Hoist cable shreaded!

[427SSSS]

I cannot believe what I saw, when I was raising car, I've had this hoist for 4 years, always worked fine, but, yesterday scared me.

[joyridin']

Just think if that was a chain. It would have outright broke.

[DanEC]

What a frightning discovery. Do you know of any specific cause for it happening? My lift is about 16 -17 years old and I fear something going out on it that I won't notice quickly.

[Karl Bebout]

Happened to me, too. Thank goodness for the safety stops. "off shore" cables. Found a steel vendor in Phoenix that made up a new cable for me. At least it wasn't a difficult repair....just exciting.

[Gaz64]

Originally Posted by joyridin'

Just think if that was a chain. It would have outright broke.

It IS broken.

Scary stuff, I have used many hoists many times, and haven't seen a cable break.

Glad nobody injured.

Gary

[427SSSS]

OK, Kids, how do I get 2000 pound cobra down from 3-1/2 feet high? Will cable snap, will car drop 3-1/2 feet?

[1795]

Room for a fork lift? If you have overhead supports you might be able to fashion a means of using an electronic hoist or block and tackle to lower it down?

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by 427SSSS

OK, Kids, how do I get 2000 pound cobra down from 3-1/2 feet high? Will cable snap, will car drop 3-1/2 feet?

I think that would be a really good question for the vendor, along with raising hell the likes of which even an unreasonable person has never considered doing. What you experienced cannot happen. They need to put someone on a friggin' plane and send them to your house.

"What brand lift is this?" Let them know that's the question you're being asked and you're considering sharing it along with the pictures on every car website known to man. "Shyte happens"... but shyte like that cannot happen.

[snakeeyes]

Engine hoist at each end?

[Jaydee]

My brother in law had a cable snap on a 2 post Molnar hoist and it was above the safety catch and as it dropped it skipped over the catch and dropped all the way from the top to the ground. Lucky he wasn't under it. He's to scared to ever use a hoist again only pits. JD

[Karl Bebout]

If the ramps are stopped on the safety catch, just replace the cable and operate the lift. I'm thinking that would be much safer than using a couple engine lifts or a fork lift. I would hope you can find a steel supplier that actually makes up steel cables, with all the industry around CA. Certainly not a very technical repair.

[427SSSS]

Thanks for all the suggestions!
No overhead supports to hang from.
Couple of engine lifts, maybe.
Need to find paperwork, there is a name on the hydraulic tank apparatus. Don't remember at this minute what it is.
Raise hell, you betcha, I'm an expert at doing that when the situation warrants it.

[byron w]

please post the mfg when you find it.

Thanks,
Byron

[427SSSS]

I certainly will..

[hauss]

Find out why debris ,improper cable routeing, bad pulley, are just a few ideas.You were lucky my friend. I have seen pulleys fail and cables slip off tracts make sure all sliders pulleys cables are in proper working order and properly lubed.

[Randall Thomas]

427SSSS, to get your car off the lift and providing the end of the lift is open to the garage entry, hire a typical flat bed tow truck to back up to your lift, Extend and lower the deck to the height of your lift and transfer your car to the flatbed, and then roll off onto the ground.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by 427SSSS

OK, Kids, how do I get 2000 pound cobra down from 3-1/2 feet high? Will cable snap, will car drop 3-1/2 feet?

Each wheel has about 650lbs on it. Buy enough 12 x 2's that you can cut them to form a 42" stack under each wheel. Put easily removable carriage bolts down through each piece of wood so that the pieces form one large piece but you can still remove each piece from the top, one at a time. Rent a transmission jack and raise each wheel enough so that you can stack the pieces under each wheel thereby removing the weight of the car from the broken lift. Remove the old broken lift and then use the transmission jack to raise each wheel, one at a time, and "walk" around the corners of the car removing one piece of wood at a time from each wheel as you lower the car.

or

Have the manufacturer replace the broken parts without damaging your car.

and

Call your insurance companies (both homeowner's, which might cover the broken lift, and the Cobra's insurance company as well) and ask them if any of your policies will help you get your ass out of this mess.

[427SSSS]

Randal best idea yet. My regular flatbed car trailer is 18" + /- off ground, back.it up, reverse ramps. Take atv around front, use cable wench to control relase, lower from.lift to tralier, 2' +/-, drive away. Use trailer wench to.pull car off hoist onto trailer.

Patrickk

Very good ideas, thanks, never thought about ins company.

[dacobb]

Did you figure out what brand it is? Domestic made, or China?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dacobb

Did you figure out what brand it is? Domestic made, or China?

I think it's a Chinese Cobra.