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Mar 14, 2017 18:59:55 GMT
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My current trolley jack has a good rating, quite low profile and seems solid etc. but .......
What I just can't stand is how quickly the car descends once the the valve is turned. It's really scary and I try to cop out of it whenever I can. Hell, even my Dad when he once offered to do it for me was surprised at just how quickly the car descended.
Really, right now I'm thinking of an upgrade to a jack that goes down at a far more reasonable rate.
What jacks do you folk use, and what decent jack do you think wouldn't cost me an arm and leg?
(bearing in mind I suppose I can sell my Clarke CTJ2250LP 2.25 Tonne Low Profile Trolley Jack with Sockets)
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I have a Jaguar XJS - RARRGHH! She is called Lily, and she is my best friend! goo.gl/bT3ASP <-- video of her
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vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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Mar 14, 2017 19:05:02 GMT
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Just "crack" the release valve a tiny amount at a time don't fully open it and you'll be just fine.
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Mar 14, 2017 19:22:41 GMT
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Just "crack" the release valve a tiny amount at a time don't fully open it and you'll be just fine. Trust me after having done it many times, there is no "tiny" amount - it's virtually all or nothing :\
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I have a Jaguar XJS - RARRGHH! She is called Lily, and she is my best friend! goo.gl/bT3ASP <-- video of her
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heathrobinson
Part of things
Broken everything
Posts: 848
Club RR Member Number: 111
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Mar 14, 2017 19:32:19 GMT
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SGS made mine, and I'm massively impressed, with both the price and the quality. Brilliant bit of kit, low entry, high lift 3T, and a ready supply of spares should anything go wrong. Faultless thus far though.
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vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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Mar 14, 2017 19:43:10 GMT
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Just "crack" the release valve a tiny amount at a time don't fully open it and you'll be just fine. Trust me after having done it many times, there is no "tiny" amount - it's virtually all or nothing :\ what kind of release mechanism are we talking here? screw type with the jack handle i presume? If so it can take a bit of effort to turn it to release the pressure but once it's cracked you can just tighten it back up quickly then control the speed by turning the screw either way.
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Mar 14, 2017 20:19:41 GMT
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Trust me after having done it many times, there is no "tiny" amount - it's virtually all or nothing :\ what kind of release mechanism are we talking here? screw type with the jack handle i presume? If so it can take a bit of effort to turn it to release the pressure but once it's cracked you can just tighten it back up quickly then control the speed by turning the screw either way. There is a flat-head hole for a screwdriver. The only way to ensure the jack goes up is to tighten it (trust me I try to do as little as possible) lest the jack just fail. And when trying to lower it, I already turn the screwdriver as fast as my hands can jerk at it because it's scary enough seeing a near 2 tonne car come flying down. Then I have to repeat the process. SGS do seem like a good company. Does your jack heathrobinson descend smoothly?
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I have a Jaguar XJS - RARRGHH! She is called Lily, and she is my best friend! goo.gl/bT3ASP <-- video of her
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vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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Mar 14, 2017 20:35:12 GMT
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what kind of release mechanism are we talking here? screw type with the jack handle i presume? If so it can take a bit of effort to turn it to release the pressure but once it's cracked you can just tighten it back up quickly then control the speed by turning the screw either way. There is a flat-head hole for a screwdriver. The only way to ensure the jack goes up is to tighten it (trust me I try to do as little as possible) lest the jack just fail. And when trying to lower it, I already turn the screwdriver as fast as my hands can jerk at it because it's scary enough seeing a near 2 tonne car come flying down. Then I have to repeat the process. SGS do seem like a good company. Does your jack heathrobinson descend smoothly? Look inside the jack handle there should be a bar inside to lock and unlock the screw, you will slip the handle over the screw head into the flat head slot. I've never heard of a jack that is either on or off in the 20+ years i've been using them.
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Mar 14, 2017 20:47:59 GMT
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WHY THE HELL ARE YOU USING A SCREWDRIVER!!
Sort that out, if the handle isnt the right one (as mentioned above there should be a pin in it) then get a handle, make a handle, or stop using the jack.
Thats an accident waiting to happen, especially as you are still inexperienced.
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Mar 14, 2017 21:16:30 GMT
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Machine mart do a nice jack, either 3 or 5 ton, proper job just twist the handle to lower, they are about £80 from memory.
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Mar 14, 2017 21:45:12 GMT
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* Use the pin inside the jack handle to lower the jack - DO NOT use a screwdriver. * You should only be using the jack to lift & lower the car, make sure you put something (axle stands/old car wheels/wheel ramps) under the car to take the weight once it is in the air. It's important so that if the jack fails you won't get hurt. * Don't forget a heavy jag will drop a lot quicker than a light towncar when you start to lower a jack, any jack. * Make sure any jack you use can cope with the jag weight (avoid 1.5 ton jacks, 2 ton are common, maybe see if you can borrow a 3 ton jack to try?) * With no car on the jack undo the valve a few turns, lightly oil the threads on the valve and work it in and out a few times, it might make it less "sticky" * When you shut the value to use the jack, tighten it gently - avoid forcing it shut or it will "jump" open when you try to lower the car.
Ask if any questions...
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Last Edit: Mar 14, 2017 21:49:56 GMT by nomad
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heathrobinson
Part of things
Broken everything
Posts: 848
Club RR Member Number: 111
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Mar 14, 2017 22:33:50 GMT
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SGS do seem like a good company. Does your jack heathrobinson descend smoothly? Yeah, the handle's never too much of a wrench to get undone, and it's really controllable, even with a landy or my XR4x4 on. They're both vaguely equal to a jag's nose I'd reckon. I faffed about with a carp trolley jack for years before i had a moment of impetuous purchasing, and I haven't regretted it since. I trust it, which is what's important at the end of the day.
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Mar 14, 2017 22:43:48 GMT
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www.tyre-equipment.co.uk/acatalog/COMPAC-2-tonnes-Trolley-Jack--2T-C-CPC2T_C.htmlHave this exact jack and it is very controllable when lowering unlike most of the cheap jacks. With a small bit of care you can lower it very slowly and precisely. Overall I find it to be very good, have had it 4 or so years and its used fairly regularly and I've never had any problems. I know your pain, Have to put up with plenty of curse word jacks at work where you twist the handle and the car just drops, there's no control at all. Would be completely put off buying a trolley jack because of that aswell.
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1951 Ferguson TED 20 / 1988 Ford Sierra Sapphire 2.0 1990 Isuzu Bighorn 2.8 Irmscher R / 1991 Pajero 2.5 SWB 1991 Vauxhall Carlton GSI3000 / 1991 Toyota Corolla van 2.2TD 1992 Toyota Corolla 1.6 GTI / 93 Ford Granada Scorpio Cosworth 1994 Toyota Corolla GXI / 1995 Toyota Corolla 1.6 Si 1995 Nissan Vanette / 1997 Toyota Starlet 1.5td Glanza 1997 Toyota Carina E saloon / 1998 Toyota Carina 2.0 Exeuctive
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andyw
North East
Posts: 238
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Mar 14, 2017 22:50:55 GMT
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Machine mart do a nice jack, either 3 or 5 ton, proper job just twist the handle to lower, they are about £80 from memory. I have a 3 ton Clarke - had it for over three years now and it was worth every penny.
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Mar 14, 2017 23:04:14 GMT
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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rude
Part of things
Posts: 537
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Mar 14, 2017 23:22:36 GMT
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I have a jack I've named 'the widow maker' just now that possesses the same problem. I've had it for years. Its never let me down but has let many vehicles down... Very quickly. Getting fed up with this 'release and run' scenario and needing to alter its height slightly whilst carrying out some jobs I introduced a set of vice grips on the release screw and then the handle fits tightly over them for an absolute 100% controlled landing. Its not a bodge but a well thought through modification that provides millimetre precision.
Note: I am fully aware of physics, gravity and the implications of dropping a car on ones noggin and do not recommend anyone to be using anything other than a fully functional, complete and safe method of raising/ lowering a vehicle.
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1986 Haunted BMW E24 635CSi 1999 Povo spec BMW E36 1.8i Touring Work Hack 2001 Petrol annihilating Discovery V8 2000 Jaguar S Type 3.0 V6 ~NEW~
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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Why worry about screwdrivers/vice grips? Just make sure you aint under the thing when you lower it lol
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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I've got all sorts of jacks but the one I use by default is the 3 ton one from Clarkes. Twist the handle to release via the gear cog at the base of the handle and it descends at a controlled rate.
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In my experience, the only jacks which are easy to lower slowly are the ones with gears on the end of the handle to lower. This style: Not this style:
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1994 BMW 525i touring 2004 BMW Z4 sorn and broken 1977 Ford Escort 1982 Ford Capri getting restored 1999 Mazda B2500 daily driver.
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eternaloptimist
Posted a lot
Too many projects, not enough time or space...
Posts: 2,578
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...And when trying to lower it, I already turn the screwdriver as fast as my hands can jerk at it because it's scary enough seeing a near 2 tonne car come flying down.... Look inside the jack handle there should be a bar inside to lock and unlock the screw, you will slip the handle over the screw head into the flat head slot. Seb, two things - first, when you first posted about using a screwdriver I posted exactly what vitessetony says above - second, if you want the jack to release quickly, then carry on doing what you're doing by 'turn(ing) the screwdriver as fast as your hands can jerk it'. If you want it to release gradually then find the slotted bar at the end of the jack handle, fit it over the valve and do it up enough to be able to raise the jack (NOT as tight as you can get it). Raise the car and get the stands underneath. Then using the slotted bar at the end of the jack handle very slowly undo the valve and let the car descend onto the stands. If you tighten the valve as much as you can you make it much more difficult to undo it smoothly. Keep practicing until you can do it smoothly every time.
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XC70, VW split screen crew cab, Standard Ten
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