| [ Total Views: 1175 | Total Replies: 16 | Thread Id: 84968 ] |
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 joss
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 posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 12:35 PM |
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VW Jacks - all the same??
Were all the jacks the same in all VWs
ie. superbug beetle/type3??
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waveman1500
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 01:05 PM |
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No, definitely not. There were screw-type jacks later on which are a little bit safer to use than the original 'widowmakers'.
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joss
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 02:00 PM |
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'widowmakers' Are they that bad??
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
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 posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 02:24 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by joss
Were al the jacks the same in all VW ie. superbug beetle/type3??
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No,
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...
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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waveman1500
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 02:25 PM |
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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.
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 02:30 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by waveman1500
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.
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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
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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waveman1500
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 02:40 PM |
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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.
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 04:00 PM |
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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
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- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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HappyDaze
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 04:16 PM |
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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
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
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Smiley
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 04:16 PM |
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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 
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 07:46 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Smiley
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
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My old memory is faulty....
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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- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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cam070
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 09:00 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by waveman1500
No, definitely not. There were screw-type jacks later on which are a little bit safer to use than the original 'widowmakers'.
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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?
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vlad01
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 10:05 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by 68AutoBug
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
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I have had both wind up and 2 pole jack like this.
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 |
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
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| posted on July 23rd, 2010 at 10:14 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by cam070
| Quote: | Originally
posted by waveman1500
No, definitely not. There were screw-type jacks later on which are a little bit safer to use than the original 'widowmakers'.
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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?
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Yes,
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
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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cam070
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| posted on July 24th, 2010 at 06:20 PM |
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Thanks Lee, something else I need to add to my list.
Anyone got a wind up-type jack they want to sell me?
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baghall
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| posted on July 24th, 2010 at 08:35 PM |
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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
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1303Steve
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| posted on July 24th, 2010 at 11:39 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by baghall
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.
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Hi
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
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