<VV> Easier on a lift ...

[corvairduval at cox.net]

I have to disagree with Bill on that point, standing always seems easier
than laying on my back working under the car. Now, you do have to lower the
car enough to get to the hoses/clamps, and at that point one is stooped,
but still not laying on their back.

I do agree with his warning that vehicles fall off of lifts. I had a
mechanic friend killed by a falling Ranger off a lift he probably raised
thousands of cars upon.

I bought three large lift jack stands at Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-underhoist-safety-stand-41860.ht
ml

They really make a car steady on a two post lift. A necessary tool when
doing anything that removes or adds part of the car, causing a weight shift
that can tip the vehicle off the lift, like removing engines, gas tanks,
etc. Or if one needs to apply force, like stubborn fasteners, pry bars,
etc. Also great for jacking the engine to replace motor mounts, etc. Oh,
and speaking of gas tanks, holding the gas tank in place while installing
the strap(s).

Metal on metal is slippery, especially if the car was driven in water
before it got on the lift. Another mechanic friend had a Caravan fall of
his lift, wet weather and those Rotary metal lift pads. Luckily he wasn't
hurt and insurance made the customer whole.

Those one post jacks do not steady the vehicle as well. They also fall over
easily. 

And, just NEVER use a plug in drop light around a fuel tank with exposed
fuel. Not even those twirly fluorescents either in a standard drop light.
Small energy lights only. Rosenthal Chevy in Arlington had the same
problem, but they (fire department) got it out before the whole block went
up, so it is not just a home handy man problem!

Frank DuVal

Original email:
-----------------
From: Bill & Chris Strickland lechevrier at q.com
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 11:06:20 -0700
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: <VV> "Easier on a lift ... "


These are the words of folks that haven't done something on a hoist -- 
some things might be easier (brake work, exhaust), but others aren't -- 
like gas tanks (unless you have a young, strong armed buddy to stand 
there and hold it overhead while you make adjustments to get it to slide 
in or out easier).  Working overhead while in a standing position is not 
necessarily all that "easier".  Not to mention safety -- cars do fall 
off hoists, but only if they are up on one.  And, to be fair, cars fall 
off jackstands, too.  Several blocks of downtown Newberg, OR burned to 
the ground a few years ago when a dealer mechanic dropped a gas tank 
from a car on a hoist, and then, in the excitement, dropped an 
incandescent "drop" light into the spilled fuel.

Metal on metal contact can be slippery -- it is good to pad jackstands 
with those little plastic covers, or perhaps tape on a piece of old 
carpet (or new carpet ... ). Most hoists (wheel lift excepted) come with 
rubber type pads on the lift arms -- if yours doesn't have them, get some!

Be Safe!

Godspeed!

Bill Strickland

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