Installing a 4 post lift
 

Well' it's Sunday night and I've just spent part of this weekend installing my new lift.
Rather than add to the other thread here on a group purchase, I thought I'd just throw this out there. I picked this lift up at the freight forwarders Friday afternoon and there in lies the tale. The unit is a Bend-Pak (probably pretty similar to most other 4 post lifts) and brother, is it heavy! This unit shipped at just shy of 1700 lbs. I loaded the ramps and cross braces in my 04 - F-150 and had a friend with his Chivy pickem up help with the light stuff.javascript:smilie(';)') I just want everyone who is planning on getting one of these things to make sure they either have a crane, fork-lift or at least 3 rugged buddies when it comes time to putting these things together. I'm pretty rugged but the ramp with the cylinder attached took 3 of us to lift one end up on the cross bar - 4' up. This thing is all there so don't think you and you wife are gonna get it done unless she's Marjory Maine and you're Hulk Hogan. The directions leave a lot to be desired but a little common sense and you can figure it out. I'll have it done this week after I wire the shop for 220V
and get 4 gallons of hydraulic fluid. It's been fun but it'll let you know in a hurry that you're not 25 anymore!
Good luck all you new buyers! ;)

Thanks 55312, I know we all are interrested in your instalation. I'm sure all of us have put things together with inadequate instructions and/or missing hardware that made the whole thing a nightmare. I live in Southern Ca, where the ground shakes from time to time so the heavier built it is the better. Keep us informed. Thnks Michael

Finished up last night. Pretty simple project but just a couple more suggestions. If the unit calls for 15 qts of Dexron or 10 wt hydraulic fluid, hold back a qt or two until you are sure the cylinder is purged of the air in it. I wasted a quart or so when it overflowed because the cylinder still had air in it. Also, the cables need to all be adjusted exactly the same length so the safeties all "click" at the same time when you raise the lift. The Bend-Pak instructions were convoluted on this point and their adjustments would have made the lift unsafe so I called them and they said it was only a suggestion........Hmmmmm. Anyway, it sure is great having a lift in the shop. Think I'll make a skateboard out of the creeper.................

Thanks , In recent years it seems like the people who write the instructions have never seen the product or at least only seen the product in the co's showroom. You comments about the fluid are particularly telling. You know that if the author had actually done an installation he would have learned like you did. A 1/2 gallon of fluid on the floor isnt something your gonna forget, and having only 1 or 2 safeties catch at the same time is another. I belong to that thread about the lift purchase and its getting down to the nitty gritty with the buy. I hope a majority chooses the Autolifters. When it gets installed I'll email ya to let ya know how ours went. By then you probably will have seen other adjustments that would make it better. Thanks, Youve helped me avoid some problems from the git go. Michael

When I got my lift, the freight company delivered it to my house. They said that we had 30 minutes to unload it without extra charges. About 5 of us took the box apart in the truck and carried the pieces to the garage. The one piece with the hydralics was extreemly heavy. Lifts come in pieces -- some in the 100s of pounds. You are correct in advising to have a group of strong people to unload and assemble the lift. Some beer and food is cheaper than a forklift, etc. Having a group is easier and more fun.

Be sure to place a level mid way on all 4 sides after a few weeks of lifting. The cables will stretch and the unit will need to be re-leveled.

Everything said above certainly matches my installation experience complete with the unloading experience, getting the ramps up on right level to mount, missing nuts, bolts, washers, hydraulic fluid on the floor, etc.

Dano, you're right about rechecking the level, but since many garage floors aren't level, it's more important that the 4 stops are all equal height. That was just my experience. I first leveled the ramps, and then found that the stops were off because the floor wasn't completely level.

Foosh,
I had the same problem with my Superior lift. I found that when I placed a level on each of the posts to insure they were level, perpendicular to the floor, then on to each of the ramps and supports,to insure they were level to the horizon, they were off balance. It also changed before I anchored the posts to the floor when I checked the level with the cobra, then with the Expedition on half lift elevations. I had to find a good mid point between both settings in order to keep the lift squared because the garage wasn't exactly on square.