DIY mechanics take care....neighbour squished under car!
Discussion
I had a close shave when some axle stands I had collapsed. They were old and rusty and just gave way. Luckily I always put the wheel under the sill next to me just in case. That saved me as the car fell and was caught by the wheel and pinned me down by my chest. Bruised ribs was all I got fortunately!
This was a friend of mine, the stupid b
d knew better too 
https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/inquest-d...
d knew better too https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/inquest-d...
V8 FOU said:
lyonspride said:
The problem is you can buy the same re-branded jacks at massively different prices, making it hard to tell what is good and what is bad. Mine my low entry jack was from SGS, it's the same as one sold by Halfrauds for £20 more, except it's black instead of yellow.
What affordable consumer grade brands would you think are good? Clarke? Sealey? Draper? they all use the same re-branded stuff and it makes you reluctant to pay big money for something you may well spot for half the price elsewhere in future.
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Most of the makes you mention are terrible. Just about OK for a wheel change. I bought an alloy "race" trolley jack rated at 1.5t. Used it on a fiesta and it folded over to one side.What affordable consumer grade brands would you think are good? Clarke? Sealey? Draper? they all use the same re-branded stuff and it makes you reluctant to pay big money for something you may well spot for half the price elsewhere in future.
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As I said it IS very difficult to buy a decent jack. Expect to pay upwards of £300 for a really good one. All the cheap ones slowly drop to their lowest common denominator.
Also, there are a lot of nasty axle stands.
If a jack or stand is rated at 1 tonne - then regard that as the weight of the WHOLE car, not the load.
https://www.adamsautoadvice.com/best-floor-jack-ev...
I got one from Costco, it weights 43kgs!
Well, I've spent all afternoon today under the Mondeo as the clutch has failed, there are jacks under it, axle stands, wheels under the sills and the rear wheels are chocked, I'm not taking any chances! I'll never forget my mate changing another mates front brakes on his Corsa with the windy jack out of the boot, I turned up just as the car slipped off the jack and the disc landed on his foot, two of us managed to lift the front of the car off his foot and then he got blood all over my car on the way to hospital, he kept wanting to take his shoe off but I made him keep it on in case his foot came out and his toes didn't. It turned out they were still attached, just.....
Our company supplied jack has a mechanical lock on it. Basically jack it up, lock drops in, lower onto the lock. We’re allowed to just use that if we’re working next to the vehicle (ie wheels), but must use an additional axle stand if going underneath (that also has 2 locks).
I get paid by the hour, you’d be stupid to cut corners!
I get paid by the hour, you’d be stupid to cut corners!
V8 FOU said:
The problem with trolley jacks is that 99% of them are sh*te.
They are too cheap to be any good.
They are too cheap to be any good.
I recently bought a Sealey 2001LEHV for approx £100 - I'm very happy with it.
As someone previously mentioned I always throw the wheels under the cills as a minimum and for longer jobs big blocks of wood, which are more stable than axle stands.
Edited by V8RX7 on Monday 16th April 23:23
I won’t cover old ground as plenty have people have described a similar ritual that I use for belt and braces.
My question:- I have a Clarke 3T jack I got from machine mart around 10 years ago. I never go under the car only on the jack although that’s getting difficult these days due to jacking points etc.
Anyway, how does one go about refurbishing the jack? Replacing the seals and oil etc? Mine has showed no signs of failure yet, but plenty of evidence here to say I shouldn’t have any confidence in it!
My question:- I have a Clarke 3T jack I got from machine mart around 10 years ago. I never go under the car only on the jack although that’s getting difficult these days due to jacking points etc.
Anyway, how does one go about refurbishing the jack? Replacing the seals and oil etc? Mine has showed no signs of failure yet, but plenty of evidence here to say I shouldn’t have any confidence in it!
eltax91 said:
My question:- I have a Clarke 3T jack I got from machine mart around 10 years ago.
Anyway, how does one go about refurbishing the jack?
Mine has showed no signs of failure yet, but plenty of evidence here to say I shouldn’t have any confidence in it!
I wouldn't bother.Anyway, how does one go about refurbishing the jack?
Mine has showed no signs of failure yet, but plenty of evidence here to say I shouldn’t have any confidence in it!
The point is that unlike a hydraulic ramp they don't have a fail safe so you shouldn't trust a new one nor an old one.
Use it, then back it up with something solid
Andyjc86 said:
Our company supplied jack has a mechanical lock on it. Basically jack it up, lock drops in, lower onto the lock. We’re allowed to just use that if we’re working next to the vehicle (ie wheels), but must use an additional axle stand if going underneath (that also has 2 locks).
I get paid by the hour, you’d be stupid to cut corners!
How many times have you forgot to lift the lock tho. I get paid by the hour, you’d be stupid to cut corners!
Some sort of locking device as above should be standard fitment on all trolley type jacks.
But you should always have a stand or something as a back up.
You may jack 1000’s of cars up but only takes the jack to fail once and it can end very badly.
Even more dangerous roadside
Get really nervous under a car unless it has stands, a wheels and my ramps with a piece of scaffolding plank on it.
Partly common sense, and partly having been under our Fiat 500, old style having removed the engine, was taking the gear linkage off and an older lady decided to turn round and oartly reversed up our drive and pushed the Fiat back, the car moved first on the axle stands, then the stands slid, I have never moved so fast and scooted out and shouted at her. She initially denied hitting it, then when I showed her the scuff from the overider on her paint she told me I shouldn’t hide the car behind the hedge !
I pointed out it was not hidden, it’s rear end was up in the air and it is my drive, not a communal turning spot, off she went, unrepentant.
Contrary to the old tales about two chaps being able to carry one like it’s made of Balsa wood, it’s still a car, light by car standards, but still well over half a tonne, 500 kilos plus and the world bench press record is a little under that so unlikely most of us can knock out ten reps, even without an engine, imagine the ignominy of being squashed by a small crappy Fiat ?
Use the proper gear, and have a backup, best to not wish you had when it’s on top of you, too late by then.
Partly common sense, and partly having been under our Fiat 500, old style having removed the engine, was taking the gear linkage off and an older lady decided to turn round and oartly reversed up our drive and pushed the Fiat back, the car moved first on the axle stands, then the stands slid, I have never moved so fast and scooted out and shouted at her. She initially denied hitting it, then when I showed her the scuff from the overider on her paint she told me I shouldn’t hide the car behind the hedge !
I pointed out it was not hidden, it’s rear end was up in the air and it is my drive, not a communal turning spot, off she went, unrepentant.
Contrary to the old tales about two chaps being able to carry one like it’s made of Balsa wood, it’s still a car, light by car standards, but still well over half a tonne, 500 kilos plus and the world bench press record is a little under that so unlikely most of us can knock out ten reps, even without an engine, imagine the ignominy of being squashed by a small crappy Fiat ?
Use the proper gear, and have a backup, best to not wish you had when it’s on top of you, too late by then.
djdest said:
This was a friend of mine, the stupid bd knew better too
https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/inquest-d...
What an annoying website, can't view with adblock, when adblock is off the whole site scrolls up and down constantly whilst the ads load. d knew better too https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/inquest-d...
This stuff scares the crap out of me.
Even back in my days of old in garage / dealers, getting under the two and four poster ramps made me nervous, more so the older steel cable versions that liked to rock about alarmingly. I've seen a few situations that'd make you weep, vans balanced precariously on two posters or cars at tipping point once the weight of the engine was out. And that's not to mention the two poster that collapsed.
As for home mechanics, I have a 3 ton jack and ratchet style stands... always use a minimum of two stands plus the wheel chocks and leave the jack in place, just in case it's needed at short notice and I never jack anything up on rough or sloped ground. Even if doing a wheel off job and I'm not under the car, I still use the stands because it only takes a second for the weight of the car to be on the disc with your hand between it and the floor.
It defies belief how many people seem to think a car weighs about 45 grams and are happy to get under one with the most meagre of gear.
Sad losses and so easily avoidable.
Even back in my days of old in garage / dealers, getting under the two and four poster ramps made me nervous, more so the older steel cable versions that liked to rock about alarmingly. I've seen a few situations that'd make you weep, vans balanced precariously on two posters or cars at tipping point once the weight of the engine was out. And that's not to mention the two poster that collapsed.
As for home mechanics, I have a 3 ton jack and ratchet style stands... always use a minimum of two stands plus the wheel chocks and leave the jack in place, just in case it's needed at short notice and I never jack anything up on rough or sloped ground. Even if doing a wheel off job and I'm not under the car, I still use the stands because it only takes a second for the weight of the car to be on the disc with your hand between it and the floor.
It defies belief how many people seem to think a car weighs about 45 grams and are happy to get under one with the most meagre of gear.
Sad losses and so easily avoidable.
TriumphStag3.0V8 said:
Never rely on a Jack. Always have secondary support in place that will not give way as well if a Jack gives up.
In fact, I always use stands or ramps and then take the jack out. Jacks are for lifting not supporting.
When on ramps I also use chocks and put a strap round the wheel holding it onto the ramp.
Always best to be safe.
Manufacturers specify four points where a jack can be used quite often. Where can a support be placed to supplement a jack when the jack is already occupying the jacking point? Those skilled in the art may find a suitable alternative location, but it isn't always obvious just what may, or may not, cause damage.In fact, I always use stands or ramps and then take the jack out. Jacks are for lifting not supporting.
When on ramps I also use chocks and put a strap round the wheel holding it onto the ramp.
Always best to be safe.
Edited by TriumphStag3.0V8 on Monday 16th April 20:27
PartsMonkey said:
As others have said I always raise the car on level ground, with axle stands, jack left in place and wheels under the sills. Having said that, even with proper professional equipment the worse can still happen:
https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/west-...
If this can happen why don't they fit locking pins?https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/west-...
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