spitfires
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Axle stands (was RE: new spitter...)

To: Dean Dashwood <DDashwood@softwright.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Axle stands (was RE: new spitter...)
From: Joe Curry <spitlist@gte.net>
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1999 07:31:53 -0700
Dean,
I see your point.  And I agree that on solid axle cars, the Axle is a
good place to put the stands.

On the Spit, with the stands I use (and most I have seen) the tops are
wide enough that they actually curve around the edges of the frame
members.  So slippage is not really a problem.

Regards,
Joe

Dean Dashwood wrote:
> 
> Fair point, Joe - I was talking from experience of other cars, I've
> never (yet!) had to use the stands on the Spit.  But now I think about
> it, I can see that this probably wouldn't be such a good idea on the
> Spit's rear axles.
> 
> If they have curved top surfaces, designed for resting axles in, though,
> I would think that resting the frame on top of them, with a very small
> contact area, wouldn't be quite as stable?
> 
> An attempt at a diagram (view in Arial font for least-bad results) :
> 
> Resting an axle in an axle stand:
> 
>    axle
>       |
>       v
>    \ O /  <-  axle stand
>     -----
>       |
>       |
>       |
> 
> Resting the frame on an axle stand:
> 
>   frame
>     |
>     v
>  ________
>    \     /  <-  axle stand
>     -----
>       |
>       |
>       |
> 
> Ok, so those pictures are *really* bad, but I think you can just about
> see that an axle is fairly stable inside an axle stand, whereas the
> frame can slide about on it, not really giving you much better
> protection than using a jack.
> 
> Have I just completely invented a problem that doesn't exist, or is
> there a standard way round this (although I'm hoping that I won't need
> to worry about it for a little while longer anyway.....) ???
> 
> >----------
> >From:  Joe Curry[SMTP:spitlist@gte.net]
> >Sent:  12 July 1999 14:15
> >To:    Dean Dashwood
> >Cc:    'spitfires@autox.team.net'; 'todd j. derr'
> >Subject:       Re: new spitter...
> >
> >Dean,
> >I don't think it wise to be putting stands under Spitfire swing-axles.
> >The axles are strong enough, but why risk damage to them, the U-Joints
> >or the bearings by putting the weight of the Spit on them at a single
> >point.  I'd recommend using the frame.
> >
> >Joe
> >
> >Dean Dashwood wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi Todd, welcome to the list!
> >>
> >> You need to remove the cover to get to the switch - the Haynes manual
> >> section on removing the gearbox describes how to do it, but it's not
> >> difficult.
> >>
> >> As for the jackstands (are these the things that I'd call "axle
> >> stands"?) I'd suggest under the axle for everything except removing
> >> axles.  Insert all the standard disclaimers here about never working
> >> under a car that's only supported by a jack, add extra support by
> >> putting any wheels you've removed underneath the car whilst working,
> >> etc, etc.  But you won't need to do this for the reverse light problems
> >> - that's completely an "inside the car" job.
> >>
> >> Good luck!
> >>
> >> Dean Dashwood
> >> '77 Spit 1500 (back from the garage with an MOT in 5 days - and
> >> counting!)
> >>
> >> >----------
> >> >From:  todd j. derr[SMTP:tjd@wordsmith.org]
> >> >Sent:  12 July 1999 04:15
> >> >To:    spitfires@autox.team.net
> >> >Subject:       new spitter...
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >Hello,
> >> >
> >> >       I've been reading this list since shortly after I bought my new
> >>friend,
> >> >a 1978 (or is that 79? commision #FM91578U) Spitfire, about a month ago,
> >>but
> >> >this is my first post... so, hello to everyone out there.
> >> >
> >> >       So far it's been fairly smooth sailing, but now I need to pass
> >>state
> >> >inspection, which isn't going to happen unless I can fix the reverse
> >>lights.
> >> >Currently they're stuck on - or at least _were_ stuck on before I removed
> >>the
> >> >bulbs; my thinking being I'm a lot more likely to get pulled over with the
> >> >stuck on than off...
> >> >
> >> >       Anyways, I have obtained the Haynes manual, which shows the
> >>location
> >> >of the reverse switch on the tranny, but I can't find anything about how
> >>to
> >> >access it.  So, does anyone know, can I reach it from under the car or do
> >>I
> >> >need to remove the cover inside the passenger compartment to get it from
> >> >above?
> >> >
> >> >       Also, this may be a silly question but I'd rather be silly than
> >>dead -
> >> >I bought a pair of jackstands and have no idea how to use them.  Should I
> >>put
> >> >them under the frame?  Under the lower wishbones in front?  Under the axle
> >>in
> >> >the rear?  Or should I jack up the car using the frame and put the
> >>jackstands
> >> >under the normal jacking points?
> >> >
> >> >thanks in advance for any help,
> >> >
> >> >todd.
> >> >
> >> >PS: I _love_ driving this car!
> >> >
> >
> >--
> >"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
> > -- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
> >
> >
> >

-- 
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
 -- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>