Cheap Hydraulic Jacks...
 

Hey all,

I'm cheap by nature, and tend to really cheap out when it comes to tools and such.

A few years ago I bought a small 2 ton "Mack" brand hydro jack from Wal-Mart. It's always worked well for what I needed it to do, so I thought.

Then comes this morning. I was raising the truck up to take the front tires off, raised it, placed the jackstands underneath it, lowered it and proceeded to take the drivers side tire off. The tire was just barely scrubbing the driveway, so I went around and raised the truck up a few more pumps on the jack. As I walked back around the drivers side and started to reach under the truck to raise the jackstand up another notch, it happened.

I see the truck start to shift, so I jump back as it falls over, kinda landing on the jack stands, and being held up by those and the drivers side front tire that's only held on by two semi-threaded lug nuts that I'd left on.

I checked to make sure I was ok, then got to wondering..."what the hell happened there?"

First pic is the tire (you can also see the jackstand), second is of the jack.

Moral of the story: Don't buy junk if you would like to keep yourself alive. I've been in town all day, bought a new 3 ton jack that's really heavy duty (weighs like 100 lbs.), and a better set of jackstands as well. I could have very easily been hurt severely or crushed to death had that tire not been on the truck.

Re: Cheap Hydraulic Jacks...
 

Comes to safety "Get the best". Glad you are not injured.

Re: Cheap Hydraulic Jacks...
 

Scary. I had a problem with an engine hoist that scared me pretty good. Even the best in tools can fail. Glad to hear you didn't get hurt.

Re: Cheap Hydraulic Jacks...
 

Happy to see no one was injured. I think that I had that same jack at one point . I sold it at a garage sale. I hope that dont happen to the guy that bought it.

Re: Cheap Hydraulic Jacks...
 

that sux at least your ok and you get to get a new jack now.

i had an engine stand let go
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...L/DSCF1844.jpg

Re: Cheap Hydraulic Jacks...
 

thats an expensive failiure

Re: Cheap Hydraulic Jacks...
 

Wanna talk expensive failure? My friend Rick had a freshly built vintage 426 Hemi on a "heavy duty" engine stand that failed. Luckily he got away with having to buy a new oil pan, and doing some paint touch-ups.

Re: Cheap Hydraulic Jacks...
 

that twisted frame is one reason I am a firm believer in bottle jacks. not as low profile (my truck is stock height, so doesnt really matter), but much more stable.

I always raise enough for the jackstand to get under, then lower onto the jack stand, then pump the jack up to just contacting and tighten.

Double security doesn't hurt, but if a 20 ton stand wont hold it, doubt the bottle will buy me too much time. Oh and always remember, have someone around (even if they are in the house while you are working, and slide those tires under too. a minor "crush" can be survived. a pin in can cost you an arm, leg or worse..

Re: Cheap Hydraulic Jacks...
 

Wow...I have that same jack. Now I'm really contemplating getting a different one.

Re: Cheap Hydraulic Jacks...
 

I have 4 - 6 ton jack stands holding my truck up when I'm underneath it. They are stronger but, also they are usually a lot taller which makes it easier to work under the truck when the need arises.

Re: Cheap Hydraulic Jacks...
 

:agree: I don't work under my vehicles unless I have jackstands or some other way to block it up. I've never had a jack fail like that one did but I have had them where they would sink back down.