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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Auto Addict on 28 February 2009, 20:08:10

Title: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Auto Addict on 28 February 2009, 20:08:10
Saw a guy under a car today, supported by four scissor jacks :o
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: nick v6 on 28 February 2009, 20:09:47
very brave or wanted an easy way out from the wife


thats one thing i would never do
don't like changing a spare wheel let alone working on a car with one under it :o :o
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: dad1uk on 28 February 2009, 20:11:10
Certainly a braver man than I.... I don't trust them at all!
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: mars on 28 February 2009, 20:13:26
Always carry trolley jack in boot so as to change a wheel if need be as quick as possible. Don't like cars on jacks without proper support. That guy was either brave or foolish, me thinks prob the latter ;)
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: waspy on 28 February 2009, 20:14:00
 :o :o Makes you wonder sometimes where their brains are :-/ I walked passed a guy the other week under a Vectra supported by a trolley jack (stupid boy).
A few years back there was a guy squashed & killed by his car that was supported by house bricks, he used just one stack at each corner & the car toppled over.
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Auto Addict on 28 February 2009, 20:19:23
The scissor jacks did look brand new.......

On a grass verge at that!
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: waspy on 28 February 2009, 20:32:52
I'm personally not keen on going under my Mig on Axel Stands, i try & use my home made ramps if possible. When my Trans-Am was off the road long term in the garage, i supported her with Breeze Blocks, she wasn't going any where whilst i had the diff off & the gearbox in bits :y
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Lazydocker on 28 February 2009, 20:37:17
 :o :o :o :o :o :o

Must confess I have been known to slide my shoulder under te car when just on a trolley jack, but it's my trolley jack and I keep it serviced! :-[ :-[ :-[

That's just plain stupid though! My Brother-in-Law managed to knock his Passat Estate off the stupid jack when we were changing a puncture at the roadside... Luckily I always slide the bottom of the wheel under the disc first so it only pinched my hand, but it still rather hurt! :o :o :o
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: philhoward on 28 February 2009, 20:47:34
I prefer ramps - unless working on the wheels of course, then its 2 axle stands for me all the way.

Only use scissor jacks to support things (like gearboxes and exhausts) as i prefer the fine tune-ability - trying to drop a trolley jack 1mm is a bit tricky with your arm bent backwards is a bit tricky...

Have a good one from an old Xantia - really wide base, double cogged and has a nice grooved top to it for staying in place.  

Sometimes the fact that trolley jacks move up in an arc makes life tricky...
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: tyreburner on 28 February 2009, 21:09:13
I am scared if i have to go under the car on axle stands which is why i need to win the lottery so i can use hydraullic ramps :D ;D
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Auto Addict on 28 February 2009, 21:13:59
The best, and cheapest thing to support your car is to hang it from sky hooks, very reliable, gives you uninterupted access under the car.

www.acmeskyhooks.com
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Welung666 on 28 February 2009, 21:26:54
Quote
The best, and cheapest thing to support your car is to hang it from sky hooks, very reliable, gives you uninterupted access under the car.

www.acmeskyhooks.com

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Bandit127 on 28 February 2009, 22:22:44
It wasn't a scissor jack but a leadscrew jack that used to sit up the side of the car. Same lifting principle though, a thread.

I had one go one me. It was propping the rear end of a mini up at the time. Cleaning the drums I think. I don't know who has looked at a mini subframe from the rear wheel, but it's a beam that runs parallel to the side of the car and sits inboard from the hub. Just right to dump a quarter of a car on your legs with a sharp edge....

Without doubt, I would have been a vastly different person for the last 30 of my 47 years if my legs had been under there then.





Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Entwood on 28 February 2009, 22:27:13
Some years ago I had to assist in the removal of a car from on a body ...   crushed to death after a "car" type side-jack collapsed.

Not a nice sight at all, and his widow and 5 month old child saw it all happen .. :(
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: SteveMJ on 01 March 2009, 21:57:43
My car a Morris Oxford fell off its jack onto my foot when I was 17, that was a long time ago.

Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Debs. on 01 March 2009, 22:42:36
Quote
Some years ago I had to assist in the removal of a car from on a body ...   crushed to death after a "car" type side-jack collapsed.

Not a nice sight at all, and his widow and 5 month old child saw it all happen .. :(

My dear-friend`s brother was killed the same way whilst underneath his car doing an oil change. :'(
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Ken T on 01 March 2009, 23:28:27
Total idiot, jacks are NOT SAFE. I know of at least one guy who is now dead thanks to working under a car supported (not) on a jack. I always use stands, and after fitting the stand and removing the jack, I always push the car, simluating a sideways push, someone falling against the car when I am under it. It shouldn't fall, if it does I am glad I wasn't under it. I also put the wheel I have just taken off under the car, so if it falls is will stop when it hits the tyre, not when it hits me :'(

Ken