Just a reminder of what does happen if you don't use decent car stands when working on cars .
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18 ... 02,00.html
Be careful people .

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oouch thatwould be a pretty bad way to go, especially if your car waslike your passion.like all us ausminiers

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-jamie-
1963morris 850
1965 solid side van
1994 rover racecar

Sadly that scenario has taken quite a few lives..

people need to spend more time on the bench press..

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or have lighter cars

my mate told me of a picture that was on a safety poster at Repco (sounds too grisly for that tho) where a guy had died from blood loss after his knee was taken off by a car falling when he was knee was under a front disc brake...

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

thats my way, i used to live in Seaford. now im closer to the city.
idamn

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So what are some examples of good work practice?

I never get under a car with only a floor jack holding it up. I use decent stands (I have a hard time trusting some of the flimsy pressed metal stands you can get these days) and give the vehicle a shake to make sure she's solid before I get under it.

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Metal to burn, sparks to fly...

I usually stack a pile of bricks or wood under each side of the car before i climb under it. It's easy to forget how fatal getting under a dodgily supported car can be.

In the middle of replacing an engine mount in the cressida yesterday, left the trolley jack supporting the engine while i went inside to check the cricket score. I took longer than planned but in the 2 hours i was inside the jack had let the engine drop about 70mm despite it being brand new (my birthday yesterday and that was the first time i'd used it) and the valve being done up tight. You just can't trust jacks or have the car up on a single support.

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- Simon -

Molina , I would advise against bricks though as they can shatter very quickly and unexpectantly under load . A good set of axle/car stands is the best , as metalfab said , get some good , strong ones . Heavy timber (hardwood preferably) in a pigsty type arangement is good at a pinch but definitely no go if it's only a jack . Jacks can fail or fall over and you won't have time to move .

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How good do the jacks need to be as a mini only weighs 600 - 700 kgs, and most times you are only lifting half of the car? The supercrap ones currently on sale (i.e. not the recalled ones) are rated for 1200kgs each.

An important point that hasn't been mentioned is to always properly "chock" the tyres that haven't been lifted.

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One should never skimp on the zip ties.

I have a mate nicknamed budda (due to his size). He was under his HR holden when the jack gave way. He survived only due to his enormous size. Mind you he did have internal injuries and needed stitches all around his waist...

After that we all got into the act of not only using car stands but also placing an old tyre and rim under the sill to offer added protection and a piece of mind.....

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Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference !

I'm too slow, I was about to say I always jam some wheels/tyres under.

I'm pretty sure it has saved one of my mates. At the very least saved the mini from hitting the deck.

My old man was a diesel mechanic... I once heard a story from a bloke that was under a truck's gear box when it dropped. He was a big hulk, and reckoned he had the muscle to hold it off his chest, bench press style. About 250kgs. Said his muscles were up to it but his tendons weren't Then he pulled down his shirt to show these big scars on his front deltoids where all the reconstructive surgery had taken place. Ouch!

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"Life is not like a box of chocolates... it's more like a jar of jalapenos. Whatever you do today, may burn your arse tomorrow."

Also another timely reminder:

When using loads of paint stripper on small items you have to hold, make sure your gloves don't have holes in them.

alex that would be nasty...

if anyone on ausmini is gonna get squashed it will be me. I hate putting a car up on
stands. i know it is a quick and easy job. but i just dislike doing it... but after todays stories i think i will change my ways

Yeah got blisters all over my hands now.. damn annoying.

I really should get proper stands aswell. I just use bricks most of the time.. I'm lazy.