HF Replacement Jack Stands Fail

[BrandoJames]

Excerpt from The Drive, posted June 12:

"Mike Galli was about to do some maintenance work on his Volkswagen Golf using the replacements he got for his recalled Harbor Freight jack stands. As soon as the full weight of the car was lowered onto the stands, he heard a loud pop from the base of one jack stand splitting apart."

https://www.thedrive.com/news/34038/harbor-freight-customers-replacement-jack-stands-immediately-failed-too

 

[mike93lx]

Anybody who returns unsafe recalled stands and gets new ones from the same place and of the same design is crazy

 

[Chevy-SS]

Anybody who returns unsafe recalled stands and gets new ones from the same place and of the same design is crazy

Yes, and anyone who gets under a vehicle that is ONLY supported by jack stands is just as crazy. Always use a second method of support.

 

[BrandoJames]

I wouldn't buy jack stands from HF, but feel perfectly safe with HF's Daytona DJ3000 floor jack (coupled with Chicago Pneumatic locking pin jack stands). Instead of bashing or praising HF, let's be smart consumers and be aware of product failures, no matter who sells them.

I used to be a Craftsman guy, but threw away my Craftsman jack stands due to a product liability lawsuit. I also threw away my 3 ton Craftsman jack when it failed after just 9 months. But I still love Craftsman's soft grip screwdrivers. One company can issue both junk and quality at the same time, depending on the product and where it was made.

 

[Tallpilot]

Anybody who returns unsafe recalled stands and gets new ones from the same place and of the same design is crazy

They redesigned the box. I noticed that when I returned mine.

 

[thesilverone]

some people have very little self worth

 

[unslow1]

I wouldn't buy jack stands from HF, but feel perfectly safe with HF's Daytona DJ3000 floor jack (coupled with Chicago Pneumatic locking pin jack stands). Instead of bashing or praising HF, let's be smart consumers and be aware of product failures, no matter who sells them.

I used to be a Craftsman guy, but threw away my Craftsman jack stands due to a product liability lawsuit. I also threw away my 3 ton Craftsman jack when it failed after just 9 months. But I still love Craftsman's soft grip screwdrivers. One company can issue both junk and quality at the same time, depending on the product and where it was made.

I threw away my Craftsman floor jack as well. Anything that failed that quickly I would never trust whether fixed or replaced.

 

[JRC3]

Why buy those dainty 3 ton ones. Move up to bigger and even get some more height. You may not need the extra height, but at least they won't be fully extended and more stable.

I have some of the old (12+ years) Pittsburgh orange ones, (2) 3 ton and (4) 6 ton and they have been great, I guess the newer ones are just too cheap. Luckily they sit on the shelf now as I've gone bigger and better. Some around here make fun of me and my 10 ton stands saying it's overkill. When I have a full size truck 4 feet off the ground, I see them as minimum.

 

[Tallpilot]

Why buy those dainty 3 ton ones. Move up to bigger and even get some more height. You may not need the extra height, but at least they won't be fully extended and more stable.

I have some of the old (12+ years) Pittsburgh orange ones, (2) 3 ton and (4) 6 ton and they have been great, I guess the newer ones are just too cheap. Luckily they sit on the shelf now as I've gone bigger and better. Some around here make fun of me and my 10 ton stands saying it's overkill. When I have a full size truck 4 feet off the ground, I see them as minimum.

That’s always been my tactic with Chinese stuff. I have the 20 ton press but never push it hard. If you expect the spec to be inflated then limit yourself to 50% of spec.

This gets difficult with jack stands. Many are rated as a pair but it is impossible with the limited lifting points on many vehicles to lift the front or rear evenly then place two jack stands on either side. So at some point you end up using one stand while you reposition the jack.

6 ton stands are safer on lower notches than 3 tons on higher notches but some vehicles don’t have adequate ground clearance to use them.

I solved these problems with a Quick Jack. The simple fact is there are few economical and safe ways to get modern vehicles lifted up enough to work on. Tire rotation and brake jobs are fine but crawling under the vehicle is an accident waiting to happen.

 

[dnschmidt]

I watched that video and it seems to me that the problem would have been discovered by a simple visual inspection prior to use. The weld wasn't where the joint was. If you buy cheap you should at least look **** over before crawling underneath a car that is on top of these jackstands.

I never depend upon anything to be perfect out of the box. Just use your eyes and some common sense and you'll live longer.

 

[liliysdad]

I spent 4 hours under my F100 on the red HF 6 ton stands I got to replace the recalled gray stands, no issues...just like the lack of issues I had with the recalled stands.

I did have to pay $6 to replace the stands that were recalled...I was a bit miffed about that.

 

[zjrog]

I have 4 of the orange 3 ton stands, and 2 orange 6 ton stands. I did look each stand over after reading of the recall. And again when I saw some replacements failed too.

I feel fairly comfortable that my stands will be ok. But being more than 10 years old, I wonder about lifespan of jackstands in general.

I feel the 3 ton stands were sufficient for my Neon, not tall enough for my Jeep, but safe for supporting axles if the Jeep is on the 6 tons.

Recently swapped engines in 02 F150, and had the front on the 6 ton pair. I do believe it might be time for tbe next step up in size and capacity.

Sent from my SM-G975U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[WittHay]

The OP is right its not about HF, its about Chinese manufacturing and which Chinese manufacturer the tool companys source their products from. Nobody flips their new vehicle upside down to carefully check the welds , they trust the welds on their mainly non Chinese vehicles to be safe from the factory.

Harbor Freight and a lot of their customers have always maintained their products are made in the same factory as everybody elses. quote from HF "Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you! "

Its time for registered websites for safety equipment manufacturers sorta of like the fastener company's have markings. Like Gun Ho Company Ltd. makes stands for Napa and Wang Dong Company Ltd makes stands for Walmart

 

[Tallpilot]

I watched that video and it seems to me that the problem would have been discovered by a simple visual inspection prior to use. The weld wasn't where the joint was. If you buy cheap you should at least look **** over before crawling underneath a car that is on top of these jackstands.

I never depend upon anything to be perfect out of the box. Just use your eyes and some common sense and you'll live longer.

The OP is right its not about HF, its about Chinese manufacturing and which Chinese manufacturer the tool companys source their products from. Nobody flips their new vehicle upside down to carefully check the welds , they trust the welds on their mainly non Chinese vehicles to be safe from the factory.

Harbor Freight and a lot of their customers have always maintained their products are made in the same factory as everybody elses. quote from HF "Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you! "

Its time for registered websites for safety equipment manufacturers sorta of like the fastener company's have markings. Like Gun Ho Company Ltd. makes stands for Napa and Wang Dong Company Ltd makes stands for Walmart

Dennis gives wise advice. "Trust but verify."

Witthay is also correct. In the western (English common law) world (where personal injury attorneys can afford their own jets) we generally trust manufactures to not produce dangerous garbage because they are heavily economically incentivized not to.

I don't want to get the thread locked so *insert China rant here*.

 

[Handyandy23]

Yeah, like there's never been a recall on an American made car

Also let's keep it in perspective - the original recall wasn't even based on a single failure, it was "preventative" based on worn tooling that was found.

There's also probably more Chinese-made jack stands in the US than all other COO combined. If there were so many shoddy welds on them, you'd think there would be a lot more horror stories than a single stand that cracked floating around.

I'm not saying it's ok or anything, but millions of Chinese ratcheting jack stands have been used over the past decades. They can't be that incapable.

 

[vssjim]

The city of Pittsburgh should have filled a defamation suit long ago against china freight.
I only have Walker and Lincoln jack stands and jacks and have never had a problem all this off shore stuff sold to the lowest price is an accident waiting to happen.

 

[DFB]

Ya as far as I know THAT was not the issue (and I also returned a brand new unused set still in box) about 2 weeks ago.

The email I received never mentioned anything about bad welds.

 

[WittHay]

Totally different than car recalls, the recalls can be traced back to one particular plant. If Ford has a recall on one particular model made in one US factory. Then that means that all US made vehicles regardless of manufacturer are unsafe and should be recalled

Are the jacks stands sold at Canadian Tire and Princess Auto made in the same plant as as the 8 different sku's at HF or at 10 different Chinese factories? knowbody knows.

Its doesn't matter how many jack stands are sold, all thats important is which Chinese factory these stands come from. That important safety information is a trade secret.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The OP is right its not about HF, its about Chinese manufacturing and which Chinese manufacturer the tool companys source their products from.

The issue is not simply because it was manufactured in China. The issue is quality control and quality assurance.

Part of every product quality control plan should be testing, including in some cases, testing to destruction. Random samples at a reasonable sample rate.

 

[Handyandy23]

Totally different than car recalls, the recalls can be traced back to one particular plant. If Ford has a recall on one particular model made in one US factory. Then that means that all US made vehicles regardless of manufacturer are unsafe and should be recalled

Are the jacks stands sold at Canadian Tire and Princess Auto made in the same plant as as the 8 different sku's at HF or at 10 different Chinese factories? knowbody knows.

Its doesn't matter how many jack stands are sold, all thats important is which Chinese factory these stands come from. That important safety information is a trade secret.

Is this factual? Just because you don't personally know which factory they came from, it doesn't mean HF doesn't know. The same as when you buy a Ford, you don't know the steering wheel came from Chinese factory X, but Ford does. If there's a recall on the steering wheels then Ford knows the supplier and issues recalls accordingly.

HF clearly knows the factory or else they wouldn't be able to attribute the recall to worn tooling. Are you suggesting the same tooling is used for Canadian Tire or Princess Auto jack stands, and that there was no read across done to those products?

I work as an engineer in the automotive industry, and it all happens the same way. If a defect is found in a product from a supplier, read across is done by actually talking with the supplier and finding out who uses the same products. Different manufacturers may use common parts but have their own unique part numbers for that same part. There's no universal parts database that's triggered when there's a recall, it's done by discussing with the supplier who else uses the parts.

Same process would be applied with jack stands. If there are other retailers still selling jack stands from the worn tooling and they know about it, then they're liable. Recalls aren't issued from a parts supplier, they're issued from the seller of the product to the public.

 

[Jason280]

There's also probably more Chinese-made jack stands in the US than all other COO combined. If there were so many shoddy welds on them, you'd think there would be a lot more horror stories than a single stand that cracked floating around.

Hey, get out of here with all those facts....

 

[Tallpilot]

What a mess. Like many intractable problems the solution isn't simple. Those of you claiming this isn't a China problem aren't wrong. Somebody is specifying this **** and accepting it with or without QC verification. However stereotypes don't come out of thin air. There is one country that produces more shoddy garbage than anywhere else.

 

[WittHay]

Is this factual? Just because you don't personally know which factory they came from, it doesn't mean HF doesn't know. The same as when you buy a Ford, you don't know the steering wheel came from Chinese factory X, but Ford does. If there's a recall on the steering wheels then Ford knows the supplier and issues recalls accordingly.

HF clearly knows the factory or else they wouldn't be able to attribute the recall to worn tooling. Are you suggesting the same tooling is used for Canadian Tire or Princess Auto jack stands, and that there was no read across done to those products?

I work as an engineer in the automotive industry, and it all happens the same way. If a defect is found in a product from a supplier, read across is done by actually talking with the supplier and finding out who uses the same products. Different manufacturers may use common parts but have their own unique part numbers for that same part. There's no universal parts database that's triggered when there's a recall, it's done by discussing with the supplier who else uses the parts.

Same process would be applied with jack stands. If there are other retailers still selling jack stands from the worn tooling and they know about it, then they're liable. Recalls aren't issued from a parts supplier, they're issued from the seller of the product to the public.

We are not talking about parts, we are talking about a piece of shop equipment that if improperly manufactured could seriously injure or kill someone. It is a completely manufactured and boxed in China product that is just resold by whoever with whatever name on the stand.

Its a very simple question i am asking. Who makes the current model/models of HF 3 ton jack stands and does this particular factory make stands for companys other than Harbor Freight

You asked a similar question regarding Pro-Point air ratchets

"Anyone know if this is a "twin" to any other reactionless / impact air ratchets of other brands?Aluminum body, 75 ft lbs, 450 RPM, about 11" long. Made in Taiwan. Sold in Canada at Princess Auto under the Pro.Point name, but I'm guessing it's a rebrand of someone else's like Kuani. Just curious if anyone recognizes it to know how "reputable" it is."

My question in your wording

Anybody know if this is a twin to any other ratcheting jack stands of other brands. Steel body, 3 ton capacity. Made in China. Sold in the United States at Harbor Freight under the Pittsburgh name but i am guessing it is a rebrand of someone else's like Torin, Just curious if anyone recognizes it to know how "reputable" it is

There a 500 comments in the first thread in the tool section about tool truck equivalents. all about rebranding and which company makes what products for the tool trucks. Ask a question about which company makes HF products and people get defensive except if its Kabo or the factory that assembles Daytona and Snap-on jacks

 

[CR888]

Would it be fair to say HF Jack stand owners bought their stands based on the cheap retail price of HF's Chinese tool range? This race to the bottom price driven tool market rewards retailers who can offer up the cheapest products. When you put your life in the hands of these tools maybe choosing the 'cheapest' Chinese tool is not such a wise idea. The consumer needs to take a good look at themselves and think about the consequences of the purchase decisions they make. Especially when your supporting a country that is basically at war with you. How good would it be if Pittsburgh tools were actually made in Pittsburgh and they were good enough to pass down the generations.

 

[Handyandy23]

What a mess. Like many intractable problems the solution isn't simple. Those of you claiming this isn't a China problem aren't wrong. Somebody is specifying this **** and accepting it with or without QC verification. However stereotypes don't come out of thin air. There is one country that produces more shoddy garbage than anywhere else.

The bolded is what this comes down to. It's not that the entirety of China is somehow incapable of welding a good set of jack stands, it's that they build what's specified and within the cost parameters given.

Everyone is cooing over how great the Chinese ESCO jack stands are, and how terrible the HF stands are. One company has specified and designed a better product than the other.

The reason one country has produced more "shoddy garbage than anyone" is because first world consumerism realized we could pay them pennies on the dollar to produce whatever junk we want. The suppliers there are providing whatever is spec'ed out at the lowest cost on the planet. You can't make them fight over your business for pennies on the dollar and then expect Snap On quality coming out the other end, the result is inevitable.

 

[JRC3]

Would it be fair to say HF Jack stand owners bought their stands based on the cheap retail price of HF's Chinese tool range? This race to the bottom price driven tool market rewards retailers who can offer up the cheapest products. When you put your life in the hands of these tools maybe choosing the 'cheapest' Chinese tool is not such a wise idea. The consumer needs to take a good look at themselves and think about the consequences of the purchase decisions they make.

Yep, but eople have been using the cheapest stands they could find way before HF ever existed.

And they usually stood them on end or their side, the weakest way to use them. Heck, a block were laid with the holes top/bottom and a piece of lumber on top they would actually be pretty damn strong.

 

[Mr_fixit]

They need to use stronger paint!

 

[JRC3]

They need to use stronger paint!

Yeah, lead is soft. LOL

 

[Steve_P]

Not a weld failure, they changed the decal vendor!

 

[anndel]

Hein Werner floor jack and jack stands. I jack the vehicle up, place jack stands then lower but leave the floor jack as backup.

 

[ex-x-fire]

When I was young I never had jack stands, I used logs that we had laying around. Probably 14" in diameter and 18" height.

 

[dnschmidt]

ex-x-fire. Yea buddy when men were men and women chewed Mail Pouch. Guys like us walked 5 miles to school uphill both ways. These damn pussies with their jack stands!!!

 

[BFHtime]

This needs to be stickied. Or maybe a pop-up window should come up when you log in. It will save lives. Guys check your harbor freight jack stands. I have two sets. I buy stuff from harbor freight based on reccomendations from garagejournal for the most part. I have a set that is recalled maybe you do too!

I remember doing research on these before getting them, because it's harbor freight. I guess i should have trusted my instincts.

Check the links and see how the material failed!!

 

[bpjr]

Yeah, sure, I need more info than one pic and a press write up to believe anything like this. A vw golf weighs 3000lbs and one jack is rated max 1500. We have no clue where the jack was placed or how it really happened. All he had to do to f the stand up is let the vehicle roll a couple inches while raising the other side and damaging side loads happen. Darwin rules apply no matter what brand stand you use. Be smart and have a backup in place or roll the dice.

 

[zendriver]

I still have some of the old-school "DIY" jack stands from decades ago.

The metal is paper-thin and lock pins cheap, compared today's offerings, but somehow they always held, leaving me alive to tell about it today.

Now days you need 12 ton stands, if you want to hold up a Yugo.

 

[jonesg]

When I was young I never had jack stands, I used logs that we had laying around. Probably 14" in diameter and 18" height.

I still use wood blocks, in boatyards its called dunnage.

 

[MushCreek]

I have four of the 6 ton recall stands. I've used them a few times, including my '72 F-250. I need to dig them out, inspect them, and decide what to do. There's not really anything I want at HF these days, and I certainly wouldn't get more jack stands! I always throw a couple tires under there, and keep the jack in place, so I'm not going to get squished.

Funny, as dangerous as concrete blocks are, I've used them my whole like, and never had a failure. I do use them in the proper orientation, with a block of wood on top.

 

[M635_Guy]

I have four of the 6 ton recall stands. I've used them a few times, including my '72 F-250. I need to dig them out, inspect them, and decide what to do. There's not really anything I want at HF these days, and I certainly wouldn't get more jack stands! I always throw a couple tires under there, and keep the jack in place, so I'm not going to get squished.

I wouldn't worry about getting replacement stands from HF (I would eyeball them though - from now on I'll eyeball any jack-stand before I use it), but whatever - there's plenty of very nice stuff at HF these days.

I'm not saying this wasn't an egregious failing for HF and their supplier, but it's a tiny fraction of what they've sold over their many years and as best I can tell they're doing this proactively - i.e. it doesn't sound like it took someone getting hurt/dying for them to act.

I have a set gray HF 3-ton jack stands that aren't in the recall, and I trust them as much as any jack stands of that design. The thing is I don't trust that design much at all - I hate jack stands in general for the multitude of opportunities for bad things to happen. I went to a QuickJack for most of what will ever take me under a car, and it's fantastic. Not cheap, and a 2-post lift would be far better but I'm both budget and pad limited, so no 2-post (a 4-post would work on my pad, but too much $$ to have workable access to wheels, etc.).

If I ever decide to replace the HF stands, I'll probably go Esco for their safer and more stable design.

Funny, as dangerous as concrete blocks are, I've used them my whole like, and never had a failure. I do use them in the proper orientation, with a block of wood on top.

I have - a guy in my car-community died. The jack and the tires mainly helped enable an open casket. He was unlucky in a couple ways, but I call myself "the Master of Realized Unlikelihoods"- no chance in hell I'm trusting concrete blocks unless it's a real-world emergency.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Not a weld failure, they changed the decal vendor!

Best post in the thread.

I have a truck on cinder blocks right now that Is getting chassis saver on the frame.

 

[jonesg]

Best post in the thread.

I have a truck on cinder blocks right now that Is getting chassis saver on the frame.

I used cindy blocks under my boat, I turned around and tripped over one, it was standing upright, it fell over and broke.
Thats why boatyards use wooden dunage, not concrete blocks.

Some guys will still defend HF stands as they lay in their casket.
Lets bury them face down so the HF lemmings can keep kissing their asses.