How low to use jackstand?

[BrandonV]

On your typical ratcheting jackstand, is there any issue with not engaging the pawl at all and using the stand at its lowest/released height? How about on a pair of Esco style stands? Is it okay to use them at the very bottom without the pin?

Thanks.

 

[American Locomotive]

Subscribed. I have definitely used them completely bottomed out before, but I am curious to see if it's actually "okay".

 

[fourjeepin]

Me too. Done it but never considered it might not be ok. Though I also like the smell of craftsman acetate screwdrivers so don’t mind me.

 

[djbmw]

Isnt the most amount of metal to metal engagement (ie. Strength) when they are at the absolute lowest without the pawl engaged? The pawl is affixed to the same metal base post... but only with a pin. One would reason that the absolute bottom is the strongest.

 

[mikey03]

I always read something about lowest point and I wondered about that for the same reason so I just looked at one of my jackstands and at the lowest point you can’t put the safety pin in

so if this is true that you need it at least one up from bottom then my guess is because you can’t use the safety bar piece in the lowest point you can only use it when it’s on at least the first pawl click. And when you use the safety piece you got two things that got to fail. The pawl has to fail and then the safety bar has to fail.

if you got it at the bottom rung then no safety bar and just the one thing fails and it’s done that’s the best I can come up with tbh idk if it’s true just a guess

 

[djbmw]

There's no need for any additional safety mechanisms though because the arm cannot "fall" any further down if its already at the absolute bottom.

The safety pin is to prevent people from accidentaly lifting up on the release arm (which doesnt take a ton of force, even loaded with a car). With the lift arm at the bottom and fully supported by the jack stand body this becomes irrelevant.

Think of it as an elevator with all these safety mechanisms to prevent it falling... they arent needed/dont come into play if the elevator is always at the very bottom of the shaft, sitting on blocks.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Isnt the most amount of metal to metal engagement (ie. Strength) when they are at the absolute lowest without the pawl engaged? The pawl is affixed to the same metal base post... but only with a pin. One would reason that the absolute bottom is the strongest.

I've always thought that myself.

I have used the lowest or base level and not thought about it.... and still will.

 

[American Locomotive]

Isnt the most amount of metal to metal engagement (ie. Strength) when they are at the absolute lowest without the pawl engaged? The pawl is affixed to the same metal base post... but only with a pin. One would reason that the absolute bottom is the strongest.

It all depends on where the forces were designed to be applied. There are structures that are ludicrously strong if the load is applied in one place, in a certain direction, but will crumple up if a light breeze hits them in a different spot. I'm not saying that's the case with jacktands, but I'm curious if it could be.

 

[djbmw]

It all depends on where the forces were designed to be applied. There are structures that are ludicrously strong if the load is applied in one place, in a certain direction, but will crumple up if a light breeze hits them in a different spot. I'm not saying that's the case with jacktands, but I'm curious if it could be.

All the more reason for @mikey03 to get a lift!
I feel like it was only a few months ago when he didnt want to get under his car to fix his leaking drain pan plug... and now he's fixing cars left, right, and center.

I feel proud of young grasshopper... he has learnt well!

 

[BrandonV]

It all depends on where the forces were designed to be applied. There are structures that are ludicrously strong if the load is applied in one place, in a certain direction, but will crumple up if a light breeze hits them in a different spot. I'm not saying that's the case with jacktands, but I'm curious if it could be.

I think I'm just going to stick to a known variable and use them how one would expect...

Looking at the Esco jackstands in particular putting force on the sloppy looking welds doesn't look like a good idea.

 

[dscheidt]

On your typical ratcheting jackstand, is there any issue with not engaging the pawl at all and using the stand at its lowest/released height? How about on a pair of Esco style stands? Is it okay to use them at the very bottom without the pin?

Thanks.

esco say their stands have ten positions, which means they want the pin always in a hole (five pin position on the movable piece, two on the fixed side). They'd say 11 if not using the pin were approved. I don't have a set, and I've only used a set once, so I don't know what gets loaded without using the pin, and whether it would actually matter. I've certainly used regular stands with a pawl at their lowest height without worrying about it

 

[mikey03]

All the more reason for @mikey03 to get a lift!
I feel like it was only a few months ago when he didnt want to get under his car to fix his leaking drain pan plug... and now he's fixing cars left, right, and center.

I feel proud of young grasshopper... he has learnt well!

Oh I would love a lift but I never really had a problem getting under a car I use rhino ramps or a Daytona floor jack and jack stands it’s just tight, I had to take an O2 sensor off and was kind of lazy to use a jack so did the ramps and didn’t get it that high but enough to read one arm under and take it off with a long wrench

 

[Beerhippie]

Considering how much verbiage is dedicated to safety warning on my 2 ton stands, I'm sure there would be a clear warning if they were't meant to be used all the way down--and there is no such warning.

BTW: If you're using jack stands where you're subject to OSHA inspections, be aware that the stands MUST have the stickers with load rating present and in readable condition. Our last OSHA consult resulted in me having to toss two massive, heavily over-built, 30-year-old US-made stands into the scrap dumpster while the inspector watched (they came back out and went home with me), while he was fine with the Chinesium ones with readable labels.

 

[djbmw]

esco say their stands have ten positions, which means they want the pin always in a hole (five pin position on the movable piece, two on the fixed side). They'd say 11 if not using the pin were approved. I don't have a set, and I've only used a set once, so I don't know what gets loaded without using the pin, and whether it would actually matter. I've certainly used regular stands with a pawl at their lowest height without worrying about it

I wouldnt assume that.
For example, a tv that has a volume control that goes to "10" actually has 11 positions, with "0" being "mute".
Or a stovetop that has a heater element that goes to "8".. where "off" isnt counted.

Perhaps "positions" refers to anything above the absolute lowest... like in a hotel or apartment where "L" is lobby, and the "floors" start at "1".. and the basement is "B"

 

[jayemm]

I'm surprised that this should even be an issue. The stand is most stable at it's lowest height so no stability issues. Typically the ratchet bar rests on the neck of the stand and there's no engagement of the pawl with the ratchet bar in this position, thus eliminating a problem should a tooth break. Safety pin irrelevant at this point. It's a simple device.