Braun VL917 Vista & Century 2 (NDCC) In-Vehicle Wheelchair Lifts

Overview

Unlike the underbody NUVL cassette lifts, the VL917 Vista and the Century 2 (NDCC series) are in-vehicle folding platform lifts: a dual-parallel-arm frame bolts to the floor inside the doorway, and the platform folds up vertically against the door opening when stowed. Two hydraulic cylinders housed in the parallel arms unfold, lower, raise and fold the platform. Both families are ADA-compliant, attendant-operated 'public use' lifts (the Century 2 carries the DOT public-use certification for buses and MPVs over 10,000 lb GVWR).

Telling them apart

VL917IB Vista: two-piece 'stacking' platform (inboard and outboard steel-grate sections), spring-loaded automatic outboard roll stop, automatic inboard roll stop/bridge plate, and an interlocking handrail restraint belt — a green light on the pump module only illuminates (and the lift only runs) when the remote interlocks are made, power is present, and the handrail belt is buckled. Controls are two rocker switches on a quick-disconnect hand-held box: UNFOLD/FOLD and DOWN/UP. Model numbers with an 'F' suffix have the pump on the right (front) side; no suffix means left (rear) pump — everything else mirrors.

Century 2 (NDCC54S34x54): the current-generation dual-parallel-arm lift with a four-button hand pendant (UP, DOWN, FOLD, UNFOLD), platform lights, a threshold warning plate with audible alarm in the base plate, an outer barrier with mechanical latches and gas springs, and Lift-Tite latches at the towers that stop the stowed platform from unfolding on its own if the hydraulics drift. Switch logic lives in four tower microswitches: Tower 1 = unfold stop (floor position from stow), Tower 2 = up stop (floor position from below), Tower 3 = threshold alarm, Tower 4 = partial fold. A cycle counter sits on top of the pump module.

On either lift, if the platform refuses to unfold under power, press FOLD momentarily first — that releases the Lift-Tite latches — then UNFOLD.

Manual (hand pump) operation — power or equipment failure

Both lifts carry a backup hand pump behind the pump module cover (VL917: quarter-turn wing stud, handle clipped inside the cover; Century 2: manual-operation decal 32940 is posted on the pump cover). The roll stops and outer barrier function automatically during manual operation. The release valve rules are identical to all Braun hydraulics: open = down, closed = up/stop; open a half turn only; once the valve seats, tighten 15–30 inch-pounds — snug but never forced.

To unfold the platform (out)

1. Place the slotted end of the pump handle on the backup-pump release valve and turn clockwise to close.
2. Insert the handle in the pump and stroke until the platform folds fully open (stops).
3. Open the release valve counterclockwise — 1/2 turn only — and let the platform lower to floor level, then close the valve.

To lower to ground / unfold the roll stop

Open the release valve (counterclockwise, 1/2 turn) until the platform reaches ground level and the outboard roll stop / outer barrier unfolds to ramp position.

To raise / to fold (stow)

1. Close the release valve securely.
2. Stroke the pump: the platform rises to floor level; continued stroking folds the platform to the stowed position.

Close the release valve before returning to electric operation, and stow the handle back in its clips. Whenever a passenger is aboard: handrail belt latched (VL917), passenger inside the yellow boundaries, wheelchair brakes locked, roll stops up.

Maintenance

VL917: largely self-lubricating; Braun asks for a light penetrating oil (LPS2, 30-weight equivalent) on the pivot points roughly every four weeks or 400 cycles — platform fold axles, fold-link pivots and rollers, platform pivot pins, roll-stop hinge pivots, outboard platform pivot pins, roll-stop activation feet and the roll-stop arm slots. Clean each point before oiling. Everything deeper follows the schedule in the installation/service manual and belongs to a certified Braun technician.

Century 2: cycle-based like the NUVL: at 750 cycles oil the outer-barrier pivots, latch pivots, switch-lever pivots and latch roller bearings, grease the barrier arm slots, oil the Lift-Tite latch tower pivots and dampening-spring points, verify latch and barrier operation, set fold pressure and run the FMVSS certification checklist. At 1,500 cycles the deep lube pass: synthetic grease between the inner/outer fold arm contact faces; light oil on platform pivot pin bearings (4), inner fold arm bearings (8), inner-roll-stop pivot and lever bearings and slots, saddle support bearings (8), fold-arm roller pins and cam followers, all sixteen parallel-arm pivot pin bearings, handrail pivots (4) and cylinder pivot bushings (8); inspect the roll stop (it should just rest on the threshold plate), microswitch adjustment, snap rings and hoses. At 4,500 cycles check hydraulic fluid and structure. The Century 2 reservoir takes BraunAbility 32840-QT (Exxon Univis HVI 26) — note this is a different fluid from the NUVL's 5606; never mix either with Dexron III. Clean the lift with water only, no solvents, then relubricate.

Adjustments worth knowing

VL917 travel-limit microswitches sit behind adjustment bolts: top (unfold/down) switch — counterclockwise stops unfold sooner, clockwise lets it travel further; bottom (up/fold) switch — clockwise stops the raise sooner. Century 2 tower switches follow a common pattern: put the platform at the reference position with the hand pump or pendant, turn the adjustment screw three turns in the 'early' direction, drive the function until it stops, and back the screw off while holding the switch until the criteria are met — bridge plate just resting on the threshold plate with about 1/8" clearance between saddle end and lower parallel arm. The Tower 4 fold switch is correct when light downward pressure on the outboard platform edge stops the fold (occupied platform will not stow) but an empty platform stows snug against the stow blocks. The threshold alarm (Tower 3) is set so pressure on the threshold plate just sounds the alarm at floor level.

Hydraulics quick reference (Century 2)

Pump assembly 32858-12V with low-RPM 12 V motor 35310; dual-relief valve assembly 29690 (cartridge 31120K, coils 31121); down valve 400783 (cartridge 31348K); backup hand pump 26080 with mounting O-rings 26074; reservoir 17069 with screw cap 30160; main cylinders 402043 (seal kit 1500-0500P). Main relief runs 2,500 PSI with a 1,200 PSI folding relief.