Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:43:57 -0800
Reply-To: M'obeechi <obeechi@RUNBOX.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: M'obeechi <obeechi@RUNBOX.COM>
Subject: Re: Bottle Jack
In-Reply-To: <67f8ac6c0812231825y6f845095p38709e3dcd684070@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-15"
I can tell you what's wrong with the stock jack.
1. Too slow to turn, meaning too much time and effort to lift and raise. Go through a period where you need to use it over and over, whatever the reason, it will drive you nuts. And getting down that low just to wear yourself out and try to lift the van with it fast is a real drag, especially on a hot day, or maybe a really cold and wet one.
2. The really fatal flaw is, keep the jack in "position" and "lifted" at the passenger rear jack insert, while also using a jack stand, then forget its there "just for a second", and open the sliding door to get that "tool" you need, and wham... nice beautiful scratch on your sliding door.
3. Its shape doesn't welcome itself to a multitude of different spaces, which hurts its "versatility", and increase the odds of something else getting scratched...
4. Because it takes so long to use, its easier to start not paying total attention, and its entirely possible your vanagon might slide back down, which will bend the base of the jack and make it more unstable.
5. It doesn't even try to use the idea of a lever, which has been understood since at least Ancient Greece. Instead of a lever, it uses your time, and effort.
From: Gary Bawden <goldfieldgary@GMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Bottle Jack
> I really like the stock jack. Never had one break, but I bent one of
> them (the screw part), and still use it just to see if it'll keep on
> working. The bend happened when I had a mishap involving a full load
> of firewood and an insufficient wheel chock. Also I live in an area
> with a LOT of old nails (this is a ghost town which was burned down
> twice and flooded once, and there are literally millions of old nails
> everywhere) and have more flats than most people, but the stock jack
> has worked for me every time. Only thing I don't like about the stock
> jack is the little plastic gear protector on top is liable to come off
> and get lost.
>
> Gary
>
>
> >
> > Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:49:09 -0800
> > From: levi hawkins <b1levi@YAHOO.COM>
> > Subject: Re: Bottle Jack
> >
> > ...howz about the way they break? I've had two snap on me now....not the arm
> > into the van, but the screw.
> >
>
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