Carlift / Car Falls.......
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 38
From: Los Gatos CA
As a 60's car lover, seeing that accident makes me wanna cry. I just have to remember ours sons and daughters risking it all overseas, and our brothers and sisters everywhere who are not healthy enough to pull a wrench. I bet that Camaro will come back, maybe better than ever!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
2-post lifts aren't the best for Corvettes...too much overhanging weight on the front and back ends. Any birdcage 'rot' at all and the frame may pop. Much safer [for the car] with tire rails.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Those tire rails also cover an enormous amount of the bottom of the car. Its a trade off and considering the 2 post record I would prefer the 2 poster any day. I'm pretty sure once the 2 post is in the up position there are safety's to keep this from happening.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
But those tire rails are tough on the head. Ouch... Those tire rails also cover an enormous amount of the bottom of the car. Its a trade off and considering the 2 post record I would prefer the 2 poster any day. I'm pretty sure once the 2 post is in the up position there are safety's to keep this from happening.
Those tire rails also cover an enormous amount of the bottom of the car. Its a trade off and considering the 2 post record I would prefer the 2 poster any day. I'm pretty sure once the 2 post is in the up position there are safety's to keep this from happening.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Your right the 4 poster by design is most likely safer but I've worked under both and I much prefer the 2 poster because the bottom of a Corvette is totally exposed and much easier to work on. I 'll bet when the truth comes out about the accident with the Camaro the lift was not maintained and the safety locks were disabled. I could be wrong but that Camaro is only about 1/2 of the lift capacity.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
I own a Rotary 2 post lift, had it for about 8 years now. There have been a couple of times while lowering the car that I haven't quite unlatched the saftey pawls on both sides and started to lower the car with only one side going down (YES! all my cables are tight! and lift is one of the best on the market.)
You need to pay ATTENTION! whenever you raise or lower a car EVEN with a floor jack and jackstands (I always give the car a good "shake" test before crawling under it when it is on the jackstands.)
I look at the picture and am reminded of the time I walked into a car dealership for parts after a mechanic had just done the same thing to a brand new C4 Vette on a 2 post lift. He was busy talking to the guy in the next service bay and wasn't even looking at the car while he was lowering it. Same result: a "rotisserie flop" and "pancaked" side of a nice automobile.
There is a reason I buy Rotary Lifts, they are some of the best engineered products on the market. I hope that accident wasn't the result of a part failure on a poorly designed lift. Everything is "fixable" but your life, I just hope no one was injured but the car.
You need to pay ATTENTION! whenever you raise or lower a car EVEN with a floor jack and jackstands (I always give the car a good "shake" test before crawling under it when it is on the jackstands.)
I look at the picture and am reminded of the time I walked into a car dealership for parts after a mechanic had just done the same thing to a brand new C4 Vette on a 2 post lift. He was busy talking to the guy in the next service bay and wasn't even looking at the car while he was lowering it. Same result: a "rotisserie flop" and "pancaked" side of a nice automobile.
There is a reason I buy Rotary Lifts, they are some of the best engineered products on the market. I hope that accident wasn't the result of a part failure on a poorly designed lift. Everything is "fixable" but your life, I just hope no one was injured but the car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 3
From: belle plaine ks
It doesn't mention what brand of lift this is. But I'll bet it is one of those cheap chinese lifts you see that are retailing for about 1700 bucks. If you consider that you are walking under something that can potentially kill you why would you ever scrimp on the price of a lift? I have see some of these lifts and they are really cheaply made and I would not set foot under one of them.
Also take into consideration if you buy something foriegn. Who are you going to sue for defective product? It has been in the headlines lately that a lot of products from china are defective. They are having a big time now with drywall lawsuits in the south. The drywall is corrosive, makes people sick and eats plumbing and wiring up in houses. People have had to move out of their new homes because of it.
China may be a trading partner, but it has also been described as our enemy. With all the defective products of late, I'm wondering if they are trying to kill us or be our friend. Makes you wonder doesn't it?
Also take into consideration if you buy something foriegn. Who are you going to sue for defective product? It has been in the headlines lately that a lot of products from china are defective. They are having a big time now with drywall lawsuits in the south. The drywall is corrosive, makes people sick and eats plumbing and wiring up in houses. People have had to move out of their new homes because of it.
China may be a trading partner, but it has also been described as our enemy. With all the defective products of late, I'm wondering if they are trying to kill us or be our friend. Makes you wonder doesn't it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
How true...how often do we cry about the loss of such a vehicle never thinking for a second that....damn I could be under that and dead. Even a slight injury in such a situation could be life altering. I hurt myself in hockey two weeks ago, my arm is in a 90 degree cast and the lack of mobility and discomfort is driving me nuts. Forget the fact that I can't get a thing done around the house or on the car. Lets all learn from this.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Here are some pics in this thread after the car was turned upright.
What are the 2 items on the floor with rags wrapped around , lift extenders maybe ?
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=190397
edit - doing a little looking around and found some u-tube stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLUjq6ijvVc
What are the 2 items on the floor with rags wrapped around , lift extenders maybe ?
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=190397
edit - doing a little looking around and found some u-tube stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLUjq6ijvVc
Last edited by ...Roger...; Nov 27, 2009 at 08:54 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Here are some pics in this thread after the car was turned upright.
What are the 2 items on the floor with rags wrapped around , lift extenders maybe ?
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=190397
edit - doing a little looking around and found some u-tube stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLUjq6ijvVc
What are the 2 items on the floor with rags wrapped around , lift extenders maybe ?
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=190397
edit - doing a little looking around and found some u-tube stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLUjq6ijvVc
Thanks for digging up that youtube link. Quite informative and very interesting.
Glenn
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
I was always taught among other safety procedures to raise the car to just past the first safety lock clunk and go around the car and rock it to check for stability. The first clunk is about a foot off the floor ,I was **** and checked at about 6" and again after the clunk.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 1
From: JOPPA MD
Great info...thanks for that post!!!!!!!!!!! Poor grade steel & bad welding (incomplete penetration, overlap, etc.) makes for a very dangerous product. This product should be outlawed here in the USA, but everyone is trying to save a buck....I wonder if OSHA is aware of this particular lift? I only have a small garage and was seriously considering a lift of this design....for the aboved mentioned reasons. Now, I am re-thinking / re-evaluating any purchase. Thank you again for this post....wow!
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
yeah can you imagine how bad that could have been?maybe one of your little kids or wife standing near when it went down? because im pretty sure it went real fast. any of you guys own a sissor lift? currious how well they work. they look like they could fill the problem of being portable. but very limmited on the height.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,574
Likes: 155
I have two four posters in the barn and a two poster in the garage.
The installer was adamant that the four poster be bolted into the ground regardless of the ability to caster it around.
My father was a mechanic for 40 years and swears by the 2 poster. If they are properly installed and maintained they are exceedingly safe.
Again, they must be used properly and never walk under them unless they are resting on the mechanical stops.
I would hazard a guess that with all the lifts in use every day across the continent that more people are killed driving to and from the lift.
The installer was adamant that the four poster be bolted into the ground regardless of the ability to caster it around.
My father was a mechanic for 40 years and swears by the 2 poster. If they are properly installed and maintained they are exceedingly safe.
Again, they must be used properly and never walk under them unless they are resting on the mechanical stops.
I would hazard a guess that with all the lifts in use every day across the continent that more people are killed driving to and from the lift.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Most likely due to faulty assembly (rather than broken part). Time to call the lawyer and sue the installer. Oops! 
The owner was the installer. You can't be too careful when putting one of those together. Your life is on the line (hardware can be replaced). Check all parts for any sign of damage/defect. Know how the device works and how the safety systems work. Put it together as if you were doing it for your son...and HE was going to be the one working under it all day long.
The owner was the installer. You can't be too careful when putting one of those together. Your life is on the line (hardware can be replaced). Check all parts for any sign of damage/defect. Know how the device works and how the safety systems work. Put it together as if you were doing it for your son...and HE was going to be the one working under it all day long.