Jack failed!! Warning

[greymrj]

Another of my 'nine' lives used up last week, I hope nobody 'up there' is counting! I was due to go down to join Glen and party at Barn Farm. I had 'her' up on the trolley jack to adjust the new dampers....when the jack failed!!
The pins on my jack are held in with circlips, as they are on a lot of DIY trolley jacks. On examination, one of the circlip grooves was damaged, the clip had come off allowing the pin to slip out of the saddle, that allowed the saddle to tip over.
At the time I was just putting the second axle stand under. I got out with a bruised shoulder but the axle stand went between the chassis and the diff on the passenger side.
Imagine my feelings as oil started to appear under the car. Absolutely gutted. Without the jack I couldnt check on the damage or plug the leak.

After I borrowed a jack I found that the top of the axle stand had caught on a casting lug on the side of the diff, broken it off (leaving a small hole low down in the diff casing) and scored the diff side.

Disaster! But I realise it could have been worse; the stand had broken one clip on the petrol pipe but the pipe had flexed enough....good job, tank was full!

After cleaning the diff casing with thinners, I was able to use some of that fancy modern casting repair epoxy putty (Gary at my local garage is a very helpful man!) and repair it. Touch wood, the repair seems fine although I will be pretty nervous driving it for a bit and anxious to check under the car at every stop!

This is the failed jack (under load the angle was much worse) and the damage done to the axle stand, followed by pics of the hole and repair.

ADVICE: CHECK YOUR TROLLEY JACK: IF THE PINS ARE HELD IN WITH CIRCLIPS, TAKE THEM OFF AND WELD BOTH ENDS OF THE PIN IN PLACE!

[v8s4me]

Great post – thanks for the warning! You’re a lucky man. What is the make of your jack so we can avoid it?

I have two large blocks of wood which just fit under the chassis with the wheels on the ground. That way, if the jack fails the car can only drop so far. Obviously that only works when I’m at home and roadside repairs are risky so as soon as I take the wheel off I put it under the disc – better to have a damaged wheel than something far more serious.

[GadgeS3C]

That's very

Like to think I'm always pretty careful but stuff like that is easily missed so belt and braces is always good.

Thanks for the reminder of what can happen.

[greymrj]

Thanks, would you believe it dropped far enough and fast enough despite the wheels still being on! My jack was a Clark (Machine Mart) but that isnt a criticism of them, I have checked since and all the DIY jacks in that price range seem to be very similar, and there are certainly some over £100 that use circlips. But jacks with circlips are off my Christmas list!

[S2Mike]

Thanks for the warning, I suspect many of us will be checking trolley jacks before using again, even with axle stands it could get you before they are under there.

[phillpot]

A lucky escape!

Glad the damage to car, and more importantly you, was not too bad.

[Smokey Boyer]

This is something to be really careful with. It is very easy to get complacent.

One of my best friends was killed last year when his trolley jack failed while he was under the front of his Vectra. The sad thing was he was only changing a very small part on the exhaust, that would have cost a few quid to have done at the local exhaust centre. He had all the right kit, but obviously did not bother for what should have been 5 minutes work.

We have all done those quick jobs (well I do not now), where you just jack the car up and do not bother with the stands.

Sobering thoughts - sorry.

[alock]

I recently decided I didn't trust my cheap trolley jack when lifting the car very high to get it on tall axle stands. It was fine for changing a wheel or brakes where the lowest axle stand setting is OK, but anything higher always worried me. My concern was always that it would fail when the axle stand was still underneath and would cause extensive damage to the car.

Just replaced something similar to this (although about 15 years old)


with one of these


I would highly recommend it. Low entry, high lift and built like a tank.

[mohitos]

What a lucky escape - glad you're ok !

alock said:

with one of these


I would highly recommend it. Low entry, high lift and built like a tank.

Ah yes - I have the same jack. It is rock solid although bloody heavy ! I actually wonder whether I would have been better with an aluminium jack as moving my one around is a mission.

[SJS357]

phillpot said:

A lucky escape!
Glad the damage to car, and more importantly you, was not too bad.

As Mike says very lucky Richard.
Hope your up and running again soon.

[gavgavgav]

mohitos said:

Ah yes - I have the same jack. It is rock solid although bloody heavy ! I actually wonder whether I would have been better with an aluminium jack as moving my one around is a mission.

Glad it not just me thinking that every time it needs lugging round to the other side of the car.

[Barkychoc]

I have that exact jack - and did my entire refurb on the V8S using it - although as you were doing I used axle stands. I'm off to the garage in a min and will check it out thanks.

[Oldred_V8S]

v8s4me said:

I have two large blocks of wood which just fit under the chassis with the wheels on the ground. That way, if the jack fails the car can only drop so far. Obviously that only works when I’m at home and roadside repairs are risky so as soon as I take the wheel off I put it under the disc – better to have a damaged wheel than something far more serious. if you are not a fat bd.

There fixed that for you Joe.

All joking aside a sobering post and I am glad you are OK and the Tiv had only minor damage.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Not quite clear what you mean re the circlip/pin arrangement

I hate working under cars and took several days of building up courage to get under my S2 to do the clutch slave.

Only time I just use a trolley jack is for changing wheels and I don't get underneath. The rest of the time it's belt and braces - trolley jack on front chassis rail, axle stands straight underneath and ramps shoved under wheels. Car in gear, handbrake on, rear wheels chocked, and a road wheel under the sill! What else can you do?

[phillpot]

The pin A has come out of the hole B because the circlip, opposite end to C had come off giving our friend a serious brown pants moment.





Of course if you don't trust trolley jacks there are other ways.........

Edited by phillpot on Friday 24th May 19:24

[greymrj]

That will teach you for leaving your car in the bosses spot! Nice idea though, but I suspect there would be a bit of a problem getting it into my driveway!