My new lift has left me high and dry

[stepinwolf]

I'm up in the air with this @#$%&* lift.

I have just recently purchased a new lift for my garage, and things are not going as good as I had expected. I settled on a " Bend-Pak ", model SP-7X model, purchased it from " Automotive Services Equipment " in CA, and after having waited more then 5 days after it was promised, it finally arrived a week ago last Friday.

I set it up myself in a few hours, after having gone through the poorly written instruction manual at least four times. Then during the afternoon I was finally able to hit the " up " bottom to have it gently rise off the floor. Then in order to service it, and grease the assorted rollers and tracks, I pressed the " down " button, only to get no response what so ever from the lift. I believe an appropriate term would be " dead in the water ", zilch, na-na, nothing going on.

I checked out all the various hook-ups, and found that according to the wiring digram in the manual, two of the wires coming from the " DN " switch, had been reversed from the factory. Well as you already have probably guessed, when I reversed the connection, it had no effect what so ever on the operation.

I then ( late Friday ) got in touch with the seller " ASE " only to be told that they do not have anything to do with the service, and that I should get in touch with the manufacturer Bend-Pak. A phone call to their offices put me in touch with a recording asking me to leave a message. Well I told them that I had a mal-function, and that because of the position ( check pic ) of the lift, it had become an emergency for me. Well as it turned out the weekend passed, along with a good portion of the following Monday before I was able to get a response.

Their tech support, diagnosed the problem as being an electrically controlled solenoid, and I was asked how I wanted this to be addressed. I told them that if they could overnight the switch to me I would gladly replace it myself. Well here is where the fun starts.

I was told that I should expect the package the next day with UPS. When two days had passed, and still no switch, I called and was able to obtain the " waybill " number, only to realize that it had been sent " Standard " . All this time the lift was in the garage door opening, and I could no longer get any cars in or out of the garage.

I then called the factory again, and was told that a mistake had been made in the shipping, and that a second switch would be sent out immediately, and that I should expect it the next day. As it turned out , this also was a load of crap, because the waybill number showed that rather then being sent " Express next day " it was sent " expedite, with a two day delivery, or four to five days if it falls on a weekend.

It has now been nine days since the lift is in the doorway, stuck in the up position, and still no packages. After doing more then a few traces, I was finally able to see where the boxes were.

The first shipment took five days to travel from Ventura CA to Los Angeles CA, and as of the last Friday the 5th, it has not moved from LA.

The second box was sent out last Thursday the 4th from Ventura, and is still in transit after four days. See below the various details on the shipments.

First shipment

5/5/2006 1:08:00 AM EXPORT SCAN LOS ANGELES, CA US
5/5/2006 12:34:00 AM UNLOAD SCAN LOS ANGELES, CA US
5/4/2006 11:27:00 PM ARRIVAL SCAN LOS ANGELES, CA US
5/4/2006 10:00:00 PM DEPARTURE SCAN VENTURA, CA US
5/4/2006 7:24:00 PM UPS INTERNAL ACTIVITY CODE;FORWARDED TO THE FACILITY IN THE DESTINATION CITY VENTURA, CA US
5/4/2006 5:49:00 PM ORIGIN SCAN VENTURA, CA US
5/4/2006 3:34:00 PM THE COMMERCIAL INVOICE IS MISSING AND IS REQUIRED FOR EXPORT;RELEASED BY CLEARING AGENCY. NOW IN-TRANSIT FOR DELIVERY VENTURA, CA US
5/1/2006 9:23:00 PM THE COMMERCIAL INVOICE IS MISSING AND IS REQUIRED FOR EXPORT VENTURA, CA US
5/1/2006 9:19:00 PM UPS INTERNAL ACTIVITY CODE;UPS CONTACTED THE SENDER VENTURA, CA US
5/1/2006 5:50:00 PM BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED US

Second shipment

5/6/2006 5:06:00 AM IN TRANSIT TO LACHINE, PQ CA
5/6/2006 5:05:00 AM DEPARTURE SCAN LOUISVILLE, KY US
5/5/2006 1:09:00 PM EXPORT SCAN LOUISVILLE, KY US
5/5/2006 1:01:00 PM EXPORT SCAN LOUISVILLE, KY US
5/5/2006 11:55:00 AM ARRIVAL SCAN LOUISVILLE, KY US
5/5/2006 5:21:00 AM DEPARTURE SCAN ONTARIO, CA US
5/5/2006 12:37:00 AM LOCATION SCAN ONTARIO, CA US
5/4/2006 11:59:00 PM ARRIVAL SCAN ONTARIO, CA US
5/4/2006 10:00:00 PM DEPARTURE SCAN VENTURA, CA US
5/4/2006 9:21:00 PM ORIGIN SCAN VENTURA, CA US
5/4/2006 6:16:00 PM BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED US

In closing, and in all fairness, I am delighted with my new lift, and the overall quality of the unit. As for the support, after the sale, there is only one word for it and it's " Bull-Shît "

Sorry for the long post, but I had to get it off my chest.

Stepinwolf

 

[firstgear]

yikes!!!

 

[67HEAVEN]

Damn. What a way to offer service to people.

(busy scratching that vendor off my list) ad

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

adIt took us 3 months to get the Snap-On lift squared away but we are on the other side of the pond and about ½ of that time was waiting for various government inspectors to approve something or other.ad

Damn. What a way to offer service to people.

More and more customer service is disappearing every day. I guess that they take their lead from our elected goverment officials.:W

BTW Let us know how you like the scissor lift system after living with it for a while. We have been thinking about one for the next house but that is several years away.

 

[grumpyvette]

IM SOOOOOO GLAD I THOUGHT THRU THE PURCHASE OF MY LIFT

ok having just gone thru this , Id point out that theres a HUGE differance in the REPLACEMENT PARTS availability and TECH SUPPORT availability and getting the lift installed correctly between the americam made and chinese built lifts, http://www.ben-pearson.com/9000si.shtml

I called these guys and got REAL PEOPLE ON SITE THE NEXT DAY

when I had a minor problem the first time I used the lift the guys took the time to explain WHAT I had Done WRONG over the phone clearly and I fixed it , by following thier clear instructions, (I HAD FAILED TO PUSH AND CONTINUE TOO HOLD DOWN A LEVER FIRMLY....yet they still offered to send a guy bye to check if I wanted one!

 

[stepinwolf]

Well Grumpy, I too went for an American made model, and had I been any closer to the seller/manfacturer, I'm sure I would not have had any problems in getting local help.

However I live only about 3500 miles ( East coast of Canada ) from them so I guess that in my case, on site service is not something I can expect. In defence of my statements though, I can assure you that I could get ANYTHING running, were I supplied with the correct, operating parts.

Stepinwolf

 

[grumpyvette]

IM sure most of US, (experianced hot rodders) can get a CAR LIFT repaired with the correct replacement parts, and an ELECTRICAL schematic. I was VERY impressed with the service so far though. and I asked a good deal of questions about that service BEFORE purchasing that brand lift, knowing that SERVICE and PARTS were a very important part of the decision, FAR more important than just LOW price


BTW Stepinwolf
how do you like the under car ACCESS with that BLUE (X) lift???
I looked at those before I looked at the 4 post lifts, then I was SURE I wanted a 4 post lift, untill I talked with SEVERAL custon VETTE shops , most suggested strongly a QUALITY two post lift as it made work on the suspension and exhaust access easier

 

[stepinwolf]

Grumpy,

I love the clearance that this X type of lift will afford. I also like having the wheels/suspension hanging in the air, so I won't be obliged to lift the car off a lift in order to get access to the wheel, or suspension.

Stepinwolf

 

[studiog]

Nice BIG work area! Nice to have a spare C2 front end hanging on the wall just in case. :L

 

[stepinwolf]

Nice BIG work area! Nice to have a spare C2 front end hanging on the wall just in case. :L

Ya, most of the time , it's the front end that gets it, not the rear.

Stepinwolf

 

[Kid_Again]

Aw geez. Good luck. I have a persistent concern that my American-made lift will leave me high and dry. The manufacturer went out of business a few months after I bought it, so kiss the warranty goodbye. Then I saw the lift's 220v hydraulic pump on sale at Harbor Freight...so, now I wonder exactly which part of the lift was truly "Made in America".

The only similar service story I have is with our KitchenAid oven/microwave. The service organization cancelled the appointment 5 times and shipped broken repair parts twice. It got a LITTLE tense at home. Whirpool did the right thing and they are sending us a brand new replacement unit. Should install this Wednesday. If not, I'll be sleeping on that lift.

Is anything made in America anymore?????

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Dam Wolf Man.... That Sucks the Willie..

I would Copy this post Link and Enail it to the Lift Manufacture ...Maybe he'll realize just how many potential customers he could lose or gain..

Don't mess with the Corvette people. It'll cost you money..

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Never saw a ramp lift like this before; I think I would want a lip on the sides of the ramps. I am shopping for a ramp lift myself, but surfing the net looking right now. Did you finally get everything worked out and now using the lift, and if so how do you like it?

Bill

 

[BarryK]

Bob

sorry for the bad luck on the lift. Hope you get everything straightened out and working quickly!!

 

[stepinwolf]

My spirit is up, the damm lift is down

Well I was finally able to get my new lift working today, but it was not due to the replacement part received from the manufacturer, nor his help. UPS showed up to-day, with a new coil, and the release valve , but after installing it, the lift still would not budge. Same scenario as before, up is OK but no down.

I was planning on calling the factory to ask for their opinion, and while looking over everything I noticed a knurled type of knob ( see pic ) on the left hand side next to the oil pressure hose. This knob is not documented, nor do I have any idea what it is used for, but I did find a use for it. When I first received the lift , this knob was turned completely ( clockwise ) to the right.

Before calling I casually looked at the knob and turned it slightly to the left. As soon as I did, I then hit the down button and guess what, the lift started to slowly descend. I then turned it once again a few turns counter-clockwise, and the lift now descended at an acceptable speed. As I mentioned previously I still have no clue what it used for, but I can tell you that without it's intervention , the lift would still be stuck in the air.

 

[firstgear]

Well I was finally able to get my new lift working today, but it was not due to the replacement part received from the manufacturer, nor his help. UPS showed up to-day, with a new coil, and the release valve , but after installing it, the lift still would not budge. Same scenario as before, up is OK but no down.

I was planning on calling the factory to ask for their opinion, and while looking over everything I noticed a knurled type of knob ( see pic ) on the left hand side next to the oil pressure hose. This knob is not documented, nor do I have any idea what it is used for, but I did find a use for it. When I first received the lift , this knob was turned completely ( clockwise ) to the right.

Before calling I casually looked at the knob and turned it slightly to the left. As soon as I did, I then hit the down button and guess what, the lift started to slowly descend. I then turned it once again a few turns counter-clockwise, and the lift now descended at an acceptable speed. As I mentioned previously I still have no clue what it used for, but I can tell you that without it's intervention , the lift would still be stuck in the air.

I am guessing that it is a flow control valve meant to regulate the speed that the lift goes down. You wouldn't want it to go down real fast, this way you can regulate the down. Up, you have the weight and gravity to fight as well as the limit of the HP of the motor that is pumping it up....but down could be an issue.....my 2 cents....flow control valve!

 

[stepinwolf]

I am guessing that it is a flow control valve meant to regulate the speed that the lift goes down. You wouldn't want it to go down real fast, this way you can regulate the down. Up, you have the weight and gravity to fight as well as the limit of the HP of the motor that is pumping it up....but down could be an issue.....my 2 cents....flow control valve!

You know Herb, in retrospect I have come to the same conclusion as yourself. However what annoys me is the lack of information supplied to me on the part of the manufacturer regarding the use or identification of the valve. Had I not taken the initiative to play around with it, the lift would still be in the air, and I would still be waiting for them to come up with a solution to get the lift to lower properly. ad

The only emergency procedure they previously came up with to lower the lift, was for me to disconnect the oil line, and use a catch can to try and keep the oil from filling the console, and surrounding shop floor. :crazy That part I had already figured out, and was not one of their brightest ideas. I was also told that they had not as yet though to install a bypass valve, that would permit a user to lower the lift in case of any mal-function.

As it stands now, I am not disappointed with the choice I made as far as the lift is concerned. It is more then I ever expected in a lift and that, after having spent more then a year trying to source the best, and most useful lift for my Corvette. It is of a quality much higher then I had ever imagined, and is a well designed, very practical, and well thought out unit.

It will be an invaluable asset for me at my age, and will make working on our beloved Corvettes much easier, enjoyable, and that, for a long time to come. My only regret is having waited so long before purchasing it.

Stepinwolf

 

[firstgear]

agreed, it should have been labeled...but my guess is that the original design (when the manual was made) did not include that valve, they probably had some fixed orifice in there to control the movement DOWN, but some people wanted it faster and others wanted it slower, so the adjustable one kept everyone happy, that is until it showed up at your place with no documentation and the valve fully CLOSED.

 

[JL66REDCPE]

Glad to hear you got the lift working -- it looks like a real nice piece. What are you using between the lift and the frame rails ???

 

[Pseudomind]

Alright, I am a novice and it is hard to tell from the photos. Will this lift work for a C5 or C6? Does it have adjustable arms which reach the jack points?

Thanks