Serious Safety Issue - Please Read

[BLACKJACK]

HI, GUYS,

I PURCHASED AN "AUTO-LIFTER" AUTOLIFTER(?) IN SEPTEMBER OF 1999. I'VE ALWAYS LIKED IT AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED IT - - I STILL DO, HOWEVER - - -

LAST WEEK I HAD MY FORD EXPEDITION ON THE LIFT. I COULD ONLY RAISE IT ABOUT 18" DUE TO THE HEIGHT OF MY GARAGE CEILING.
I HAD CHANGED THE OIL AND WAS UNDER THE REAR OF THE CAR CHECKING THE AIR BAG SUSPENSION COMPONENTS WHICH HAD COLAPSED. I WAS LYING ON ONE SIDE HOLDING A FLASHLIGHT IN ONE HAND AND PULLING ON THE SUSPENSION WITH THE OTHER; SEVERAL INTERESTING THINGS HAPPENED IN QUICK SUCESSION:

1. A SOUND LIKE THE DISCHARGE OF A .38 SPECIAL.

2. SOMETHING FLASHED PAST MY NOSE AND HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF MY BASEBALL CAP.

3. SAME "SOMETHING" KNOCKED MY BB CAP UNDER NEATH THE GT-40 IN THE ADJACENT BAY AND CONTINUED ACROSS THE GARAGE AND BURRIED ITSELF IN A CASTROL OIL BOX.

4. THE LIFT "DROPPED" ABOUT 6 INCHES (REMEMBER, IT WAS ONLY 18" UP TO BEGIN WITH).

5. MY LIFE (OR AT LEAST THE BAD PARTS OF IT) PASSED BEFORE MY EYES IN AN INSTANT.

6. I COMPLETELY RUINED A BRAND NEW SET OF "FRUIT-OF-THE-LOOMS" IN THAT SAME INSTANT.

THE PROBLEM HERE WAS ONE OF THE PLASTIC (COMPOSITE) HORIZONTAL LOAD PULLEYS "EXPLODED" INTO THREE PIECES. THE SECOND LARGEST PIECE WAS THE "SOMETHING" THAT 'TIPPED MY HAT'. NOW - - -

** THE AUTO-LIFTER IS "RATED" AT 6000 LBS.

** IT'S TESTED AT 18,000 LBS.

** THE FORD EXPEDITION IS LISTED AY 5340 LBS.

ALL OF THE ABOVE FIGURES ARE FROM AUTO-LIFTER'S OWN BROCHURES.

I CALLED A.L. THE NEXT MORNING, EXPLAINED MY SITUATION AND WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY - IT'S STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS WOULD HAVE LOOKED GREAT ON MY DAMN TOMBSTONE. I EXPLAINED TO THE GENTLEMAN THAT HE HAD COME WITHIN AN INCH OF MAKING MY THREE SONS VERY WEALTHY. (NOT TO MENTION THEIR ATTORNEYS).

I WAS INFORMED OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. THE COMPOSITE (PLASTIC) PULLEYS WERE FINE FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER. HOWEVER, THEY WERE NO LONGER USING THAT MANUFACTURER BUT A DIFFERENT ONE.

2. THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS "JUST LIKE MINE" WITH THE LATTER COMPOSITE PULLEYS.

3. THEY ARE NOW USING STEEL PULLEYS.

HE SENT ME A COMPLETE SET OF TEN NEW "STEEL" PULLEYS. I ASKED WHY THEY HAD NOT NOTIFIED THE PURCHASERS OF THESE "INTERMEDIATE" PULLEY EQUIPED LIFTS. HIS ANSWER: "I'M NOT SURE". I EXPLAINED THAT MY EDITION OF "BLACKS" LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT PRODUCING (OR USING) A DEFECTIVE PART THAT CAUSES INJURY MIGHT WELL BE CONSTRUED AS NEGLIGENCE; CONTINUING TO USE IT MIGHT BE GROSS NEGLIGENCE; DELIBERATLEY NOT INFORMING PREVIOUS PURCHASERS OF A KNOWN SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE MIGHT EVEN BE CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE.

NOW - - AS I MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET - I'M NOT TICKED -OFF AT AUTO-LIFTERS. I STILL THINK IT'S A GREAT PRODUCT MADE BY VERY NICE PEOPLE.

I SIMPLY WANT TO MAKE ANY A.L. OWNERS AWARE OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONTACT AUTO-LIFTERS AND REQUEST THAT THEY IMMEDIATELY REPLACE YOUR PULLEYS (ALL TEN OF THEM) WITH THE NEW STEEL VERSIONS. I'D THINK TWICE (AT LEAST) ABOUT GETTING UNDER THE LIFT UNTIL THE PULLEYS WERE CHANGED. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT ME. I'LL TRY TO HELP.

MEANWHILE - - STAY SAFE - AND - Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK