Hi-lift design change? WTF!

Been having issues with my hi-lift jamming up pretty bad and couldn't find a repair/rebuild kit locally. I really needed a hi-lift over the weekend so I said eff it and went out and bought a new hi-lift at the same store I bought my old one from a year ago.

After I was done using it, I went to place it on my hi-lift mount attached to my tire carrier and it wouldn't fit! On further inspection, the holes in the rail are closer together! WTF?? I thought these things haven't changed in like 50 years? They look identical, same model and everything. Does anyone know why they changed? Are the parts interechangeable? Not sure what to do since my hi-lift mount is welded in place.

Just kinda pisses me off that the changes are so minute but it's enough that it won't fit.

 

Apparently they run 2 presses to manufacture the rails for the hi-lifts and they're slightly different. Both rail sizes use the same operating mechanisms.

 

Are the holes the same size? Do you have pic's?

 

Here ya go...

I think the holes are the same size, just closer together.

Same Model 485



Both were measured from the top...



Using the '3' for reference, here's the old hi-lift



And the new hi-lift

 

Nice, Cool write up.