Old jack stands

[jacked_72]

I picked up some old jack stands along with an older floor jack. I can't imagine working under a car with stands like this, though my father did in 70s. The length is adjusted with a pin that holdes the center piece up. Are these things stronger than they look and feel? Below is a picture of the style from the internet. Mine have no tonnage rating or manufacturer identification, though I'm guessing they came from Sears. Mine aren't rusty, but still, I don't think I'd want to trust them.

 

[roalco]

I have an older pair just like that, and have used them for years under my diesel landcruiser wagon, no issues at all.

 

[scaron]

i dunno my dad has an ancient jack and stands that look just like that and he still uses em all the time, no problem. my feeling is generally they built stuff better back then and those old cars weighed a lot due to the use of heavier gauge steel in the bodies... i'd probably trust them more than a new HF set so long as they're not completely rusted out, LOL.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

As long as the welds are good and the pins are sized correctly I would use them.

Richard

 

[c39er]

I also have a pretty stout set of those stands. Never an issue till I got stupid and used one under a dozer. Don't do that! The pin cut a 3" slot down to the next hole! The legs never blew out though.

 

[Higgins]

Ops! Now C39, and how heave would that be???

AL

 

[Outlawmws]

What exactly would you trust? An unknown cast iron stand with unknown materials QC from Asia? Those are steel, maybe not the heaviest duty set, but they are likely to start bending (as the lip shows) before catastrophic failure. With the Asian cast **** it simply snaps and fails with no warning. I have probably 3 or 4 pairs of that type, and used appropriately have always worked, and I expect them to continue to work...

 

[Rust]

I have the same jack stands.
I watched the top plate bend down as I put weight on it.. but they did the job.
I'd prefer a beefier set too. No way would I crawl under the truck with those stands, but for tire rotation-brake work, they work fine.

 

[gregthor]

I have a set of those since the early 70's, been under them a thousand times. In my garage they are known as the exhaust pipe stands. Not becuase I use them to hold up exhaust pipes but because they look like they were made of exhaust pipe. Whenever I use any jack stand, I do the shake test and visual test. First I look to see the jack is where I wanted it under the car, then I look to make sure all the feet are touching the ground, lastly I grab the bumper and shake the car. If possible I leave jack or wheels under car and go to work. I also have bigger newer jack stands I mostly use now also

 

[c39er]

Ops! Now C39, and how heave would that be???

AL

Probably 5-8,000lbs

 

[jakemac]

I used to use that type of stand under my GMC/Chevy G20/2500 full size vans all the time with no trouble. Of course, I always left the jack in place and would use wood bunkers underneath just in case. But I never had them fail, just sink into the tarmac and dig up the driveway.

My tacoma isn't as heavy, so I'm using HF 3-ton stands now because they're taller.

 

[BoostAddiction]

I picked up some old jack stands along with an older floor jack. I can't imagine working under a car with stands like this, though my father did in 70s. The length is adjusted with a pin that holdes the center piece up. Are these things stronger than they look and feel? Below is a picture of the style from the internet. Mine have no tonnage rating or manufacturer identification, though I'm guessing they came from Sears. Mine aren't rusty, but still, I don't think I'd want to trust them.

I'd totally trust that to hold up a Tastykake. But not an actual car.

That is exactly like the jackstand that collapsed on me when I was working on a car.

Which is why I don't have any more of them, and have a Rotary 2-post asymmetrical lift instead.

 

[pop pop]

The pic looks light duty. There are some with heavier materials, but the construction is good design. I have two pair from Walker I bought back in the '70's that are rated 6K. They are a bit heavier than your pictured one.

 

[c39er]

I will say those type jack stands including mine which are 1/8" thick steel have never failed-except the one I ruined under the dozer. I have used them for over 35 years under 1 tons and less with no fear. I still use them. The real cheap thin ones I would scrap imediately. I have personally seen them collapse. True garbage.

 

[ex-x-fire]

There's a reason why modern stands have 4 legs.

 

[930dreamer]

I made two sets in High School but used 1/4" steel.

 

[Zeke]

I have those as well. I use them on the lighter end of any car or as back up. But those were all I had for years and they saw lots of cars and trucks. I like the saddle better than the cast ones.

 

[Outlawmws]

There's a reason why modern stands have 4 legs.

Really? Why? So they will rock on any surface that is uneven?


Absolutely NOTHING wrong with the OP's jack-stands, used within their design limits.

 

[mayhemman]

i have a set of those, had them a long time. heck they held up my 94 formula for idk 3 years without issue. still going strong. though now i mainly use them for mower work when i can't use my other ones.

 

[pop pop]

There's a reason why modern stands have 4 legs.

I'd rather have my 3 leg heavy duty 6K rated than any 4 leg I've seen. They are more stable.

 

[skruft]

These are cheaply made but fine except that they can bend if the car moves. So, chock the wheels in both directions. I used them a thousand times when I was much younger and worked on cars daily.