[AT] Neat jack idea

[Dave Ernst]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Francis Robinson" <robinson at svs.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 8:26 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] Neat jack idea


> I am assuming that by "Handiman" jack you mean one of those giant bumper
> jacks with a sort of "I" beam post with a row of holes up the post and 
> pins
> moving in and out to operate it. I have one of those and I do use it
> regularly but I also consider it to be one of the most dangerous tools on
> the farm... I tend to use it too often because it is "handi"   :-)   but 
> in
> most cases there is usually a better way. I place and use it with a level
> of caution that I would otherwise reserve for setting a dynamite charge or
> telling my wife how much I spent at an auction sale...
> Son Scott could have easily lost his life with it when a pin didn't drop
> in as deep as it should have and the lift slipped after he had already let
> go of the handle. The handle suddenly and without warning came flying up
> with a huge force due the the heavy load on the jack and smacked him
> viciously in the side of the head as he was raising back up from having
> leaned over to push the handle down. The second pin had engaged OK and it
> held the load fine but Scott was on the ground trying to wake up...
> I wouldn't say don't use one but do not turn your back on it. They can be
> sneaky and evil... I'd rather trust a used car salesman...
>
> BE CAREFUL!!!
Was that an original or a cheap Harbor Freight knock off?  They are the 
dangerous ones.  I've been using them for around 40 years and never had a 
pin slip.  I've used two of them together and have lifted ungodly weight and 
both still have the original wood handles, although I have sheared linkage 
pins.
I go nowhere with out one.
(also never without the good old WD for lube)
Dave