Subject: FW: lift problem (long)
Author: Zerhackermann .
Date: Apr 18, 2001, 8:20 PM
Post ID: 1706373758
I go this from my /5 list. SOme of the guy use this lift, some of you all
might too. The lift probably is the bargain one that comes from lots of
places Harbor Freight and the like.
Thought this might be of interest to some...
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Product Warning - Sam's Club Bike Lift
GWRRA Message Board: Motorcycle Tech: Product Warning - Sam's Club
Bike
Lift
By Onethumb on Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 08:28 am:
People using this lift will want to be aware of a failure that has
happened when using this lift.
One of our chapter members was using his lift to change tires when it
collapsed. They had just
stood up from being underneath it when some bolts sheared and it
dropped
the bike (sans tires,
bags, and other bits) straight down onto it's undercarriage. They
were
lucky. The bike wasn't.
They are negotiating with Sam's (good to them so far) and the
manufacturer (not happy
campers trying to work with these folks) on getting the damage to
their
custom painted y2k
1500 fixed.
At a minimum, the owner is recommending everyone replace all the
included bolts with some
of better toughness (tensile strength). They also point out they will
never again use a lift
without the extra safety of stands or other supports that will hold
the
bike in the event of
another failure.
By Bill Swift on Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 09:27 am:
Which bolts sheared?
By Jerry Brown on Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 11:36 am:
I, among others, have expressed my fondness for this lift. However, I
have been concerned
about the bolts that secure the two locking devices. My bolts became
bent when the lift bled
down and the locking levers were the only thing holding the bike up.
I
will replace them today.
Along this line, my bleed-down screw/knob has to be VERY tight or it
will bleed down over a
few hrs. Some times sooner!
Obviously the bolts are of soft steel. Most of us know that bolts
come
in several hardnesses
but even knowing that is not always enough. There have been cases of
bolts not hardened to
the grade or degree that the bolt markings indicate. I understand
bolts
from China especially
are to be viewed with suspicion and the hardness scale markings are
not
to be trusted. 20/20 or
some such T V program did a report on this issue a couple yrs ago.
I am sure going to change all the bolts out on my Sam`s lift before I
use it next. I`ll check to be
sure but I think grade 8 bolts would be the thing to use. Ask your
hardware dealer. Price alone
will usually let you know which are the better quality if there is a
choice of grades on one
stores shelf. Wally World is not likely to satisfy your needs here.
I surely recommend the use of tie downs securing the bike to lift
also.
Tho it will not prevent
someone from making a gross error in balancing the bike to the lift,
it
will stabilize the bike
when even the best judgement is used. For you who may not be aware,
the
tension on the tie
downs is going to change dramatically if you raise or lower the lift
with the tie downs
connected. You will have to connect them after it reaches your choice
of
height.
I`m sure this is old hat to most of you but I hope this may have
helped
some when using this
lift. With some adjustments and careful use, I still look upon the
lift
as a good tool for my
needs.
By Jerry Pasman on Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 02:23 pm:
Yes use grade 8 bolts. There is grade 5 and grade 2 which are softer.
2
being the softest. The
way to tell what they are, is to look at the head. Grade 8 has 6
lines
pointing to each of the six
points of the hex. Grade 5 has 3 lines,and grade 2 no lines at all.
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