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[BazaJT]

Enthusiasm is slowly building to fix the Elite[it's only been 2yrs since I stopped using it-apart from a quarter mile run to park it in the lock up]a part of which is replacing the oil cooler.So basically a simple question,when getting it high enough to get the oil filter off and the cooler pipes released where should I position the axle stand top support it?Even I'm not stupid enough to grovel about underneath it supported solely by my trolley jack.

[Bigron]

Not a direct answer to your post, baza, but you prompted a thought: has any manufacturer considered producing a combined trolley jack/axle stand?
Only one jacking point needed and you could lock the jack up solidly and safely.

Ron.

[BazaJT]

I've never heard of or seen such a thing,so either they've not considered the idea or they have and found it impractical?You'd think though that especially in this day and age it would be doable.maybe a business opportunity for you there

[Bigron]

Perhaps I should submit it to Dragon's Den?
Seriously though, can it be all that difficult to design? The problem with relying on a trolley jack is the (remote) possibility of a hydraulic leak, allowing it to lower your beloved Omega on top of you. A good mechanical engineer - not me - ought to be able to incorporate a rigid prop into the trolley jack once it has reached working height: like the centre of an axle stand, for example?

Ron.

[Nick W]

You're trying to combine two simple, effective, reliable tools into one complicated one.


They have several conflicting operating requirements too:


The jack needs to be on wheels for the scissor action to work.
The axle stand cannot be mobile to be of any use.
The locking mechanism must be independent of the jacking one, work in a different way, and yet be infinitely adjustable.


I don't want to even see such an abortion, let alone use one.

[biggriffin]

I have at home, an old AA trolley jack, that when at a certain height, has a locking frame which, stops the arm from coming down.

The reason nobody makes one is a stabilty issue, axle stand has a larger foot print, a trolley jack at height will wobble,
Someone be able to describe it better than me.

[Bigron]

That's why in my mind I envisaged TWO outriders either side of the jack, which could be swept back alongside the pivoting arm of the jack for storage and splayed out (and locked) when deployed to keep it stable and safe.
But, as I said earlier, it needs a GOOD mechanical engineer to design it, not me! 

Ron.

[BazaJT]

Meanwhile back at the ranch,where do I site the axle stand while removing oil filter and undoing cooler pipes?I could of course run it up onto my ramps or just onto one ramp at the nearside,but that would then probably leave the front end too high to do the top end work comfortably.

[zirk]

If your trolley jack goes high enough, plant one of the front wheels on your spare wheel.

Oil Cooler, if your carefully once youve got the top plate off, its not too much of an issue to remove the cooler with the 2 pipes intact, but try not to bend them.

[BazaJT]

Aha!,a bit of lateral thinking!Never occurred to me to use the spare as a "support".For the cooler pipes I reckon I'm as well off slackening them off as if anyone can cock things up big style it's me

[cam.in.head]

Perhaps I should submit it to Dragon's Den?
Seriously though, can it be all that difficult to design? The problem with relying on a trolley jack is the (remote) possibility of a hydraulic leak, allowing it to lower your beloved Omega on top of you. A good mechanical engineer - not me - ought to be able to incorporate a rigid prop into the trolley jack once it has reached working height: like the centre of an axle stand, for example?

Ron.

Nearest thing i can think of which is similar is a shelley mechanical jack as used on landrovers. Bit like a bottle jack but purely mechanical