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Jack's and Jill's...No I mean Jack and Car Stands
- Thread starter ynotme2
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Your ok, even with a small elephant sitting in the car. I actually use a 2 ton floor jack and it is fine, although there is nothing wrong with the larger one. My BJ8 Healey probably weighs about 2500 pounds, certainly not very heavy compared to some large American classics.
Re: Jack's and Jill's...No I mean Jack and Car Sta
I (well, my friend who does all the work) can't get a 3-ton jack under my car, so we (well, he) uses a smaller one to start the job, then the 3-ton once the car is off the ground a bit. Most generally, the scissors jack I carry in the car is used to start the job, then the bigger one is used.
Sharon
BN1 with 5" ground clearance
I (well, my friend who does all the work) can't get a 3-ton jack under my car, so we (well, he) uses a smaller one to start the job, then the 3-ton once the car is off the ground a bit. Most generally, the scissors jack I carry in the car is used to start the job, then the bigger one is used.
Sharon
BN1 with 5" ground clearance
Geo Hahn
Yoda
Offline
Re: Jack's and Jill's...No I mean Jack and Car Sta
You may also find the 3-ton stands are taller than you like. When you find a jack that will fit under the car you may find it doesn't lift the frame high enough to get the 3-ton under there in the fully-lowered position.
I prefer the 2-ton though most of the time I am not really crawling under the car... just working on the brakes, suspension, etc so height is less of an issue than secure support.
You may also find the 3-ton stands are taller than you like. When you find a jack that will fit under the car you may find it doesn't lift the frame high enough to get the 3-ton under there in the fully-lowered position.
I prefer the 2-ton though most of the time I am not really crawling under the car... just working on the brakes, suspension, etc so height is less of an issue than secure support.
Patton
Jedi Warrior
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Re: Jack's and Jill's...No I mean Jack and Car Sta
The aluminum racing jacks they sell are Harbor Freight are enticing, they will easily fit under the car since the saddle height is 3", but the cost is pretty high.
https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91039
Patton
The aluminum racing jacks they sell are Harbor Freight are enticing, they will easily fit under the car since the saddle height is 3", but the cost is pretty high.
https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91039
Patton
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Re: Jack's and Jill's...No I mean Jack and Car Sta
Patton & Keoke,
I have had one of these jacks for quite a while. It truly will get way under the car. The "reach" is a couple of inches longer than on most jacks & this also helps a lot to get it under the car. Makes it really nice to raise the Healey.
There may me a down side however. In order to get the quick lift, the mechanical/hydraulic leverage is reduced & it takes a LOT of push on the four foot handle to operate the jack. Not much problem on the relatively light Healey but you might not have enough weight to put on the handle to raise a heavier car. I guess that the "jack man" on race crews usually weighs 250 plus & has no trouble.
Another problem is that the small roller on the front, as opposed to larger wheels, gets hung up on any little obstacle in it's path & is kind of a nuisance.
Third problem, the carry handles stick way out on the sides & limit how close you can get to the jack stands. Maybe race crews don't use jack stands?
D
Patton & Keoke,
I have had one of these jacks for quite a while. It truly will get way under the car. The "reach" is a couple of inches longer than on most jacks & this also helps a lot to get it under the car. Makes it really nice to raise the Healey.
There may me a down side however. In order to get the quick lift, the mechanical/hydraulic leverage is reduced & it takes a LOT of push on the four foot handle to operate the jack. Not much problem on the relatively light Healey but you might not have enough weight to put on the handle to raise a heavier car. I guess that the "jack man" on race crews usually weighs 250 plus & has no trouble.
Another problem is that the small roller on the front, as opposed to larger wheels, gets hung up on any little obstacle in it's path & is kind of a nuisance.
Third problem, the carry handles stick way out on the sides & limit how close you can get to the jack stands. Maybe race crews don't use jack stands?
D
Patton
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Re: Jack's and Jill's...No I mean Jack and Car Sta
[ QUOTE ]
I guess that the "jack man" on race crews usually weighs 250 plus & has no trouble.
[/ QUOTE ]
Of course I am 250 plus, so I don't have to worry about that!!!
We did have on club member dent his car as the handle on his went up 90 degrees and he wasn't paying attention till too late.
I am attaching the latest Harbor Freight coupon I got in email if you don't have one. If you sign up for the email list you will get one a couple of times a month. Also, I have found out that email and catalog specials will be accepted in my local store. This is despite the note on some of the prices that are not available in the stores.
Enjoy,
Patton
[ QUOTE ]
I guess that the "jack man" on race crews usually weighs 250 plus & has no trouble.
[/ QUOTE ]
Of course I am 250 plus, so I don't have to worry about that!!!
We did have on club member dent his car as the handle on his went up 90 degrees and he wasn't paying attention till too late.
I am attaching the latest Harbor Freight coupon I got in email if you don't have one. If you sign up for the email list you will get one a couple of times a month. Also, I have found out that email and catalog specials will be accepted in my local store. This is despite the note on some of the prices that are not available in the stores.
Enjoy,
Patton
Offline
Re: Jack's and Jill's...No I mean Jack and Car Sta
Keoke,
I never really looked closely at the handles, I thought the handles were probably welded on & just complained everytime they got in the way. It turns out that they are attached with socket flat head screws. It took about three minutes to remove them. Thanks for the idea.
D
Keoke,
I never really looked closely at the handles, I thought the handles were probably welded on & just complained everytime they got in the way. It turns out that they are attached with socket flat head screws. It took about three minutes to remove them. Thanks for the idea.
D
Re: Jack's and Jill's...No I mean Jack and Car Sta
Thanks for the input everyone. I bought myself a 3.5 Ton jack at costco. I hate a year end rebate of 40.00 and the jack was 69.00. So it was worth it. The saddle heigth is just 4.00 inches. I hope that it reaches under the car. I purchased 2 pair of jack stands at Harbour. They are the 2 ton variety. My next question is just a basic one. When jacking up the front and the back of the car, where should I put the jack to make sure i don't screw anything up?
Also where should I put the jack stands to support the car once I have jakced it up? I want to get under the car and do some greasing and general clean up. Might also look at the oil relief spring. So where should I place them to make sure the car is supported and it doesn't twist or ruin anything?
Thanks
Tony
Thanks for the input everyone. I bought myself a 3.5 Ton jack at costco. I hate a year end rebate of 40.00 and the jack was 69.00. So it was worth it. The saddle heigth is just 4.00 inches. I hope that it reaches under the car. I purchased 2 pair of jack stands at Harbour. They are the 2 ton variety. My next question is just a basic one. When jacking up the front and the back of the car, where should I put the jack to make sure i don't screw anything up?
Also where should I put the jack stands to support the car once I have jakced it up? I want to get under the car and do some greasing and general clean up. Might also look at the oil relief spring. So where should I place them to make sure the car is supported and it doesn't twist or ruin anything?
Thanks
Tony
