Were all the jacks the same in all VWs
ie. superbug beetle/type3??
joss Learner Dubber
15 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·
VW Jacks - all the same??
waveman1500 Also rides a Honda
1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·
No, definitely not. There were screw-type jacks later on which are a little bit safer to use than the original 'widowmakers'.
joss Learner Dubber
15 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·
'widowmakers' Are they that bad??
68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --
11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
No,joss wrote:Were al the jacks the same in all VW ie. superbug beetle/type3??
the early jacks only had one hole to put the lever and a slot to put it down....
I've used those from 1968... on beetles..
no worries..
the later ones , some made by Bilstein..
had two holes to put the lever...
one up and one down...
I've used one of those on My beetle since 1996
with no problems...
The only thing You need to know is....
that although they go up 20mm approx at a time...
they both come down INSTANTLY...
Remembering that these jacks are primarily for changing a flat tyre.... Nothing ELSE...
although I've been under My beetle using just the VW jack
when I forget it didn't start in gear.. lol
they ARE safe... Never seen one come down...
they actually can't come down by themselves...
the later supers had a wind up jack...
which still fitted the holes under the chassis...
I haven't used one of those..
Now, I wouldn't climb under My beetle using a trolley jack..
or any hydraulic jack..
I always use jack stands....
LEE
PS: Where widow maker comes from... His dreams...
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
waveman1500 Also rides a Honda
1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·
Well, it's often very difficult to let the car down gradually, as you will probably know if you have ever used one. They tend to let the car drop straight to the floor with one big bang, especially if they haven't been greased. They're reasonably safe to use on the way up, but only on a hard surface as they have a small foot which needs to drag along the floor as they go up and down. If you use them on a dirt road you should have a large wooden plank underneath. I definitely wouldn't get underneath a car that was held up by one though. If nothing else, the jacking points sometimes rust or crack.
The screw-type ones wind up and down slowly and smoothly like a scissor jack, and of course the same rules apply in terms of hard surfaces and not getting under the car, as with any jack.
The screw-type ones wind up and down slowly and smoothly like a scissor jack, and of course the same rules apply in terms of hard surfaces and not getting under the car, as with any jack.
68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --
11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
waveman1500 wrote:Well, it's often very difficult to let the car down gradually, as you will probably know if you have ever used one. They tend to let the car drop straight to the floor with one big bang, especially if they haven't been greased. They're reasonably safe to use on the way up, but only on a hard surface as they have a small foot which needs to drag along the floor as they go up and down. If you use them on a dirt road you should have a large wooden plank underneath. I definitely wouldn't get underneath a car that was held up by one though.
The screw-type ones wind down slowly like any other jack, and of course the same rules apply in terms of hard surfaces and not getting under the car, as with any jack.
Yes,
they were made to come down in ONE go....
that doesn't mean they are going to come down when they are holding a car up.... they can't...
and of the over 10 million made....
I've never heard of anyone being injured under one...
in the Bad Rust areas... North America- Europe UK.... etc
the rust eats the jack support away...
LEE
Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
waveman1500 Also rides a Honda
1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·
Yeah, you're definitely right about those jacking points Lee. I actually added it to my previous post as an edit just before you posted. My uncle has had that problem really quickly with a replacement pan half that he got from Brazil I believe, the new jacking points aren't attached properly like the old ones and they crack off very easily. He carries a small trolley jack in the car, which is probably the safest solution. I agree that the jack won't collapse or come down under load, but they're certainly a bit scary sometimes when you drop them down! The 'widowmaker' bit was perhaps a tad colourful as a turn of phrase, but I think it gets the point across that you have to use them with respect.
68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --
11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Yes,
I agree,
the jack supports need to be in NEW condition...
the ground needs to be flat and solid..
and You need to know that the jack cannot come down 50mm at a time...
but all the way...
I think My type 3 jack [back in the 70s] came down a bit at a time..???
but the ones I have now don't... ??
could be rust or paint stopping them come down in one go...
but when oiled or clean...
they usually down Down with a THUD....
so, the jack isn't usually the problem but the jacking supports.
I know VW jacks are not used where salt is used on the icy roads.. because of the supports rusting away..
LEE
PS:
I used to put the spare under the car while jacking it up to change a flat tyre...
then put the flat tyre [wheel] under it while I changed the wheel... but they never ever came down...
not even in rain.... lol Lee
I agree,
the jack supports need to be in NEW condition...
the ground needs to be flat and solid..
and You need to know that the jack cannot come down 50mm at a time...
but all the way...
I think My type 3 jack [back in the 70s] came down a bit at a time..???
but the ones I have now don't... ??
could be rust or paint stopping them come down in one go...
but when oiled or clean...
they usually down Down with a THUD....
so, the jack isn't usually the problem but the jacking supports.
I know VW jacks are not used where salt is used on the icy roads.. because of the supports rusting away..
LEE
PS:
I used to put the spare under the car while jacking it up to change a flat tyre...
then put the flat tyre [wheel] under it while I changed the wheel... but they never ever came down...
not even in rain.... lol Lee
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- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
HappyDaze Superannuated
2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·
My VW jack is one of my favourite bits of kit.👍 With a few pipes of various lengths, it becomes a mini 'porto-power', with many uses.
Warning! Don't do this at home, kiddies.🙄
Cheers, Greg
Warning! Don't do this at home, kiddies.🙄
Cheers, Greg
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
Smiley Veteran Volks Folk
2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·
I have one of the Bilstein ones in my Beetle with the two slots for the handle. Same as the one Lee has posted a picture of above.
But it doesn't come down in one go.
One slot is used to "walk" the jack up the shaft and the other is used to "walk" the jack back down the shaft. I've never had it drop suddenly to the ground.
Smiley 😎
But it doesn't come down in one go.
One slot is used to "walk" the jack up the shaft and the other is used to "walk" the jack back down the shaft. I've never had it drop suddenly to the ground.
Smiley 😎
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.
68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --
11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
My old memory is faulty....Smiley wrote:I have one of the Bilstein ones in my Beetle with the two slots for the handle. Same as the one Lee has posted a picture of above.
But it doesn't come down in one go.
One slot is used to "walk" the jack up the shaft and the other is used to "walk" the jack back down the shaft. I've never had it drop suddenly to the ground.
Smiley 😎
Mine probably does also.... lol..
the one in My car...
I have the older type in My shed... painted pink... lol
it comes down in one go...
the later two position jack is a whole new design...
even the piece that goes into the square support is pivoted with a spring under it... thats probably why it goes Up & down in notches.... for want of a better word...
I was going to go and test Mine, but I'd have to take the spare wheel out to get it out... lol
LEE
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- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
cam070 Custom Title Time!
1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·
Quite timely this thread. I have been trying to figure out what jack should have come with my 76 beetle. I am thinking it is the one in the bottom photo that should store in the spot with the battery with the spring clip. Does anyone know?waveman1500 wrote:No, definitely not. There were screw-type jacks later on which are a little bit safer to use than the original 'widowmakers'.
vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber
4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·
I have had both wind up and 2 pole jack like this.68AutoBug wrote:Yes,
I agree,
the jack supports need to be in NEW condition...
the ground needs to be flat and solid..
and You need to know that the jack cannot come down 50mm at a time...
but all the way...
I think My type 3 jack [back in the 70s] came down a bit at a time..???
but the ones I have now don't... ??
could be rust or paint stopping them come down in one go...
but when oiled or clean...
they usually down Down with a THUD....
so, the jack isn't usually the problem but the jacking supports.
I know VW jacks are not used where salt is used on the icy roads.. because of the supports rusting away..
LEE
PS:
I used to put the spare under the car while jacking it up to change a flat tyre...
then put the flat tyre [wheel] under it while I changed the wheel... but they never ever came down...
not even in rain.... lol Lee
I must say the 2 pole jack is fantastic. Its built for strength and its speedy. but too flimsy so I am scared to actually use it for doing any work, just as a show piece really.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --
11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Yes,cam070 wrote:Quite timely this thread. I have been trying to figure out what jack should have come with my 76 beetle. I am thinking it is the one in the bottom photo that should store in the spot with the battery with the spring clip. Does anyone know?waveman1500 wrote:No, definitely not. There were screw-type jacks later on which are a little bit safer to use than the original 'widowmakers'.
that's the type that would have been with Your 76 under the rear seat...
the wind up type..
the other types clipped in next to the spare wheel in the front...
LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
cam070 Custom Title Time!
1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·
Thanks Lee, something else I need to add to my list.
Anyone got a wind up-type jack they want to sell me?
Anyone got a wind up-type jack they want to sell me?
baghall Ben Hal Outlaw Bushranger
1,021 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·
I like your idea HappyDaze in using different pipe lengths. With the 30" tyres on 15" rims I have on the baja the VW jack is a little short on reach. If I use a longer pipe I will again have a usable jack but can very easily get a high lift jack. Would be better though with the later model with twin holes so it is a controlled let down.
68 Baja - It's a growing pain!
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car
58 Baja ute - and the pain spreads!
85 T3 Kombi - still growing
89 T3 Kombi - parts car
1303Steve Scirocco Rare
8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Hibaghall wrote:I like your idea HappyDaze in using different pipe lengths. With the 30" tyres on 15" rims I have on the baja the VW jack is a little short on reach. If I use a longer pipe I will again have a usable jack but can very easily get a high lift jack. Would be better though with the later model with twin holes so it is a controlled let down.
Get a Kombi jack, they are longer and will maybe give you the lift you need.
I prefer to use a Jap scissor jack, they make a great porta power and when jacking the car they can be put where its needed rather than jacking the whole 1/2 car up.
Camo, you will also need the factory rubber band that held the handle in place, I think I have a wind up jack in the garage, PM if you need it.
Steve