]

You can just yank the power cord out too.

Mostlifts are hardwired, no cord to unplug, hence why the OP is using a disconnect.

 

[manwithtools]

That is a strange thing for a "relay" to do. They will fail "on" and not shut off, they will fail "off" and not allow operation, but to just turn on by themselves.... that is a almost unheard off.

You mention micro-switch and relay - they are not the same thing. Which part is it that Bendpack is replacing and says "there was a problem with some of their relays" ?

I would want more explanation than that. Glad you had the disconnect.

 

[PoorOwner]

so this can happen even if you were not there it could just shoot straight into the roof At anytime?

using a second relay and ceiling switch you would be able to cut the power to the pump power line too.

 

[manwithtools]

so this can happen even if you were not there it could just shoot straight into the roof At anytime?

using a second relay and ceiling switch you would be able to cut the power to the pump power line too.

You could do something along those lines, but why should you have to? Something is rotten in Denmark regarding this problem to begin with. Devices like this lift should not just startup without someone pushing the start button. Does anything else you own that is electrically powered start without our turning on the switch - with the possible exception of things like air compressors and heating systems?

 

[Matt M PA]

I did this on my 4 post...I read (I think on these forums) that the button could stick "on"...sorry for the crooked pic...posting from my phone...

 

[T_R]

Mostlifts are hardwired, no cord to unplug, hence why the OP is using a disconnect.

Strange, every shop I have worked at there has been a plug right at the motor.

 

[manwithtools]

Strange, every shop I have worked at there has been a plug right at the motor.

Don't tell that in the electrical section of this site - someone will pronounce that cord can't be legally used to wire a lift

 

[kabinenroller]

BendPak has a problem. The push button on my lift sticks periodically, I have taken it apart and lubed the button and it helps but the button just actuates a micro switch which could stick. I have a twist loc cord cap on my power cord but know I plan to install a disconnect on the power box.
I do not think I will purchase a BendPak again. There are too many "features" that I dislike. The ladders for the pawl locks are not contained in the uprights so they "clang" on the sides of the posts. Also the locks are very difficult to adjust and synchronize, if adjusted with the lift empty they work different when it is loaded.
I am very cautious when lifting one of my vehicles, when I raise it and then lower it onto the locks I check to make sure each cable is slack. ( which means the Pawl is engaged)
My lift was installed by a BendPak authorized installer, so you would think it is done correctly.

 

[T_R]

The sticking switch I would be worried about. Noise and locks not engaging probably only matter to a homeowner type user. In a shop nobody cares about noises and nobody uses the locks.

 

[fordnut85]

That would scare the **** out of me Glad no one was hurt or anything damaged.

The sticking switch I would be worried about. Noise and locks not engaging probably only matter to a homeowner type user. In a shop nobody cares about noises and nobody uses the locks.

I have to disagree, If any of my guys are caught not setting a lift down on the locks they only get one warning before termination. Also, my guys don't need to listen to a constant clanging every time one goes up on the rack. I know it sounds trivial but they have enough distractions and a hard enough job as it is, they don't need to go home every night looking for tylenol to kill the headaches from a noisy work enviroment.

 

[tractordude]

My forward lift will do this when its humid out. The owners manual states it must have a disconnect close to the push button.

 

[jpig]

The wiring diagram in the manual calls it the push button microswitch but the push button and the microswitch are two different things. If that makes any sense. The man from Bendpak is the one that called it a relay. Hope he sends the right part. Every time I was done using the lift I would pull the disconnect and glad I did, can't imagine what would have happen had it failed and no one around. Yes I can, the lift would go up, cylinders would extend fully and relief valve would unseat, pump would keeping pumping causing everything to over heat and result in complete pump failure.

 

[jpig]

Can't figure out how to post a picture, sorry.

 

[Theruse]

I had also heard of these problems. So I added both a cut off switch and and outlet on the bendpak column. Since I wanted to be able to move the lift I mounted the two boxes on magnetic tool holders strips I purchased at HF. This way if I want to move the lift i unplug the motor unit and pull the magnet with the two outlet boxes off the column. As a precaution I turn off the cutoff switch when not in use, so no issue of a rogue relay.

 

[UpstateNY]

As a precaution I turn off the cutoff switch when not in use, so no issue of a rogue relay.

Unless you forget to turn off the cutoff switch .

 

[holdover]

problem or not, I put in a dual pole switch that disconnects power to the lift motor, when I installed the lifts seven years ago. My lifts are powered from above and the switch is slightly above the motor in easy reach for an adult. Never had an emergency where I had to use it, BUT I shut the lifts off with the switch when not in use in case the grand kids try to play with it, even thought they have been told not to be in the garage without an adult. My dad always used the expression "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" your mileage may vary

 

[Bellaireroad]

I installed my XPR-10 about a month ago. When I ran the the power to the lift I decided to install a disconnect box on the power side column to give myself a quick method of securing the power if need be. My cousin and I were under the lift looking for a grounding problem on my truck when the lift powered on and started to go up! No one around the controls, I was able to get to the disconnect to stop it. After calming down a bit we did some investigating. Disconnected one side of the push button and turned the power back on and up she went. We figured it must have been the relay (microswitch) that the push button is connected to that failed. Called Bendpak twice no return call, called Jessica from M & J Distributing she called Bendpak. Got a call from Bendpak pretty quick, they said there was a problem with some of their relays. He said he would ship me another one on Monday. With all of that I guess what I'm saying is I would suggest that you install a disconnect somewhere fairly close to your lift. My main panel is about 40 feet from my lift. By the way I love my lift!

Wow.....this sounds like a tragedy waiting to happen.
I'm surprised a Bendpack representative told you that there was a problem with some of the relays and a recall has not been done.

 

[mp333]

Wow.

 

[vision8]

Our electrical code requires a disconnect within eye-sight of the lift. My Rotary has a toggle switch for the motor and i will feed the hoist from a disconnect 12 feet from the motor.
Cdn codes are for an industrial application.
Al in Dundas

 

[WhiffySpark]

so this can happen even if you were not there it could just shoot straight into the roof At anytime?

using a second relay and ceiling switch you would be able to cut the power to the pump power line too.

Not really.. There's a cutoff switch at the top.

I had a lift that had a button stick all the time. You had to smack it to get it to stop. Owner didn't care.

 

[workhurts]

Not really.. There's a cutoff switch at the top.

I had a lift that had a button stick all the time. You had to smack it to get it to stop. Owner didn't care.

Cut-off switch at the top of what? I don't see any sensors or anything on the bendpak and even if there were, by the time it got to the top I think my car would be a little squished.

I usually pull the power or just turn off the breaker when on vacation but I'll be doing that all the time now in case it decides to do it's own thing when I'm not at home.

While working on it, I can unplug it if it gets crazy.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Cut-off switch at the top of what? I don't see any sensors or anything on the bendpak and even if there were, by the time it got to the top I think my car would be a little squished.

I usually pull the power or just turn off the breaker when on vacation but I'll be doing that all the time now in case it decides to do it's own thing when I'm not at home.

While working on it, I can unplug it if it gets crazy.

There should be a bar on the bottom of the cross bar. When roof touches that it shuts off. All the ones I've seen are mechanical, they pull something out of the switch housing when it touches.

 

[workhurts]

There should be a bar on the bottom of the cross bar. When roof touches that it shuts off. All the ones I've seen are mechanical, they pull something out of the switch housing when it touches.

Was thinking bendpak in general. I have a 4 post ... no crossbar.

 

[WhiffySpark]

No no cross bar on 4 posts. Never seen any safety items on 4 posts except for the locks. But even those ****. If you're not paying attention you can end up missing the lock on one post when lowering. Hunter machines will beep until you fix it

Most people with 4 posts have the ceiling space so no safety's needed

 

[volaredon]

at an old employer we had 4 Rotary lifts, all 2 post and on one, I replaced the switch at least 2-3 times during the 10 years I'd worked there, 2 of the 4 lifts were brand new within a year before I went to work there in a brand new expansion of the shop, it was on one of these 2 newer Rotarys (these lifts are 22 years old now, IDK of any issues in last 11 years since its been that long since I worked there LOL) The older 2 never had a problem in the time I was there, one of the 2 newer ones though did,,,
the switch would stick "on" when pushed, never did its trick by itself, only when the button would be pushed. It did raise all the way to the stop bar one time that I remember before I could get to the breaker 15 feet away, no damage.

 

[tractordude]

There should be a bar on the bottom of the cross bar. When roof touches that it shuts off. All the ones I've seen are mechanical, they pull something out of the switch housing when it touches.

I have a forward 2 post floor plate model, no top bar. You need a manual disconnect on ALL lifts.

 

[tractordude]

Most people with 4 posts have the ceiling space so no safety's needed

So the lift maxes out at 2a.m. no one around. Pumps and hydraulics run until ???

 

[jpig]

I received my replacement switch yesterday installed it today and everything worked just fine. Bendpak said they would send the part out on Monday but I received it on Monday kudos to Bendpak. Also a big thanks to M & J Distributing for their help. My advice to anyone putting in a auto lift install a disconnect box within arms reach. I think Bendpak should include one for each unit they ship!