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Fellow RR's, lend me your ears! I was working on my Elgrand last weekend, and whilst I was under it, one of the axle stands collapsed. It was one of these - www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cax-3tbc-3-ton-axle-stands/Fortunately, it didn't fully collapse, the white extendable bit sank into the body of the stand, but it went with a bang and all the poo came out. What do you guys use? Realistically, I'm going to be using them on a VW UP, An Astra Estate and a T5 Camper Van. These are my current vehicles, and don't anticipate getting anything properly weighty. Thanks!
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Those design of axle stands have always been unsafe, personally I’d never use them. All the harbour freight branded ones were recalled in the states because of a lawsuit or two. But machine mart keeps kicking them out, as do various other bands. Mind you they sell plenty of other dangerous/sub-par sh1t so it doesn’t really surprise.
Old fashioned pin or screw thread type only for me, and welded construction, no castings. Sealey do some alright ones, although predictably they’re not as good as the ones they did 20 years ago.
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There was a discussion about those on the mig welding forum a while back. Those stands have a history of being sh#te, the are genuine Chinese dangerous tat. I can't recommend any but I will look for the thread and put a link here if I find it.
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Proton Jumbuck-deceased :-( 2005 Kia Sorento the parts hauling heap V8 Humber Hawk 1948 Standard12 pickup SOLD 1953 Pop build (wifey's BIVA build).
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Oct 14, 2022 11:54:42 GMT
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I didn't realise they were the same type as the Harbor Freight ones. That's a bit scary. I quite like the look of these - www.machinemart.co.uk/p/sip-winntec-3-ton-axle-stands/Winntec is a brand I've heard of (although can't remember where) and they look well made imo. Thanks guys!
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Last Edit: Oct 14, 2022 11:54:55 GMT by Soopahfly
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Oct 14, 2022 21:32:33 GMT
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I've just bought a pair of these. Yikes
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Oct 14, 2022 21:49:42 GMT
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I have a couple of old pairs of stands like that which have been fine. I believe the issue was that the casting moulds they use in China were wearing out and the "teeth" weren't sharp and defined anymore so prone to slip. I wouldn't buy a new pair of them anymore because of that risk.
As mentioned above, I'd go with the style that uses a pin to secure the center but has a threaded top for fine adjustment.
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Oct 14, 2022 22:22:17 GMT
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I have a couple of old pairs of stands like that which have been fine. I believe the issue was that the casting moulds they use in China were wearing out and the "teeth" weren't sharp and defined anymore so prone to slip. I wouldn't buy a new pair of them anymore because of that risk. As mentioned above, I'd go with the style that uses a pin to secure the center but has a threaded top for fine adjustment. Hi, On the contrary the teeth don't need to be sharp because sharp angles are stress risers making them more likely to fail. I think it is poor quality cast iron, however having said that in a load bearing application it should ideally be a forging which increases costs. As you say a double tube and pin is much better option and easier to fabricate your self. Colin
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,833
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Oct 14, 2022 22:33:05 GMT
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I've had a pair of that type for at least 15 years as my "middle height" stands and never had a problem with them, even with my Delica on them on the odd occasion they're of use. I use normal pin through tube extra tall ones though as they're obviously almost impossible for them to fail.
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Old fashioned pin or screw thread type only for me, and welded construction, no castings. Sealey do some alright ones, although predictably they’re not as good as the ones they did 20 years ago. What he said. No ratchets, screws, hydraulics or other nonsense for me. When your life depends on it you want strong metal, decent welding and thick pins. I've got some similar to these:
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,886
Club RR Member Number: 71
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I've had a pair of that type for at least 15 years as my "middle height" stands and never had a problem with them, even with my Delica on them on the odd occasion they're of use. I use normal pin through tube extra tall ones though as they're obviously almost impossible for them to fail. My Med height and Full height ones are all ratchet type - they've never given me any issues - I'd love to know how the OP's one failed (was it due to poor engagement of the ratchet or did the teeth fail?)
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Do you have any images if the failed stand? Has anything happended to the ratchet mechnicinasim or does it all look ok still?
I've always used the stands that have a pin through and haven't had any trouble but a friend of mine was a professional mechanical who didn't have a ramp always used axle stands of this type and they were fine.
It may be as mentioned above that the newer ones are just made of finest Cheap.
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I have a pair of the ratchet ones, never had an issue… No way will I go under the car though. I have 4 tube and pin ones, I will go under the car with them.
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Bicycle x1 Alfa Giulietta (now wife's) Alfa 156 BMW 630i
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had those machine mart ones for 20 years! also have 2 sets of halfords of almost identical manufacture.
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820
South East
Posts: 790
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Oct 16, 2022 10:45:47 GMT
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I prefer the pin type, not much can wear and you can see the pin is located properly while in use. I have several sets but needed another medium height set recently so went for these Draper stands, very happy with them and quality seems good. I still slide a wheel under the car if working directly underneath just in case, pin or ratchet stands can still topple over surprisingly easily with a car on them. Draper axle stands
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Last Edit: Oct 16, 2022 10:47:31 GMT by 820
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cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,580
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Oct 16, 2022 16:24:43 GMT
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Thats interesting! I've got this set of Halfords Jack stands. similar type but has the pin that goes through the ratchet. I've used them loads over the last 3 years. took the axle and suspension off my Capri plus had the car sitting of them for days in the past. Would like to have seen how it failed? maybe its time for some different stands.
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Oct 16, 2022 19:23:01 GMT
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Thats interesting! I've got this set of Halfords Jack stands. similar type but has the pin that goes through the ratchet. I've used them loads over the last 3 years. took the axle and suspension off my Capri plus had the car sitting of them for days in the past. Would like to have seen how it failed? maybe its time for some different stands. Hi, A pic from the migweldingforum thread of the failed stand with a Fiesta on it. Colin
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jimi
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,814
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Oct 16, 2022 19:38:43 GMT
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That's not the stand the OP is talking about is it ?
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Black is not a colour ! .... Its the absence of colour
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,886
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Oct 16, 2022 20:24:35 GMT
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Hi, A pic from the migweldingforum thread of the failed stand with a Fiesta on it. Colin I'm no expert but I would guess that that failure was due to "shear forces" rather than a vertical load
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Regardless of how it failed I do not fancy putting my life in the care of axle stands made of material that can break like that.
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Proton Jumbuck-deceased :-( 2005 Kia Sorento the parts hauling heap V8 Humber Hawk 1948 Standard12 pickup SOLD 1953 Pop build (wifey's BIVA build).
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,833
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Oct 17, 2022 12:02:54 GMT
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That has been loaded on the curse word or been previously dropped and cracked, no way would even the cheapest cast iron crack like that from compression only.
I was thinking about this last night, only axle stand I've ever had was when I dropped a car down quickly due to a dodgy jack release and it broke the welds and splayed the stand legs apart.
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