Just wondering what people are using as an alternative to the original car jack that came with minis. Having had an old warn one give out on me, I am curious of other jacks that people use and carry in the car with them. I'm thinking of modifying a modern scissor type jack that would pick up the jacking point on the sill. Has anybody done this before?

I really don't like the idea of using the original jacks, especially how close they sit to the door when the car is off the ground.

I should mention that this is only to carry in the car in a breakdown situation as I always use a floor/ trolley jack at home.

Cheers,


Sean.

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1970 mini k1100

RAA Membership

IMO a scissor type jack is unsafe to lift a Mini sill at the jacking point, but OK when used to lift a Mini at the corners.
I carry the standard jack- however it is true that they are unsafe when worn. You can check the nut wear by moving the nut up and down the thread. Any more than 1mm approx endfloat and I would bin it and find another.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I use a scissor jack - just put it under the subframe near the wheel I want to lift up. When I do the front wheels, I put it under the lower ball joint - a couple of turns and it's up, no need to lift the suspension before lifting the car



yeah, and wait 2 hours by the side of the road for them to come when you could have done it yourself in 2 minutes like the idiots you see who can't change their own flats...

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

If only there were new ones made, finding a good old one is a feat in itself. 1mm backlash seems kind of excessive. Even for a square thread?

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1970 mini k1100

I used to carry a small bottle jack, and used that to jack up the standard sill lifting point. It didn't slot into the hole like the screw jack did, but was small enough that it wouldn't come out either.

These days I carry a Supercrap trolley jack under the rear seat and use it in the same places as Simon K - under the subframe beside the rear wheels, or either next to the lower control arm pivot on the front subbie or under the castor bar 'ear' at the front.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Also, when you get a flat and pull over the road surface isn't always smooth asphalt, ie gravel, dirt and unpacked surfaces. I guess carrying around a piece of plywood would be one option but that's no good under load either. I just was looking at starting with a good jack from the beginning.

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1970 mini k1100

yeah, and wait 2 hours by the side of the road for them to come when you could have done it yourself in 2 minutes like the idiots you see who can't change their own flats...[/quote]


We don't always take 2 hours to get to you, depends on how many bakeries & coffee shops on the way. And yes I am an RAA Patrol, amazing how many people wait and winge how long a wait it was when they can do it themselves.

Ash.

The original jack is meant to be used with the door open not closed. Sometimes people do not realise this.



I think a small scissor jack is the best alternative as it gives more options for lifting and yet still folds up small.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Screw type mechanical bottle jack for me (old Holden type), lifting at the subframes or underneath lower control arm. Jack is only small, long handle fits easy in the boot, just store it so that it cant puncture the fuel tank or short out battery terminals. I've never been a fan of the standard mini jack, always looked a bit dodgy to me.

I used a telescopic `grease jack' years ago, you never see them now. They were made for caravans I think. It's still around here, `somewhere'...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Love he instruction beside the picture above - "when not in use the aperture is covered with a rubber plug"

Of the 10 BMC cars I or the family have owned - never seen one

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

There's an old post here somewhere where people were using those lighter trolley jacks from costso i think ?

I just bought an el-cheapo 1200kg trolley jack from supercheap " would prefer the lighter one though " but easy to use and i will have it lashed in so to speak in the boot so it doesnt move around.

Cheers Bill

Edit: Here's the old post Clickme

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would a jacking point from a Bini fit? as could use that with an aftermarket scissor

Also that you need to start with the jack at an angle, so that it's vertical once the car is in the air.

You can do it with the door closed if you need to (eg on the road side on the driver's side) but the issue is if anything slips (gravel etc) you could punch a hole through the door.

I use original on the road side (only had to do it once) and trolley in the garage. Been tinkering with the idea of grafting an original jack top onto the trolley jack,.....

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http://www.mini-hb.co.nz