I believe that many of us have these jack stands. Gone are the days when you inserted a heavy pin into a heavy steel structure to hold up the car. Now all the weight is supported on a flimsy roll pin. About 90% of what Harbor Freight sells is cheap low quality Chinese junk. In the shop we have only SK, Snap On , Armstrong ' Klein and older Craftsman American made tools. Recently we added the SK X-Wrench sets which are the finest tools made with American steel.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
This is updated "Old News" and is Two NHTSA Recalls. See "check your jackstands." in GFC
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua: I believe that many of us have these jack stands. Gone are the days when you inserted a heavy pin into a heavy steel structure to hold up the car. Now all the weight is supported on a flimsy roll pin. About 90% of what Harbor Freight sells is cheap low quality Chinese junk. In the shop we have only SK, Snap On , Armstrong ' Klein and older Craftsman American made tools. Recently we added the SK X-Wrench sets which are the finest tools made with American steel.
A roll pin Does Not hold the car. The pin just keep the latch pawl location on the lever. In use, Most times the pin will break when something try to move the lever when stands are loaded so car won't drop.
Either the pawl or saddle part is made wrong (maybe both have problems) and easily drop the car when something tries to move the lever.
I just decided to put my Harbor Freight jack stands aside for when we work low and will be using these from now on.
I don't like this style and would not use them for supporting a car in the air. Some of these aluminum ones say they are rated for 6000lbs but they are really designed for leveling RVs not supporting something like a car in the air with the possible lateral movement. I ran across a plastic set of these in a pile of aluminum ones and the weight difference was not apparent that was a scary thought. Also the cast aluminum I have seen on these can be very shoddy. If there was a good solid steel set of these maybe steel like the traditional stands but with this adjustment instead... however I also don't like how thin that threaded steel is. I've seen bent ones from RV leveling.
I believe that many of us have these jack stands. Gone are the days when you inserted a heavy pin into a heavy steel structure to hold up the car. Now all the weight is supported on a flimsy roll pin. About 90% of what Harbor Freight sells is cheap low quality Chinese junk. In the shop we have only SK, Snap On , Armstrong ' Klein and older Craftsman American made tools. Recently we added the SK X-Wrench sets which are the finest tools made with American steel.
Those SK X-Wrenches wrenches are on my Birthday/Christmas list! They're really nice, and I've always wanted 6 point ratchets. Some bad news, though. SK were just bought by GreatStar, a Chinese holding company. GreatStar may keep the production in the US, but a common practice is to move production overseas, produce a ton of tools, and sell them through the big box stores with the SK brand and probably a bunch of American flags all over the box. This works, apparently for a few years until everyone realizes they're just paying extra for the letters "S", and "K". So, fingers crossed that GreatStar/SK keeps the production in the US.
The older I get, the more hinky I get about crawling underneath a car supported by jack stands. Just spooks me anymore, especially when I'm a full 50lbs heavier then I was 'Back In the Day" when I would do it without a second thought. The posts I've read about Ethan Allen (yourfriendethan) are just so heartbreaking, a nice guy with a family..Dammit to hell! Anyway, I think a good USA mfg lift is in my future.
I don't like this style and would not use them for supporting a car in the air. Some of these aluminum ones say they are rated for 6000lbs but they are really designed for leveling RVs not supporting something like a car in the air with the possible lateral movement. I ran across a plastic set of these in a pile of aluminum ones and the weight difference was not apparent that was a scary thought. Also the cast aluminum I have seen on these can be very shoddy. If there was a good solid steel set of these maybe steel like the traditional stands but with this adjustment instead... however I also don't like how thin that threaded steel is. I've seen bent ones from RV leveling.
Just my opinion on those.
I've thought about that and have concerns as well. I like the jack screw idea but steel construction seems to make more sense but I did collapse an old steel unit that used a pipe, then split the steel to make the three legs . The old set of pin through stands that I have seems like the best idea and I have a set of those as well. Might try the Esco design. Those look sturdy. Expensive but what is your life worth?
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Please No.... While nice because can adjust the screw so all are tight vs. pin or ratchet type jack stands don't use them to protect people.
quote
Originally posted by skywurz: I don't like this style and would not use them for supporting a car in the air. Some of these aluminum ones say they are rated for 6000lbs but they are really designed for leveling RVs not supporting something like a car in the air with the possible lateral movement. I ran across a plastic set of these in a pile of aluminum ones and the weight difference was not apparent that was a scary thought. Also the cast aluminum I have seen on these can be very shoddy. If there was a good solid steel set of these maybe steel like the traditional stands but with this adjustment instead... however I also don't like how thin that threaded steel is. I've seen bent ones from RV leveling.
Just my opinion on those.
Not only that... The Aluminum frame can and will Fail because Al often hates point loads anywhere on the bottom. See that happen when used to level RV and sunk to hit a rock over a weekend. Broke the bottom but didn't fail completely this time.
Had some given to me many years before that... No-way use as jack stands to get under a vehicle. If you hit them w/ tools etc while working can "break" easy for same reason. "Break" can be Break outright or Bent a "leg"and won't hold a load.
