Near disaster with 4 post lift

[Mike Poore]

We put up a pole building at the Ohio house and got a lift for that one as well. It's a Revolution, a companion model to the Rotary that's here in Fairfield, only this one has a wheel kit to allow for relocation in the garage, since the new building larger than the one here at Fairfield. (60 x 40 x 14)
Anyway, my son had his Mach1 on it and started to lower it when the whole thing did a "tip & flip" and just by luck, he got the car stabilized (it was sliding to the front) :eek:, and was able to tie the thing down. (standing on it's two front posts):eek: and teetering:eek: He got the front end loader tied to it and brought it back to the ground, cranked it back up, then went & changed his undies.
There's a lesson: The four bolt holes on the bottom of each post? Use them.

best.....mike & barb

PS: it was professionally installed by the seller; but the instructions clearly state that it MUST be bolted to the floor. They didn't because we weren't sure where it was gonna go, and actually did use the wheel kit to relocate it.

[White Knuckles]

WOW...........Glad that it turned out OK.
That could have been so much worse...or tragic.
I think I'll go change my undies from just thinking about this

[martyo]

Holy moly!

Glad everything turned out okay!

[justbob]

WOW! Most say NOT to bolt them down. What's the point of the wheels if you can't use them as designed? Rotary is a great company, what did they have to say about this Revolution???


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[Bluerauder]

There's a lesson: The four bolt holes on the bottom of each post? Use them.

best.....mike & barb

PS: it was professionally installed by the seller; but the instructions clearly state that it MUST be bolted to the floor. They didn't because we weren't sure where it was gonna go, and actually did use the wheel kit to relocate it.

Nice to see you around again, Mike !!! How's it been goin' ??

Glad this turned out OK without damage or injury.

Professionally installed?? Doesn't sound like it unless they made it perfectly clear to someone that it had to be bolted down before use per the instructions. You oughta have 'em come back and finish the job correctly .... and maybe buy John some new shorts. ;)

[RF Overlord]

Hey Mike!

I thought you were kidnapped by aliens...

...or had formed your own militia out in Snowshoe.

Don't be such a stranger or I'll have the Chatham Marconi station tell everyone you prefer CB.

[Ladyhawke]

Glad that beautiful Mach 1 is okay!

[8UWITH6]

Something had to have failed. My direct lift 4 post is not bolted to the ground and never will be. The locking system is made to automatically engage the locks everytime the lift moves up or down so the farthest it could have fell is 6" (one safety lock to the next).

Are you saying that the poles actually came off the ground???????????????????????? ????????????

[8UWITH6]

I guess I should ad that I am glad everything is okay and everyone is safe, including the car.............. I am just trying to figure out what happened.

[Mr. Man]

:wave:Hey Mike,

Wow:eek: I'm glad your son was able to save the car. Was it Sunshine?

Hope you and Barb are enjoying living the high life.;)

How's the shooting going? Are you still doing that? :uzi:

Stop in at Carlisle if your in the area Paula and I would like to catch up. :)

[Haggis]

Hi Gramps, you should only move them with a car on it in when it is lowered. Glad to hear John was not hurt and give Barb our best.

[8UWITH6]

I hope you didnt put the lift up on the casters and move it with a car on it????

[Mike Poore]

The reason we didn't get them to put it in the final spot was that no one was there, and we didn't know which of the 3 remaining bays it was gonna go in. Also the electrician & painter had some stuff to do when the guys from Rotary came and delivered/constructed/tested it, and as it was, they had to use a generator to do the final on it. It was John's '04 Mach 1 and he he had it up detailing it. I'm sure there was some of the tire shine stuff on the tread surface which may have contributed to the near disaster. John started to lower the car and one or both of the rear safety cogs stayed engaged, allowing the front of the lift to drop the distance to the next safety cog. This allowed the car to pitch forward and roll/slide toward the front of the lift. With the weight transfered to the front of the lift the two back posts actually lifted off the floor and the whole works darned near went through the wall. Simply, through John's fast action or just plain dumb luck it didn't go over, and he was able to get it stabilized, blocked, and the back posts back on the floor. Then he carefully brought the lift back up with the pump, locked the safety cogs and changed his britches. I haven't talked to the factory guys...yet, but have done some internet searches and learned this isn't the first time this has occurred, sometimes with far worse consequences. We were lucky, is all. So far as moving the lift, or using the roller wheels with the car on it, actually, I believe it would crush the casters; but no we never tried to move it with anything on it. Thanks for your concern and good wishes.
& yes, I'm shooting, a lot! Nearly 10,000 targets/shells loaded last season. I've been named to the PA State team, Sr. Vet, 1st team. Therewa

[8UWITH6]

Mike, sorry for all the questions the reason I ask is because I am a 4 post owner as well. Just a tip no matter who installed it you obviously have a problem with the levelness (if thats a word) of the lift. I spent many hours leveling my lift and its still not perfect but close. I too had a lock engage before the other 3 and it too was a bit scary. Obviously not as scary as your experience. The good thing is that I work with lifts all day long at work so it wasnt a big deal for me. For someone that problably doesnt I can imagine that it was scary. Sounds like the natural reactions saved the car and lift and I am glad everyone is safe and sound.

You dont need to bolt down your 4 post. But figure out where you want it, then level it and enjoy.

[justbob]

+1 leveling is key. I assembled my 2 post by myself in just under three hours. I spent another five probably shimming, getting it plum and square, and adjusting the cables.


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[Haggis]

Also, you need to raise the lift off the locks before you start to lower it.

[Mike Poore]

Thanks for the help, guys. I wasn't there, so only have the report from a somewhat excited son. Neil, I guess, what you're saying is to use the jam nut adjusters on top of each post and get the cogs in each "clicking" home at exactly the same time, once the thing is set, and plumb. I know from the last time I was there at Christmas that they weren't all falling at the same time, so that was probably what caused the near catastrophe. I'm sure John raised it first, Gordon, because we always drop it into the safety cogs and must take it up first, in order to start it back down. I won't be going back out until mid-March so won't be able to do any inspecting; but am certain that John, fresh britches & all, will have it under control. Thanks again... best.....mike

Hey RF... da di da :)

[8UWITH6]

Yes you need to level the cables and the safetly locks on each post. I spent a couple hours on mine and its still not perfect but close. A lot of it has to do with the surface the lift is sitting on.

And yes, you cannot lower the lift unless you raise it off the safetly locks then hold the lever down the entire time during lowering. Its a safety feature.

[sweetair]

Bizarre story. Glad all are OK, the Mach as well. I have a 4 post Back Yard Buddy lift and its not bolted to the floor, but doesn't need to be. No castors either.

[Joe Walsh]

Hey Mike!!
Long time.....how are you and Barb doing?
Still got the "Pimpmobile"....?

Glad to hear that nothing major/damaging occured with the lift.

[Mike Poore]

Hey Joe! Like we always say, "no harm, no foul".. in this case just a pair of badly soiled britches. The Pimpmobile is long gone, I just couldn't stand to be seen in that damned thing, not to mention it was just plain uncomfortable on a long trip ....dunno why though, because Town Cars are supposed to be great on the road; but honestly, the MM was by far, a much better ride. Except for the fleet of Mustangs, we're running a 2010 F-150 Platinum 2wd super crew, and the '08 Navigator, both great vehicles. All I do anymore is shoot and load shells, between trips to see the kids in Ohio. Hope you guys are doing OK, and you get to blow the dust off the Cobra from time to time. I guess you never saw the 641/2 Mustang we had stored but it turned out to be a very rare one. Day 8 production with 13" wheels, 170 cu in 6, but get this: the damned thing has a 4sp! In any case I trailered it out to Ohio, thinking it might be a project for the grandson; but he could care less. We may get around to selling it. Sunshine is still here in Fairfield, but I'd like to drive it out in the early summer, although there's still less than 4,000 miles on it. The kids want me to use the trailer. :drive: see you later... barb & mike