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
>
>
>
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