1988 HiLo safety bar bent causing trauma

[ermil1385]

Hi all
We have a 1988 HiLo 22 footer and really like it. We bought it a couple years back and have used it a couple of timws. The last time we were out, when i went to lower it to go home, the release cable seemed stuck. I finally got it to release using pliers, but i noticed that a bulge was growing in the floor, right above where the ram and safety bar live.
When we got back, i looked underneath and found the safety bar was nowhere near where it should be at the end with the cable....it was like the bar was too short, stretching the cable. When lifting the top you could watch the bulge in the floor get bigger and bigger. Finally figured out the safety bar was somehow binding up against the floor. I could not figure out a way to get to the bar from underneath so i cut a small hole in the floor to gain access to the bar. Once i got it out, it was clearly bent to heck.it was basically in an "S" shape at the end that lives above the ram. I will attach photos soon. The photos are misleading because i actually flattened the bar out some to get the bar out. My question is what shape should this bar be? Flat? Also how does it attach above the ram? It appears to just lie in a channel above the ram? Any advice appreciated....

 

[RichR]

Welcome to the Forum!

The safety bar is pretty much straight and flat if I remember correctly. My HiLo dealer friend had to replace one that had bent like yours. It caused damage to the floor as well.

I think there was some discussion about the bar here on the forum some time ago. Try using the search function at the top of this page. I will look as well.

 

[ermil1385]

Photo Of Unhappy Safety Bar

Here is the safety bar

 

[RichR]

Take a look at this thread and you will learn a bit about the bar.

http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f22/hydraulic-lift-system-safety-bar-wont-disengage-3406/

 

[ermil1385]

Yeah, looked at that thread...nice info but does not explain (or show) where the safety bar goes above the ram. On mine it is just a rectangle shaped opening...looks like it just lays in there? Don't see that it is fastened in any way....looking in my old manual with pics, it is not very clear either....anyone know (or better yet, have pics)?

 

[sam-HILO]

Bent safety bar

Call my HiLo dealer as they will be able to answer your question. Mantelli Trailer sales. Jay in parts or Steve in service. 1-716-625-8877 Fax716-625-8395. E-mail jay@mantelli.com I hope this helps you.

 

[RichR]

I think the bar bolts down on one end and floats free on the other where the cable goes through. But my memory is bad sometimes.

 

[ermil1385]

It does not appear to bolt down, there are no bolt holes or anything. It looks like it just rests in a square channel that is located above the ram. Anybody know for sure?

 

[C317414]

I do not think that it is bolted, but I am not certain. This string has a number of photos that may help you:

http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f22/hydraulic-lift-system-safety-bar-wont-disengage-3406/

 

[ermil1385]

Yeah, reviewed that thread in depth...lots of great pics of the cable end of the safety bar, but none of the other end. I fixed the problem though, and here is how:
I straightened the safety bar out, and put it back in place; the only caveat is that they must load the safety bar onto the frame and then bolt the floor down, as there is no way I found to fit the safety bar into the channel above the ram AND the channel at the cable end at the same time.......it fits into both (at the same time) so snugly. If you place one end into its location the other would not fit into its spot........so I placed the bar where it should go in the channel at the cable end, and placed it on top of the channel on the ram end, and bolted it down there. Works perfectly!
Thanks for all the help!

 

[Josh-HILO]

So am I safe to take the safety release bar out of my ram and it should just pull out of that end ?