[Jack Gifford]

Thanks to steve25 for reminding us about the starter possibly moving the vehicle.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by Squidward

I built some 2x4 wheel blocks for all 4 wheels. I don't even trust jackstands very much.

I have a set of 2X4 Wood Stands with a 3/4" wood bottom that I use to work on Lawn Mowers, vehicles, etc in soft surface conditions.

The Board drastically increases the surface area supporting the load, spreads the load over that whole area, and the support is much more stable vs a corner sinking into the ground.

Tom V.

[The Boss]

This happened in April two streets away from me - kid was just 19.

http://fox61.com/2017/04/02/newtown-...-own-driveway/

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by Tom Vaught

I have a set of 2X4 Wood Stands with a 3/4" wood bottom that I use to work on Lawn Mowers, vehicles, etc in soft surface conditions.

The Board drastically increases the surface area supporting the load, spreads the load over that whole area, and the support is much more stable vs a corner sinking into the ground.

Tom V.

Exactly. I use a piece of plywood under a jackstand if I'm on asphalt or earth. Gotta spread the load out.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by The Boss

This happened in April two streets away from me - kid was just 19.

http://fox61.com/2017/04/02/newtown-...-own-driveway/

Sad story for sure.

[grandam1979]

All the accidents are bad but what I would like to know is how many are operator error and how many are equipment failure. I hate to say it but I’m thinking more are operator error.

[ANDYA]

All I can say is that I will never get under a car that is not supported by jack stands. Over the years I have taken a chance doing simple jobs like changing oil using only a floor jack. My thought was the wheels are still on so if the car comes down I should be fine as the car would come down slowly. Last year I jacked up my Firebird in the rear so I could take down my gas tank to change the sending unit. This was a floor jack that I had been using for over 25 years. The car was raised to the highest lift point of the jack and being that I was going to be under the car for awhile I decided to use stands. Just as I was about to go position the stands a seal on the jack blew and the car came down as fluid shot out of the jack like a water gun. The thing is that the car came down very quickly not slowly as one might expect. If I was under the car and was not using jack stands there is no way I could have gotten out from under the car in time. That's how fast it came down. Now imagine being under a car like that with no wheels on the car.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by grandam1979

All the accidents are bad but what I would like to know is how many are operator error and how many are equipment failure. I hate to say it but I’m thinking more are operator error.

A very large majority is operator error. Whether that be carelessness or disregard, lazy, or just the fact that simple maintenance and adjustments on wear items hasn't been done.

More of this stuff plays a roll than just simply blaming equipment. What I see more often with car hobbyists for various different reasons are cars supported by leaky jacks and weak looking stands that look very unstable to be laying on your back under it. Just not the best scenario but a lot of hobbyists work with what they have, sometimes it's scary looking.

[Tom Vaught]

If you have a seal fail on the ram then the multiplication factor that you got with the handles many strokes vs the jack rise goes away very quickly.

Most assume because it took a lot of strokes to go up it will take a lot of strokes (time) to go down. They forget about that "multiplication factor" immediately disappearing.

Very glad you were ok!

Tom V.

[Blued and Painted]

This time of year, parking on ice with regular spider gears, or pushing cars in an icy parking lot can be extremely hazardous.
Personally seen broken legs and smashed cars.

[Formulajones]

Ice? What's that?

[Doug]

Even my grandson knows what to do!

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Ice? What's that?

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

[The Boss]

Realize in some of these accidents there are things that occur outside of your realm of consideration. As much as you may plan & cover, you can still have accidents.

[Doug1]

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

I have that same 4 post lift. It appears that someone let down the lift but didn't pull the lock release lever far enough out; So one side was engaged but the other was not . That about the only way that could happen. Notice both left side posts are further up when comparing the left rack to the right rack.

Someone inexperienced caused that. I had it happen to me when I first owned my lift but I saw something was wrong as soon as I started letting it down. I raised it back all the way up and then made sure it was fully released before letting it down.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

Thanks to steve25 for reminding us about the starter possibly moving the vehicle.

X2.

I always remove the battery cable from the battery when I am working on a car/truck and I never wear a watch or a ring.

A friend had a permanent scar on one wrist about the size of a silver dollar from "watch meets Mr Electric".

Tom V.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by Doug1

I have that same 4 post lift.

You better hope not.

[Tom Vaught]

What is up with all of these failures.
Poor installation into a proper concrete base?

Tom V.

[Chief of the 60's]

All I know is I wouldn't take a lift that was painted black if someone gave it to me for FREE

[Chief of the 60's]

Nope, you couldn't give me a black one (this has a video) > http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2017/...our-post-lift/