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Installing a wheelchair lift is an excellent way to make any vehicle more accessible, and wheelchair lifts for buses can make traveling and commuting around town much less daunting for wheelchair users. However, many bus wheelchair lifts suffer from frequent mechanical issues, often due to collisions, poor maintenance, or general wear and tear.
Bus wheelchair lifts are complex pieces of equipment with many components, which can make repairs more challenging. However, some specific components are more likely to fail than others. Discover three of the most common problems that can affect your bus’s wheelchair lift, along with the best ways to prevent and repair these issues.
Improper Lift Grounding
Bus wheelchair lifts receive power from the bus’s 24-volt electrical system and must therefore be properly grounded to function. If your bus wheelchair lift is not grounded correctly, its internal fuses or circuit breakers will shut off the power supply to prevent electrocution hazards, rendering the lift non-functional.
Many wheelchair lifts suffer from frequent grounding problems due to improper installation. Grounding wires should always be connected to an undamaged section of the bus’s frame, but many are accidentally connected to other, unsuitable components, such as exhaust manifolds.
Properly installed grounds may also malfunction if the section of frame they are attached to becomes rusty. Corrosion can also affect the grounding wire itself. This is a prevalent problem in winter, when road deicing salt can accelerate the corrosion of electrical wiring.
If your bus wheelchair lift keeps blowing fuses due to grounding issues, bus wheelchair lift repair specialists can professionally repair it. Fortunately, rerouting a poorly installed ground is a relatively straightforward (and therefore inexpensive) job, and your bus should be back on the road reasonably quickly.
Broken Lifting Springs
Most vehicle wheelchair lifts generate lifting force using a combination of springs and hydraulic pistons. Lifting springs are a common failure point in bus wheelchair lifts, and many will need replacement springs every few years.
Rust is a common cause of spring failure, but it is preventable with regular maintenance and cleaning. Damage from physical wear is more difficult to avoid. Worn springs are more likely to snap, potentially causing the lift to jam during operation. Snapped springs are beyond repair and need to be replaced as soon as possible to restore functionality.
Properly lubricating your wheelchair lift’s springs will help reduce wear and significantly prolong the useful life of the springs. PTFE-based lubricants are particularly effective at reducing spring wear.
Roll Stop Barrier Damage
The roll-stop flaps or barriers fitted to your bus wheelchair lift are vital safety measures and must be in working order at all times. These barriers rise into position while the lift raises or lowers. They prevent wheelchair users from accidentally rolling off the lifting platform, which can cause serious injuries.
Despite their importance, roll-stop barriers are frequently damaged due to improper use by bus drivers. If a driver attempts to force a barrier into position to speed up lift operation, the motors and servos that raise and lower the barriers can be severely damaged. Collisions with heavy, powered wheelchairs can also cause damage to the barriers themselves.
Damaged roll-stop barriers may be repairable, but bus wheelchair lift manufacturers usually recommend a complete replacement instead. If a poorly repaired barrier fails while the lift is operating, lift users can be in grave physical danger. Take the stricken lift to an accredited bus wheelchair lift repair service to have the damaged barriers replaced.
Keeping an eye out for these common problems will help keep your bus’s wheelchair lift functioning, reducing the need for expensive repairs and vehicle downtime.
If you have any more questions about bus wheelchair lift maintenance, contact the experts at Downtown Garage & Auto Body today.
