rusting cover lifter bar

[Debra]

The top bar on our cover lifter is rusting leaving long brown streaks running down top of the cover.  Is this to be expected and common?  It doesn't look good at all.  Our tub is only one month old.  I would have thought that shouldn't happen for a couple of years.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

[pruned_hands]

I am awaiting delivery of our new tub and a new cover lifter.  I certainly would not expect the bar to rust after a few months or even a few years.

I would call the dealer and have it replaced (by them) for one with stainless steel.

What brand is it?

We'll have to see if others have had similar concerns .

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

What brand of cover lift is it? And, what color is it (there are a few "counterfits" of name brands around)?

[Debra]

Our tub is made by Sundance and it's their lifter.  The cover is grey and the bars are all black.  Are there others who have had this problem?  Do you think this should be covered under warranty?

[Chas]

 I was greatly dissapointed recently when this began happening to some of our customers. It all started when one of the (Non HotSpring) cover lift manufacturers called me and said they were offering a simple lift for an extra-low price if I bought in quantity. I had been using their other products with good success for years, so I ordered sight unseen.  

Now I am the proud owner of lifts which are made of steel (aluminum is the norm - and works much better) and I think they are painted as opposed to being powder-coated. I am not sure about the paint, but if that's a powder coat, it's the thinnest one I have seen. Whatever finish they put on does fail quickly, and then the rust begins.  

I really can't go out replacing the lifts, tanother lift would leave holes in the spa. So I am removing, sanding and painting them. Seems to work fine - at the cost of an hour or more of my labor...

In your case - I would ask for some help. If Sundance is selling lifts made of steel, then they should have enough protective coating to last awhile. If they will not do anything, you could at least ask for a discount on a lifter made of aluminum. Or, you can spend some time with sandpaper and a good brand of spraypaint.  

Sand off all the rust, prime with Rustoleum or similar, let it dry and then two coats of gloss black. Or any color you like..

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

 The cover is grey and the bars are all black.  

You're sure the cover LIFTER is black? and not dark grey? It should be covered under warranty.

Is this what the lift looks like;

[Debra]

No, that's not the one we have.  We have one that lifts the cover right down beside the tub so that only about 12" of it is sticking up above the tub.  It is black. There is a 3 piece bar running accross the top of the tub.  It is at both joints of these bars where the rust is occurring.

[NJDave]

Your description matches, what many Sundance Dealers sell, it is the Covermate I  with the Sundance bracket, the Lifter is made by Leisure Concepts. The Sundance bracket was designed to work with the Sundance cabinet frame. To see if it is your lifter, go to www.leisureconcepts.com and look for the covermate I with the optional Sundance bracket. Dave.

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

Or does it look like this;

[NJDave]

Thanks for the photo Doc,
That is the Covermate I with the optional Sundance bracket.

[wmccall]

Looking back, as much as I spent on my tub, the electric and concrete I wish I had spent more on a cover lifter. I think I got a knock off Covermate 1. In the long run, a little better investment up front would have been better.

[Debra]

I just looked at that website and don't see our lifter on there at all.     I think I'll call the dealer to find out what kind it is.