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Missing handle on MG Midget Car Jack

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M

Midget78

Jedi Trainee
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Hey gang. Since I have had my Midget, I have yet to use the car jack that goes with the car (thank god). I remember briefly looking at it when it was in the trunk upon purchasing the car a while back yet I didnt notice that the handle is missing from it. Basically in order to use it I would have to have an open end wrench that would fit the top portion where the handle should be to crank it but something tells me without the correct handle it would be very hard to lift the car. I looked in the catalogs and was surprised to see how expensive these jacks are. I priced them around $160 for a new jack. By any chance is there anyone out there with an extra handle for sale?
 
The general consensus is that I don't think anyone on the boards use the jacks they came with for fear of damaging the paint (or the body depending on tinworm) A few (like Jack) are assembling tool/ jack kits for shows but As far as I can tell most everyone has got scissor jacks for actual use. Mine is a Princess Auto cheapie but others have gone to wreckers and acquired old VW jacks. If you want the handle for show - great, but I'd suggest a new jack for the actual work
 
nah jack in truck takes up to much room. (he's A pretty big guy I hear) I keep a tin of tire sealer,, you know compressed air with sealer mixed in. Fill a midget tire and gets you to the garage/home/someplace friendlier than the side of the road. When Sparky needs lifting its proper pneumatic jack and axle stand for me and sometimes ramps, depending on the job.....
 
The correct handle does make it easy to raise the car. It's a ratchet action square drive. I bought a complet jack and handle for a friend at a swap meet a few years ago and he never picked it up so it's for sale if you want it. $30 plus shipping. It's been blasted and in greenish primer ready to paint if you wish.
Note: the handle has a dented area in one side, but it doesn't affect it's operation.
 
Be careful using the jack, it needs to be slightly angled (top away from the car) at the load starting point.

Pat
 
That's odd that some of you don't use your jacks. I use mine all the time. Not while I'm <span style="font-style: italic">under </span>it, of course,<span style="color: #FF0000">*</span> but to raise 'er up to slip jackstands under, sure. I think that lil' thing is the smoothest, best working jack I've ever used. Pop 'er in, crank 'er up. Use it once and you'll see the distance and camber you need to start for it to end up level, and then it's a no-brainer. I luv my jack! Just another example of brilliantly simple Spridget engineering.

<span style="color: #FF0000">*</span>Had to add that caveat! And yes, I made sure my jack holes are rust free!
 
AAA
 
Thanks for the responses guys. It seems there are mixed emotions on what to use. My personal feelings is to use it being that the car body isnt like a regular car and can compress and twist if you do not jack the car up in the right area's. I had a friend help me adjust the brakes on mine a while back and he used a standard floor jack. Went around the car and jacked it up where we felt there was the best support. The next thing I realiazed a day later is the passenger door was hard to open. Then it clicked that he jacked it up behind the door hinge area. Tow trucks I stay away from unless its a flat bed. And the "Fix O Flat" is a good emergency tool to have in the trunk but that stuff does more damage then good to the rim. Ive had to remove tires from rims with cans of that stuff in there and something that should take 10 minutes can turn into a 2 hour job. A good tire guy will clean it all back off.
Hey Bill Young, Im interested in your jack. Is there somewhere I can get your information so I can purchase it. Im not concerned about the dent in the handle. Just as long as it works properly. I will clean it up and make it look like new.
 
Places to jack your car with a floor jack.

Under the cross over peice under and behind the radiator.

Front spring pads for the rear. This is also a great place for jack stands.

Differential.

Use a bit of a board between the jack and the car.

No twisting if you use these spots.
 
You might try a pipe to insert in the socket where the original jack goes, and then use a floor or sissors jack on the pipe.
 
Come on guys, most of us use a floor jack in our shop, but this little gem is really nice if you happen to have a flat tire or a loose lug nut when out on the road. That is of course if your sills are in good shape, but I would think that all you guys have your cars sills in top condition! It really is a handy thing for that emergency tire change, takes up so little space in the boot and really works fine just to raise the side of the car. That's all it was designed for though, emergency roadside tire repair, and it does that very well.
 
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