Stupid question time! How do you use the Jack?

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by dean, Aug 17, 2011.

  1. Got the jack out the other day just to make sure it was all there, i think it is. Tried to use it but it kept folding on me, am i doing something wrong or is my jack nacked?
    Cheers
    Dean
     
  2. Eh? What jack are you using? When the cross piece is in the jacking point, the upright piece stands on the ground and all should be well. If not, put a pic up of what you've got and we'll take a looksey.
     
  3. be careful jacking unless your bus is totally solid it could cause damage!! a lot of people dont jack because of this
     
  4. It's a 't' shaped jack (T on it's side!) with a winding handle the piece which fits in to the jacking point; it keeps folding back as it was when it came out of its stowage. There is obviously a base which is at the bottom, i can't see how it's supposed to work!
    Dean ???
     
  5. Sounds like the right one, check your jacking point is solid first though. ;)
     
  6. It's all well solid,
    I've got a trolly jack but that's too small to reach the underside of my van!
    Dean
     
  7. Does the end of the jack fit in the jacking point? :-
     
  8.  
  9. The jack fits the hole, but as soon as there is any weight on it, it folds away!! :p
     
  10. You are using the jack the right way up right ? it sounds silly to ask that but I can't work out why its folding down if not
     
  11. use you small trolley jack put a block of wood on the jack , jack it on the front beam or on the side torsion tube it s the safest place to do it , owen nw
     
  12. I've used my original VW jack several times and I think I may have an idea of what is happening here.
    If I am picturing it all correctly, you are sliding the jack into the jack point. Then it slips back out and folds again as you crank it, rising up and leaving the bus firmly on the ground.
    If this is the case, you do not have the jack pushed far enough into the jack point. Check inside the point for mud or gravel. Try another jack point. Once the jack is firmly in place and you are ready to start cranking, give it a good whack or two with a hammer or a mallet to be sure and send it all the way home, as it were.
    Those jacks are a quite finicky about being all the way in properly, and decades of non-use can breed just enough corrosion deep within the jack points to cause a problem. Once whacked properly in place though, there should be no future trouble. Other than the f.act that those jacks were always treacherous at best.
    Do yourself a favor. Google the words Exhaust Jack. $70 on Amazon.com

    [​IMG]
     
  13. For lowered peeps at speed bumps. :eek:
     
  14. Stick the square end of the jack in the hole, with the foot on the ground. Turn the handle until you hear a soft crunching sound, then keep going... :)

    Put jack away and phone local welder...
     
  15. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

     
  16.  
  17. I love the roulette nature of the stock jack. It pushes the van so high up rocking backwards and forwards it makes a routine tyre change more like a pitstop
    :)
     
  18. Silver

    Silver Needs points/will pay!

    Deflate child's spacehopper, slide under van, re-inflate using exhaust gases.

    Simples ;)
     
  19. I wouldnt use it. I use a trolley jack at home and scissor jack on the move. Have used in the past but eventually the bus stays where it is and the jacking point will disappear up through the sill. Such fun.
     
  20. You lot must be riding some rot boxes to fear a jack
    :lol:
     

Share This Page