Yeah, really man. Like, you know...wkohler wrote:Someone should really put something together so we all know how to properly support a car while working on it. We don't want any of our people becoming news stories or statistics!
Mind Your Jackstands...
I thought someone did an illustrated version, but I don't see it in the FAQ's.wkohler wrote:Someone should really put something together so we all know how to properly support a car while working on it. We don't want any of our people becoming news stories or statistics!
I too like the added safety of the jack left in place near where I am.
And I do the rock test prior to crawling under.
All this, because my daughters live too far away.
Duke you might be on t o something there. Maybe we should install remote horn buttons at strategic places under the car.Duke wrote:Whenever I am working on my car and I honk the horn for various reason be it a electrical check or steering wheel work, my wife will pop her head in the garage and ask if I am OK and not stuck under the car.
I always say, how the hell would I honk the horn if I was pinned under the car?
OcCoupe wrote:Duke you might be on t o something there. Maybe we should install remote horn buttons at strategic places under the car.Duke wrote:Whenever I am working on my car and I honk the horn for various reason be it a electrical check or steering wheel work, my wife will pop her head in the garage and ask if I am OK and not stuck under the car.
I always say, how the hell would I honk the horn if I was pinned under the car?
Actually, something like LifeAlert wouldn't be a bad idea when working under a car. Maybe just some kind of remote that would sound the horn even.
I had a moment of panic when trying to heave the transmission back into my 528 by myself; on my back, under the car, transmission sitting on my chest, me feeling trapped, all while in the garage of a friend's house with the door closed and nobody home. Probably wasn't the smartest thing to try on my own with nobody else around, and ever since I've been a lot more mindful of that possibility, and work to avoid getting myself into situations like that. My wife would like that too.
OK...how about this. A device that has a battery and a very loud buzzer (100 db or louder). Thinking a modified jack stand that has adjustable height. On the top of this device is a (heavy duty) pressure switch. You place the device under the car with you with the pressure switch set ~ 3" lower than the underside of the car. If the car drops onto the device, the alarm is sounded. If it gets in the way, just scoot it to a new location under the car.OcCoupe wrote:Some sort of horn or alarm wouldn't be a bad idea. My wife can never seem to hear me when I hollering in the garage.
I could make a $1,000,000,000! Every garage must have one. SharkTank, here I come.
You would still be squished dead if it fell though. Right? I am glad to see this discussion. I have never felt very comfortable under jackstands. So much so that I always have kept them on the lowest height setting not even trusting the lock lever.Duke wrote:OK...how about this. A device that has a battery and a very loud buzzer (100 db or louder). Thinking a modified jack stand that has adjustable height. On the top of this device is a (heavy duty) pressure switch. You place the device under the car with you with the pressure switch set ~ 3" lower than the underside of the car. If the car drops onto the device, the alarm is sounded. If it gets in the way, just scoot it to a new location under the car.OcCoupe wrote:Some sort of horn or alarm wouldn't be a bad idea. My wife can never seem to hear me when I hollering in the garage.
I could make a $1,000,000,000! Every garage must have one. SharkTank, here I come.
If it is a 3 ton jack stand with the device installed, it should hold the car. If you are pinned to the point you can't yell, would save you by getting help. If you head is in a bad spot and it pops, it just a bad day and the alarm will summon the coroner.L_N_Love wrote:You would still be squished dead if it fell though. Right?
My shop is about a mile away from the house. Whenever I go to work there (always on my own) I'm sure to tell the girlfriend or roommate that I'm going out to the shop and scheduled time I'll be back.... hopefully they never have to come check on me. If I'm working one of my cars I'll keep the phone in my pocket and just pray if I need to call someone I'll be able to.Duke wrote:Whenever I am working on my car and I honk the horn for various reason be it a electrical check or steering wheel work, my wife will pop her head in the garage and ask if I am OK and not stuck under the car.
I always say, how the hell would I honk the horn if I was pinned under the car?
Lifting a car is probably one of the things I treat with the most care I possibly can... I don't want to be stuck under it. I'm getting ready to put my RX-7 back in the air and while I'll have it supported previously by a jackstand at each corner, a jackstand at each end (6 total) and then the jack close to where I was working... I still didn't want to be under it. I think there was a previous post here of the tire stands made of 2x4, that'll be what I use this time I think.... and some jackstands.
They will offer you a buy out and get a Professional lobbyist.Duke wrote:OK...how about this. A device that has a battery and a very loud buzzer (100 db or louder). Thinking a modified jack stand that has adjustable height. On the top of this device is a (heavy duty) pressure switch. You place the device under the car with you with the pressure switch set ~ 3" lower than the underside of the car. If the car drops onto the device, the alarm is sounded. If it gets in the way, just scoot it to a new location under the car.OcCoupe wrote:Some sort of horn or alarm wouldn't be a bad idea. My wife can never seem to hear me when I hollering in the garage.
I could make a $1,000,000,000! Every garage must have one. SharkTank, here I come.
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euro635gas
- Posts: 1085
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: Oregon
Would you use these jacks?
I bumped into these jacks while cleaning some stuff out of my shed today. I bought them a few years ago at a garage sale, and have used them several times with no problems. They have some surface rust and some built-up grime, but the steel in them seems solid. A couple of the horizontal straps are a bit bent, but they are all there. I used the jacks while doing the clutch on my eta; rock solid. I had thought to sell them, but looking them over makes me wonder why I wouldn't use them. I have no idea how old they are; there is evidence that a couple of repairs have been made over the years, but the repairs look solid too.
The lock tabs have two notches on them. Once there is weight on the extension, those tabs don't budge; even with no weight on them you have to work a bit to get the jacks to collapse.
Here is the working part; once the tabs fit into the notches and weight is on them, the wedge pushes the tabs against the extension locking it in place.
It's an impressive design, but their age worries me a bit.
I bumped into these jacks while cleaning some stuff out of my shed today. I bought them a few years ago at a garage sale, and have used them several times with no problems. They have some surface rust and some built-up grime, but the steel in them seems solid. A couple of the horizontal straps are a bit bent, but they are all there. I used the jacks while doing the clutch on my eta; rock solid. I had thought to sell them, but looking them over makes me wonder why I wouldn't use them. I have no idea how old they are; there is evidence that a couple of repairs have been made over the years, but the repairs look solid too.
The lock tabs have two notches on them. Once there is weight on the extension, those tabs don't budge; even with no weight on them you have to work a bit to get the jacks to collapse.
Here is the working part; once the tabs fit into the notches and weight is on them, the wedge pushes the tabs against the extension locking it in place.
It's an impressive design, but their age worries me a bit.
Just finished flywheel, clutch assy R&R on 1st 5er, with jack stands on all four corners. 
I like to get all four corners of the car jacked up with these
then I like to get underneath the middle of the car and really start tweaking the shit out of something....
occasionally I will put my feet against them to really give me some torque,
it also helps to get the car rocking to amplify the torque driving from your legs and feet...
I also find that these work well on a hill or incline surface...
then I like to get underneath the middle of the car and really start tweaking the shit out of something....
occasionally I will put my feet against them to really give me some torque,
it also helps to get the car rocking to amplify the torque driving from your legs and feet...
I also find that these work well on a hill or incline surface...
Last car I remember jacking up by the bumper was my '76 Bonneville; the bumper would waggle up & down with every click. Scary.
Designed by a sadist. They were borderline at best on those brontosaurus cars of yesteryear under ideal conditions and left me cursing every time I tried to use one. 