Re: [mg-tabc] Lifting points for TC

Robert L. Tabbert · Post by **Robert L. Tabbert** » Fri Apr 21, 2000 6:37 pm

Hi fellow shade tree 'T mechanics', I need some advice. In lifting or
jacking a TC, high enough to support the car on 4 "axle" or "frame"
stands, where are the safe areas for placing theb jack? I have done
this several times, but I always have the feeling that there must be some
safer areas then the ones that I use. I usually attack the problemb by
placing the jack under the frame, near to where I wannt to put the frame
stand. The angle sometimes scares me! Is the front axle strong enough to
lift the front of the car? I am tackling the problem with one
hydraulic-screw jack, with a round lifting area about the size of a quarter.
Thanks for the help, MG TC EXU # 7538, rtab

PMS GB Ltd · Post by **PMS GB Ltd** » Sat Apr 22, 2000 12:45 am

Message text written by "Robert L. Tabbert"

>In lifting or jacking a TC, high enough to support the car on 4 "axle"

or "frame"
stands, where are the safe areas for placing theb jack? I have done
this several times, but I always have the feeling that there must be some
safer areas then the ones that I use.<

Working under a car supported on the triangular based frame stands is
dangerous - Always try and set the chassis down on some solid items - wood
blocks are good, I often put the wheels under the frame too!

Even when everything looks good! It is possible to set the triangular based
stands so that the support pillar is actually only about an inch or so from
the legs, when a slight push on the car will topple it off the stands -
happened to me years ago ( an M Type rather than a T so a bit lighter) with
a car on four stands which probably all lined up so by coincidence, and it
was not a pleasant experince - broken cheekbone - very black eye - and VSCC
Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb to do the following day! Not to mention the
difficulty of getting out from underneath having just been unconcious for
some time!

Regards

Clive Sherriff

MDandGI@webtv.net · Post by **MDandGI@webtv.net** » Sat Apr 22, 2000 4:32 am

Clive is right DON"T TRUST THE STANDS alone. I had a similer event with
a MGA a few years ago. I now put everything I can find under the car and
also leave the jack in position at the front or rear. A broken leg and
crushed foot is a hell of a price to pay for an oil change and grease
job!

Regards Geoff

Awini Ambuj Shanker · Post by **Awini Ambuj Shanker** » Sat Apr 22, 2000 6:32 am

Well.. MGs are light cars, once the stand on my 1930 Studebaker
failed,luckyly there was no one under the car at that point of time,and it
took eight people to lift the car just enough to get a jack under it!! now
my TC is on stands to the front of the chassis, as well as wooden blocks
towards the rear under the bulkhead,as soon as i locate the front
suspention, it gets on to it's wheels.
regards
Awini

>From: MDandGI@webtv.net
>To: 100070.740@compuserve.com (PMS GB Ltd)
>CC: rtab@net-connect.net (Robert L. Tabbert), 100070.740@compuserve.com
>(PMS GB Ltd), mg-tabc@egroups.com
>Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Lifting points for TC
>Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 07:32:41 -0400 (EDT)
>
>Clive is right DON"T TRUST THE STANDS alone. I had a similer event with
>a MGA a few years ago. I now put everything I can find under the car and
>also leave the jack in position at the front or rear. A broken leg and
>crushed foot is a hell of a price to pay for an oil change and grease
>job!
>
>Regards Geoff
>
>
>
>

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CFritz7001@aol.com · Post by **CFritz7001@aol.com** » Sat Apr 22, 2000 7:32 am

RTAB,
All the cautions you've received thus far about supporting the car while
working underneath it are valid ones. My concern is a bit different; it has
to do with the jack you're using to do the lifting--such a small area of
contact ("size of a quarter") would be very liable to slip, I think. I'd
suggest that you get yourself a so-called "floor jack", most of which have
large "cupped" lifting heads several inches in diameter. With these jacks,
you can get a good area of contact; less likely to slip as you lift.
When working on the rear of my TC, I usually place the head of the floor
jack so that it cups the spot where the spare tire carrier fastens to the
rear cross-member of the frame, then use jack stands under the centers of the
rear springs, OR on the frame itself just in front of the front mount of the
spring, OR on the frame just back of the rear spring shackle.
At the front, I usually lift in the center of the front axle (again with
a floor jack), then place jack stands where the front springs attach to the
axle., or on the frame just behind the rear shackles of the front springs.
Needless to say, block the wheels on the ground to keep the car from
rolling.
I don't like to have both ends up at the same time--I keep one set of wheels
on the ground if at all possible. After lowering the car onto the stands, I
also leave the jack in place (if possible), so that it won't have to be
re-positioned if a stand shows signs of moving or becoming unstable.
Ramps are also nice to use, and quite inexpensive, but safe use of them
is another topic entirely
Hope this helps

MDandGI@webtv.net · Post by **MDandGI@webtv.net** » Sat Apr 22, 2000 9:04 am

Right on Carl... A 1.5 ton floor jack is required

Regards Geoff

A.F. Garner · Post by **A.F. Garner** » Thu Apr 27, 2000 5:20 am

As a non-technical owner of a TC I read with awe and envy everybody's
expertise and I always hope to learn from replies to queries. However,
the replies to the question of jacking points leave me still guessing,
where are the best places to locate axle stands so that I do no damage to
the car? Or does it not matter? Help!

--

Alan Garner

Dean Jensen · Post by **Dean Jensen** » Thu Apr 27, 2000 6:10 am

Alan
I always put mine under the axles, so that the springs are compressed
as normal.

Regards Dean
-----Original Message-----
From: A.F.Garner
To: MG Mailing List
Date: Thursday, April 27, 2000 7:20 AM
Subject: [mg-tabc] Lifting points for TC

>As a non-technical owner of a TC I read with awe and envy everybody's
>expertise and I always hope to learn from replies to queries. However,
>the replies to the question of jacking points leave me still guessing,
>where are the best places to locate axle stands so that I do no damage to
>the car? Or does it not matter? Help!
>
>--
>
>Alan Garner
>
>
>

PMS GB Ltd · Post by **PMS GB Ltd** » Thu Apr 27, 2000 9:54 pm

Message text written by "A.F. Garner"

>As a non-technical owner of a TC I read with awe and envy everybody's

expertise and I always hope to learn from replies to queries. However,
the replies to the question of jacking points leave me still guessing,
where are the best places to locate axle stands so that I do no damage to
the car? Or does it not matter? Help!<

Ok - depends what you are doing under it - generally though I put two
supports under the front axle, and for the rear, prop under the rear
chassis rails - not the outriggers for the spring mounts, and definately
not under the bolts holding the front and rear axles to the springs, or you
will damage the nuts or threards or both.

Regards

Clive Sherriff

Dwyer · Post by **Dwyer** » Fri Apr 28, 2000 3:02 am

Alan

If you lift the car evenly, ie not by one corner (I usually use the
centre line of the axle or chassis), then support it in the spring/axle
area, I don't think that you'll do any harm.

I've been doing this to our J2 since 1965 with no apparent effect.

Regards

Dave Dwyer

Wilsons Sandbox