Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: SMD on 09 May 2012, 09:32:06
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(http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t440/Zaf_Yousef/mailgooglecom.jpg)
Few years ago when I was a little younger and a little dumber I went and bought these thinking they would be ok for working under Omegas, well, I initially bought these to change pads and recently started thinking about doing oil/filter changes and fighting with exhaust bolts! I actually asked the opinions of 'enthusiast mechanics' on another forum and they said its fine!
So recently I learn that these death traps have been known to collapse, one on this forum and when searching on google I found this:
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/h2ypr/20071125_132718.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/h2ypr/20071125_132830.jpg)
So needless to say what I will be doing with them. Should I also bin the jack?
What shall I replace this lovely bit of kit with? As cheap as possible without killing me please. Something like this from machinemart ok?
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cax-3tbc-3-ton-axle-stands
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I bought a trolley jack like that in the early 70's. I think it cost me £22. A fortune then. It has served me well since but whilst it lifts the car I think the seals have gone as it won't stay up. The key thing is they aren't(in my opinion) for supporting your car. I always like two supports e.g. blocks under the suspension on the corner you are working on plus a wheel under the cill chocked with suitable piece of wood. I used to have some axle stands but never thought they were safe( you have to have solid ground not tarmac or dirt) so gave them away.
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Get some ratcheting ones, they're far more useful than the old peg-and-hole type.
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I am paranoid about safety. RobG kindly advised me what ramps to get.... £36 iirc but are awesome and wide enough for the mig... comes with extensions too. i dont have the link no more but i will try and find later for you if youre interested.
now even though this would be enough i put spare wheels either side under the cills and i place my axel stands roughly in position so if the ramps collapse (which they certainly sghouldnt do) i have a couple of chances of coming out not looking like a waffle.
cant be too safe imo
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Yep, I've heard from several sources that those riveted axle stands are a liability. :o
Jack should be OK though. You won't be relying on it as the only support after all.
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Yep, I've heard from several sources that those riveted axle stands are a liability. :o
Jack should be OK though. You won't be relying on it as the only support after all.
i would never trust that type tbh. all welded ones for me. :y
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Just to make it clear the pic I linked above, the guy was working under the car when the stand collapsed and said he though it was just at a funny angle and carried on working! :o
I'll keep the jack for the time being. Are the Clarke ratchet stands I linked in the first post ok?
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Jack is just for lifting, so as long as it's supported on good stands it should be ok. Certainly good to keep for emergencies. Ref stands, I don't like the ratcheted ones at all. I find the clarke ones don't hold the chassis rails well.
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I love it when things with a TUV sticker on it go wrong. They are so stuck up their own backsides it serves them right. ;D ;D ;D
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Yeah me, too! :D
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Jack is just for lifting, so as long as it's supported on good stands it should be ok. Certainly good to keep for emergencies. Ref stands, I don't like the ratcheted ones at all. I find the clarke ones don't hold the chassis rails well.
I see what you mean. What would you (or anyone else) suggest then?
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Machine mart, around 28 notes - sturdy, and look at how nicely the chassis rails will fit in them :y
(http://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/library/product/large/02/020110000.jpg?4)
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/as10-axle-stands?da=1&TC=SRC-axle stands
In comparison, look how crap the chassis rail support cups are, in the ratchet type below:
(http://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/library/product/large/02/020110003.jpg?2)
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Cheers. The chassis rail support bothered me too
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Yeah, I've got those blue ones, far, far better on the chassis rail, those red ones dig in and make a right mess!
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Those blue ones look exactly like the ones I inherited from my Dad .. well, mine had a lot more rust on them ;D Worked like a charm on everything I used them on.
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Machine mart, around 28 notes - sturdy, and look at how nicely the chassis rails will fit in them :y
(http://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/library/product/large/02/020110000.jpg?4)
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/as10-axle-stands?da=1&TC=SRC-axle stands
I have some of these & I've had them many years. I can fully recommend them. Better than the cheap chinese crap that I wouldn't trust.
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Machine mart, around 28 notes - sturdy, and look at how nicely the chassis rails will fit in them :y
(http://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/library/product/large/02/020110000.jpg?4)
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/as10-axle-stands?da=1&TC=SRC-axle stands
I have some of these & I've had them many years. I can fully recommend them. Better than the cheap chinese crap that I wouldn't trust.
+1 :y
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Looks like I'll be getting that then ;)
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I'm also always very careful when working underneath car, with jack, axle stands and wheel.
A friend of my dads was killed when his Rover 3.5 V8 collapsed on him. He used bricks as an axle stand and they broke up and the car collapsed on him. According to the autopsy, that didn't kill him, but where he was trapped, he couldn't move and the weight stopped him from being able to breath, not a nice way to go. :( :( :( :(
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Long lost but I did have a set of ex MOD axle stands, they were not adjustable but were capable of 3.5 Tons, used them on my series 3 Land Rover, got me thinking now about where the heck they are..... :D :D
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I'm also always very careful when working underneath car, with jack, axle stands and wheel.
A friend of my dads was killed when his Rover 3.5 V8 collapsed on him. He used bricks as an axle stand and they broke up and the car collapsed on him. According to the autopsy, that didn't kill him, but where he was trapped, he couldn't move and the weight stopped him from being able to breath, not a nice way to go. :( :( :( :(
That is really awful mate and real sorry to hear that. it does highlight the importance of safety though and each time you go under the car you should be worried.... that way you ll make sure you dont take the safety for granted.
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Long lost but I did have a set of ex MOD axle stands, they were not adjustable but were capable of 3.5 Tons, used them on my series 3 Land Rover, got me thinking now about where the heck they are..... :D :D
They'll have taken them back. Cost cutting, it's cheaper than buying new ones ;)