<VV> Easier on a lift ...

[John Howell]

I cut some 6" x 6" pieces of conveyer belt to place on my floor jacks 
where they contact the car, this greatly reduces the chance they will 
slip.  They should work on a post lift.

John Howell

On 6/24/2013 3:24 PM, corvairduval at cox.net wrote:
> 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
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> mail2web - Check your email from the web at
> http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web
>
>
>