>This weekend I had occasion to go out and purchase 4 jack stands. Much
>to my surprise, they now carry a warning NOT to get under a car supported
>by jack stands! Hmmmm. Liability? These were NOT "cheapies" and I saw
>the warning stickers on the entire jack stand range (Pep Boys). Curious.
>
>I brought them home and put a TR6 on the 4 stands I just bought. The
>only ways that car will come off the jack stands is if (1) there's an
>earthquake or hurricane, or (2) another car smashes into it. I've been
>using jack stands for years. How many times have you heard about a jack
>stand failing?
jim
I'm sure there have been cases of cars "improperly" resting on jack
stands that have lead to someone injured when the car shifted, etc.
However, a car properly seated on jacks stands shouldn't (IMHO)
ever be a problem. If the jack stand manufacturers are stating
one shouldn't get under a vehicle that is proped up with their
products, how then does a home mechanic do any work under the vehicle?
My guess is that the manufacturers are trying to limit their
liability. There has probably been a lawsuit (maybe several)
where a car hurt/killed someone working under it and the jackstand
manufacturer became a "deep pocket" source of settlement money.
That probably was the case, even though the vehicle was probably
precariously perched on one or more jack stands, etc.
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Bill Sohl (K2UNK) BELLCORE (Bell Communications Research, Inc.)
Morristown, NJ email via UUCP bcr!dancer!whs70
201-829-2879 Weekdays email via Internet whs70@dancer.cc.bellcore.com
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