What kind of Jack are you using? - Advice

Hi All,

Advice needed:

Thursday night I got a flat on the way home from work. I pulled into a safe, brightly lit parking lot and proceeded to change the tire. The original jack is long gone so I have a cheap scissor jack in the trunk.

I removed the knock off nut and started to lift the car.

1) using the mid point jacking location the jack couldn't lift the car (the handle bent)
2) moving the jack to the pinch weld nearest the flat tire I got the car up but the jack listed at about 15 degrees and this scared the crap out of me. (I changed wheels as quickly as any F1 pit crew man).

I have a spare small floor jack that I use when I don't want to wrestle with the monster primary one that I mostly use. I was thinking of strapping this in the trunk but it's kinda heavy (maybe about as heavy as a car battery). Wieght is no reason to pass on safety, I know, so my question is:

What are you guys using? The original? A small floor jack? A Bottle jack?

An original jack.

Junkyards practically give away scissor jacks.

I don't carry a spare tire, but I do carry a Honda Civic scissor jack. Works great.

I carry a heavy duty scissor jack when I carry a spare wheel, that's only on extended roadtrips though.

Tim. I got to use the factory jack in my MGB a bunch of times when I headed out to Colo for MG2009. It worked fine, although there have been many cases of the screw thread failing and/or the cast gears shredding. These failures were probably due to lack of use and lubrication than from poor quality, but it does make good originals hard to find.

The new ones sold by Moss under 386-920 were tested lifting 7 tons without failure and so far (fingers crossed) there have been no reports of any problems. It's a pricey piece though.

For those on a budget, a generic scissor jack is the way to go, but you have to be really careful where you install it. It should either be under the front frame rail, or under the front end of the rear spring. Both locations should stop if from slipping.

One point. If you are relying on the original style jack, make sure that the jack sockets are in good condition. One of mine was damaged, and I felt a right burke sitting on the side of the road having to pound the tip of the jack into the socket with the knock off hammer.

kelvin

So the score is 2 for an original jack and 2 for heavy duty scissor jack.

Thanks to those who have replied. Keep 'em coming guys.

I carry a this floor jack that I bought at a discount store for $15.Doesn't take up much room in boot.

http://www.amazon.com/4000-Lift-Capacity-Easy-Carry-Hydraulic/dp/B000KPVFG8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=industrial&qid=1258405618&sr=1-2

Factory for roadside.

For anything at home, larger floor jack, typically on a crossmember to get it up, jack stands in place with weight on them before I stick myself under the car.

Factory jack here as well.

Original

Since you want more votes, X2 on "origninal on the road, trolley jack at home".

Factory jack all the time at home. Then I put it in the boot when I go out.

Two post lift at home. Eat your hearts out. : )

A small aluminum floor jack - $45 (came with aluminum jack stands).

Factory jack. But I also keep a small bottle jack in my car as backup insurance.
At home I use floor jacks and bottle jacks.

Now I know I should not write this as I will jinx myself, and if I do I will blame Tim for starting this thread, but I have never had to use the jack on my MGB away from home.

I carry the original Shelly jack furnished in MGB and King Dick in MGA

The originall jack works well, if I'm out on the road and need to use it. Around the house, I use a hydraulic floor jack but I have a hard time getting it under the car, it's about an inch to tall to just slide in..

Junkyard Honda Accord scissor Jack in the boot. (and it's nice vinyl pouch)

NIssan scissor jack in two of my cars. You can poke around salvage yards for ones with different lifting surfaces on them. Some have a "claw-type" surface (used to catch the sill on some Jap cars) or a flatter surface depending on the manufacturer.

I should add that any excuse to poke around a salvage yard is a good excuse in my book!

I'm impressed by all the people who are so confident in their sills that they can use the original jack. I learned about sill rust on my first MG about 30 years ago (a '70 GT - loved that car!). Tried cranking up the car and the only thing that moved was the sill as it dissolved before my eyes. Always carried a scissor jack after that....

its perfect and $8.00
http://grizzly.com/products/Scissor-Jack/G8723

Some may disagree, but I've always felt that if the sills on my car are so weak that they crush when using the factory-supplied jack, on the designated jacking points, then it's probably time to think about new sills.

I wouldn't disagree with that. That's a good test when one goes to look at a car. Take along original jack and see what happens. If the current owner suggests "I wouldn't do that", then walk away.

I bought one from Sears, a Craftsman 2 1/4 ton. It was on sale for $29.99.

Factory jack for on the road, never had to use it.

I use a scissor jack out of a small pickup from the junk yard because I can get all kinds of lift and it comes with a really long break apart crank handle.This would have made a great poll question.

was using the factory till car fell once now hydrolic i found the the factory will rotate in the socket alowing the car to fall

I was on the road with a fellow MGBer and he had a flat on a new wire wheel tire.. His nice new scissor jack would not fix under the car. If you have one of these make sure it will fit under the car with a flat tire.. He used my trusty factory jack.....

Scissor jack for the road; trolley jack at home. The original King Dick stripped its gears a couple of years ago and I haven't bothered replacing it.

I use the original. But that's just for roadside emergencies. Never used for maintenance. It's just not robust enough to withstand constant use.

In the garage I use hydraulic jacks (bottles or alligator depending on requirement) and heavy duty jack stands. Even these get inspected by me before each and every use. Call me anal, but I've seen a professionally maintained tripod jack fail with a 136,000 lb airplane on it. (The idiot didn't screw down the safety collar that's there for just such an event.) You tend to have a well developed sense of self preservation after that sort of incident.

Even after I've done all I can to safety the worksite, I still look at everything with a jaundiced eye before sliding under the car.

Whatever you use, be careful.
Bob

A factory jack when needed. It is still in its original condition, never used it....

One can of compressed air, one can of 'Flat Repair', one repair kit (pre-gooped rubber wormy things and needle insert doomahickey), AAA card, VISA card, Starbucks card. All used, worked fine.

Original jack used it several years ago.

Old Number 7....sometimes Gentleman...oh, that jack - scissor on the road,four post at home

Factory jack for roadside use. Floor jacks for shop use.

The factory issued a bullitin in the early 70s warning of sill failure on cars over 2 years old when using the stock jack. I had the jack tube fail on my '67 and wound up with a lovely dent under the driver's door. When I had my sills replaced, I did not install the factory jacking tube. I use a small but strong scissors jack that I made sure would fit under the car when a tire was flat. RAY

I bought a small bottle jack from Harbour freight, and a small chunk of 2/4 to spread the load out. works quite well and no damages.

original, lots of grease, in plastic bag, with a old sock pulled over it to keep it together. I also have ratchet spanner to wind it.
Trolley jack at home.
I actually use a pre 87 saab space saver spare,and I carry one or two of those tyre inflater repair cans that you can buy just about anywhere for $10. Most of my flat tyres happen in the rain anyway, so a quick fix is great. I need the tyre a bout once every 4 years. Hoyts tyre inflater does the rest of the time.
This fills the tyre with latex. Doesn't do any harm at all to the tyre. In the past I've done more than 6 months or more on latex tyre repair leaks. Some dodgy tyre places will claim, all sorts of things. They say that it is , oh I don't know, evil or something. They will try to sell you a new tyre(S). Lies and BS. Latex won't hurt either you or the tyre. Latex gloves, pillows mattresses etc, and hell it comes out of a trees anyway. Just steer clear of those crooked places. Smells bad I'll admit (that's the sales excuse, cheap latex has lots of sulphur in it) harmless though.

Bottle jack. it's always seemed to take less effor than the OE screw jack.

Ford Taurus scissors jack from the junk yard. $2 I think.

My son somehow put the King Dick in wrong and damaged a sill.

Scissor jack - but I have had them bend before. Make sure it will lift your car before you need it!

Hydr. floor jack at home w/jack stands.
On the road, factory jack with small bottle jack as back-up.

since one of the factory holes is crushed and the car apparently didn't come with one, I will definitely be looking out for a replacement. From the sounds of it a junkyard special sounds the way to go once I can get the car on the road. I will have to check the pick a part places when its ready.

At home I use a trolley lift and jack stands.

I'd suggest letting all the air out one one tyre to see just how little clearance you have. MGB's have about 4.5 to 5 inches ground clearance in th middle. Subtract 3 or 4 inches for the tyre and.....
These cars are Looow to the ground

AAA

low weight and low profile aluminum floor jack both at home and on the road. 2 1/2 ton but only 5 inches tall

I like the low profile aluminum Harbor Freight jacks around the shop:

My car slipped off the original jack (on the way up with tire still on) so I have a scissor jack and a bottle jack and put either one in the boot when I'm carrying a spare.