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A Close Shave... or \"How my Jack tried to kill me\".

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vwombat Hey Ho - Lets GO!

1,218 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#224175
So, I had some work to do on the Bay today (removing a sheared fan retaining bolt), and I get out my "TOTAL OVERKILL 4 ton stands", whack out the Jack and start twirling.

The Bay is airborn, so I crawl under to adjust the stand. I get the stand about halfway up to the jack height, then get out from under the car to do the final adjustment before lowering the car.

Snap bang! The jack breaks, sending a ton and a half of metal plummeting downwards. Eeek, I think. That would have hurt!

Anyone have a similar experience with a stock Dub jack? Or was mine made from the melted down pieces of Stephen King's Christine?



pyr0 flame-on

4,457 posts · joined Mar 2003 ·

#224177
that was lucky that you made it :duh

ive only used mine a couple of times but ive never had any problems 🙂
Founding member of the C'town Rat-Pack

vwombat Hey Ho - Lets GO!

1,218 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#224183
I think I'll get that life insurance after all!

VolksFolks Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,869 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#224184
I see a lot of squashed wombats, you were a lucky f@#%&G B(%^@$D, axel stands are must, bee safe dude..

Andy
They laugh because You are different, You laugh because They are all the same.

check out www.lowlight.com.au for low lights only..

BiX Veteran Volks Folk

2,499 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#224186
get a trolley jack, even a cheap one, much more stable!!!
I have no sympathy for my car, only the wallet that pays for it!
Go hard or go home!!!!

$2.63 homebrand baja

0 posts · joined Feb 2004 ·

#224188
The wisest advice I was ever given..... "always make sure you put something under the car..just in case.." Now I always shove the spare under... Just..in...case (theory being it will at least allow some leverage for the ambo's to pull me out!) :jesus

vwombat Hey Ho - Lets GO!

1,218 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#224200
get a trolley jack, even a cheap one, much more stable!!!
axel stands are must
I'll guess I found out the hard way (which could've been a lot harder!).

Anyway, I've been using my axel stands the whole time. I only used the jack for lifting and lowering. Won't be doing that any more R.I.P. What jack's do you guys take out on the road then (for flats etc).

mnsKmobi Wolfsburg Wizard

589 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#224201
Just goes to show why you shouldn't get under a vehicle being held up by a jack (or bricks, or bits of wood, etc).

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#224212
i use a little nissan bottle jack for the bug......u can get bigger ones and they work great much safer than a stocker.

Nick
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

aggri1 Insano Dub Head

824 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#224217
I'd like to know how the jack broke on that angle? Did it slip out sideways somehow?

And yeah what do people use to hold the car in the air for backyard jobs?

~air fooled~ two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl

1,429 posts · joined Mar 2004 ·

#224221
wooohhhh, scary sh#t man, cant imagine the world without a looney year 1 teacher, good thing you lived through it.........
everything dies baby, thats a fact..
maybe everything that dies one day comes back..
put your make up on and your hair up pretty..
and meet me tonight in Atlantic city..

baybuscamperkid prince of insufficient light, ruler of heck

4,316 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#224228
eek! gives me somethin to think about. Ive never had a probl;em with one, but a scarey thought indeed!
Reimagined/Recycled/Upcycled Cool

PurpleT3 Fahrvergnugen

880 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#224230
For back yard jobs I use a 1700kg trolley jack and make sure no part of me is under the car before the axle stands are in. In the car I carry a bottle jack from Auto barn, but I wouldn't get under the car with just this holding it up.
Ain't nothin' like the wind in your hair.

vwombat Hey Ho - Lets GO!

1,218 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#224234
I'd like to know how the jack broke on that angle? Did it slip out sideways somehow?
Nope, Kombi Jacks slip into lovely reinforced holes on the Bod. It went in straight (I am very careful about this), the Bay went up, the Bay came down again. That is a fracture under normal working conditions. Though who knows what has happened to a Jack in its 30 years on Earth. Maybe that was just the last straw?

Looks like I'll be spending more money again! DOH!

HotRodMatt If it\'s old or rare - cut it!

3,616 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#224247
My Jack tried to kill me too!

He grabbed me by the bottom lip and jammed two fingers up my nose!

vwombat Hey Ho - Lets GO!

1,218 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#224251
What did he score up there? Was he searching for Brain and just got Booger?

That'd be right!

CoopGirl Fat Chicks ROCK!

825 posts · joined Aug 2003 ·

#224265
Matt sits on his brains and I wont' let Jack anywhere near that area.

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,474 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#224282
id go out and buy a lottery ticket mate cause you are damn lucky
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

Spook Driving the 64 wheeler

1,168 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#224359
Had my kombi jack break years ago, but the truck never got off the ground.

Now I got ramps, stands & a 5 ton (& that is spelt right) mechanical trolley jack. I got an assortment of hydraulic jacks, but I won't get under a car if that's the only thing holding it.
Well my friends are gone & my hair is grey, I ache in the places where I used to play.

vwking Officially Full-On Dubber

294 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#224363
you are so lucky you was not under the kombi i think i will buy a bottle jack for bay camper no way i will trust the oringal jack not after seeing what can happen

andrewh Officially Full-On Dubber

284 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#224404
I like to play it safe. I always use ramps unless I need to take the wheels off.