Trolley jack safety

[tim wood]

Some of you may have read my thread on clutch hydraulics overhaul.
For the final part I needed to gain access under the car to the bleed the clutch. I don’t have a pit nor vehicle lift so depend on jacks and axle stands.

In this instance I placed the jack under the front suspension arm, jacked up up the car and removed the RH front wheel. Axle stand placed beneath the splines with the load just about shared twixt axle stand and jack.

Without warning the jack slipped and the stand took the load!

No harm was done, but it was a salutary reminder not to rely on jacks alone.

Shook me a bit I can tell you although I wasn’t under the car at the time..

I’m sure we’re all aware of the risk - but do we sometimes take the chance !!

[Gfhug]

Tim, so long as you are ok. Yes, we can become complacent. Have you seen some of the plastic car ramps that are made of two parts, the ramp and the level section? You could use the level sections under the wheels to hold the front of the car (or rear) up after using your jack to lift. Just a thought for how to more safely gain extra work height. Take care.

Geoff

[paydase]

Unfortunately, no component will be 100% safe, even if having passed successfully quality control and tests.
There are many stories of stand axles breaking at welding points, plastic car ramps crashing, hydraulic jacks or lifts failing...
The rule imho is to double/triple safety measures, e.g. always put axle stands in addition to jacks as Tim did.

[tim wood]

Thanks both,
Geoff ,I haven’t seen the plastic ramps although I do have an old pair of steel ramps?

The thing is I knew that my jack was a bit dodgy…….

Tim

[Gfhug]

Tim, I even have a couple of railway sleepers cut to length to put under wheels to act as a simple “lift” to gain height. A wedge at either end to act as stops. Or raise the wheels onto those old steel ramps, anything to give your extra working height that is stable. For a case like yours where you can’t drive up (with the clutch needing bleeding) onto your ramps but you can still make use of them.

Geoff

[mgcjag]

Guys...get yourself a scissor lift....just raises the car to around waist height....makes working on these cars much easier and more enjoyable....its just another tool........Steve