5 Easy Steps to Safely Use a Scissor Jack

Scissor jack being used to lift a car

Finding the Jack Factors

Figuring out the jack factors is essential for protected and environment friendly jacking of your automobile. Your automobile’s proprietor’s handbook will usually embrace a diagram indicating the designated jack level areas. These factors are often marked with notches or bolstered sections on the body or designated areas on the pinch welds. It is essential to notice that jacking factors might fluctuate relying on the make and mannequin of your automobile.

Steps to Find Jack Factors:

  1. Seek the advice of your automobile’s proprietor’s handbook for the particular jack level areas.
  2. Rigorously look at the underside of the automobile for notches, bolstered areas, or marked sections on the body or pinch welds. These are usually positioned close to the wheels or alongside the facet sills.
  3. Clear any dust or particles across the jack factors to make sure a safe match.

Seek advice from the desk under for extra steering on finding jack factors on frequent automobile sorts:

Automobile Sort Jack Level Places
Passenger Vehicles Notched or bolstered areas on the body close to the wheels
SUVs and Vehicles Designated areas on the pinch welds or bolstered sections on the body
Unibody Autos Notched or bolstered areas on the designated jacking factors alongside the automobile’s facet sills

Making ready the Jack

Earlier than inserting the jack beneath your automobile, there are essential preparatory steps to make sure protected and correct jacking.

1. Collect Mandatory Instruments

Purchase a scissor jack, lug wrench, and wheel chocks to safe the wheels reverse the flat tire.

2. Degree the Floor

Park your automobile on a steady, stage floor. Keep away from sloping areas or areas the place the automobile might shift whereas being lifted.

3. Disengage Parking Brake

Launch the parking brake to permit the wheels to roll freely.

4. Place the Jack

Find the designated jack factors in your automobile’s body. These are usually marked by notches or bolstered sections. Seek advice from your automobile’s proprietor’s handbook for particular jack level areas.

Automobile Sort Typical Jack Factors
Compact Vehicles Physique body behind the entrance wheels and beneath the physique seam strains
SUVs and Vehicles Boxed sections of the body or designated mounting factors on the axles
Vans and Motorhomes Strengthened sections of the body or designated jack posts

Place the scissor jack straight beneath the designated jack level, guaranteeing it’s perpendicular to the bottom and securely seated on a steady floor.

Positioning the Jack

As soon as you have positioned the jack factors, it is time to place the scissor jack.

1. Place the jack within the designated jack level. Guarantee it sits flat and safe on the bottom.

2. Be sure the jack is perpendicular to the bottom and centered beneath the jack level of the automobile.

3. Align the saddle of the jack with the jack level on the automobile. This saddle is the a part of the jack that can raise the automobile.

4. Verify the soundness of the jack. Guarantee it is agency and will not wobble or shift once you begin lifting the automobile.

5. Seek advice from the automobile’s proprietor’s handbook for particular jack level areas and extra security tips.

Jack Level Location Security Precautions
Entrance: Behind the entrance wheel Make sure the parking brake is engaged and wheels are chocked.
Rear: In entrance of the rear wheel Verify environment for obstacles earlier than lifting.

Elevating the Automobile

To boost the automobile utilizing a scissor jack, observe these steps:

  1. Verify the situation of the designated raise factors: Seek advice from your automobile’s proprietor’s handbook to determine the particular factors the place the scissor jack is meant to be positioned. These factors are usually positioned close to the wheels or alongside the body of the automobile.
  2. Place the scissor jack correctly: Rigorously align the bottom of the scissor jack with the designated raise level. Be sure that the jack is positioned on a steady and stage floor.
  3. Lengthen the jack base securely: Use the included deal with or lever to increase the bottom of the scissor jack. Lengthen it so far as potential to offer a strong base for lifting.
  4. Slowly and thoroughly pump the jack: Function the jack lever or pump easily and steadily. Keep away from speedy or extreme pumping, as this may pressure the jack or harm the automobile.
  5. Proceed pumping till the automobile is lifted: Pump the jack till the automobile’s desired top is achieved.
  6. Safe the automobile with further help: As soon as the automobile is lifted, it’s essential to stabilize it utilizing jack stands or wheel chocks. These further helps stop the automobile from unintentionally shifting or falling, guaranteeing your security.
  7. Don’t go beneath the automobile with out help: By no means crawl or work beneath a automobile that’s supported solely by a scissor jack. All the time use correct jack stands or help programs for added stability.
    Step Description
    1 Establish designated raise factors.
    2 Place scissor jack correctly.
    3 Lengthen jack base securely.
    4 Pump jack slowly and thoroughly.
    5 Raise automobile to desired top.
    6 Safe automobile with further help
    7 Don’t go beneath automobile with out help.

    Securing the Automobile

    To make sure most security whereas utilizing a scissor jack, it’s essential to correctly safe your automobile earlier than elevating it.

    1. **Discover a Secure and Degree Floor**: Park your automobile on a agency and stage floor, guaranteeing that the bottom can stand up to the load of the automobile and the jack.

    2. **Have interaction the Parking Brake**: Pull the parking brake lever as much as have interaction the mechanism and stop the automobile from rolling.

    3. **Chock the Wheels**: Place wheel chocks behind the wheels reverse the jacking level to additional stabilize the automobile and stop it from transferring.

    4. **Verify the Jack Location**: Establish the designated jack factors in your automobile’s chassis or physique. Seek advice from your proprietor’s handbook for particular areas.

    5. **Place the Jack Accurately**: Place the scissor jack vertically beneath the designated jack level, aligning the bottom of the jack with the bottom.

    6. **Elevate the Jack Regularly**: Slowly pump the jack deal with to raise the automobile. Cease pumping when the specified top is reached.

    **7. Safe the Jack with a Security Stand (Elective however Extremely Really helpful)**

    For optimum security, think about using a jack stand along with the scissor jack. This is the way to safe the automobile with a jack stand:

    **Step** **Directions**
    Place the Jack Stand Place the jack stand close to the designated jack level, barely behind the scissor jack.
    Regulate the Top Elevate or decrease the jack stand till it’s firmly supporting the automobile’s body.
    Take away the Scissor Jack Slowly decrease the scissor jack to take away it, guaranteeing that the automobile weight is absolutely transferred to the jack stand.
    Double-Verify Stability Gently shake the automobile to make sure it’s securely supported by each the jack stand and the scissor jack.

    Storing the Scissor Jack

    Correct storage of the scissor jack is essential for its longevity and performance. Listed below are some steps to make sure correct storage:

    1. Clear and Lubricate: After use, clear the scissor jack totally to take away dust, particles, and moisture. Apply a skinny layer of oil or lubricant to the transferring elements to stop rust and corrosion.

    2. Dry Totally: Earlier than storing, permit the scissor jack to dry fully to stop moisture from damaging the elements.

    3. Examine Commonly: Periodically examine the scissor jack for any indicators of harm or put on. Verify the situation of the welds, pins, and threads.

    4. Retailer Upright: Retailer the scissor jack in an upright place to stop deformation of the elements.

    5. Shield from Components: Retailer the scissor jack in a dry and well-ventilated space to attenuate publicity to moisture and temperature extremes.

    6. Use Protecting Cowl: If potential, use a protecting cowl or bag to guard the scissor jack from mud, dust, and scratches.

    7. Securely Fasten: When storing the scissor jack within the automobile, safe it correctly utilizing the designated storage compartment or straps to stop it from transferring or rattling.

    8. Hold Away from Chemical compounds: Retailer the scissor jack away from corrosive chemical compounds or liquids that would harm the elements.

    9. Keep away from Extreme Weight: Don’t retailer heavy objects on or across the scissor jack, as this might trigger harm or deformation.

    10. Seek advice from Producer’s Directions: All the time seek the advice of the producer’s directions for particular storage suggestions in your specific scissor jack mannequin.

    Easy methods to Use a Scissor Jack

    A scissor jack is a mechanical gadget used to raise autos. It’s usually included as commonplace tools in vehicles and vehicles. Scissor jacks are comparatively straightforward to make use of, however you will need to observe the producer’s directions rigorously to keep away from harm or harm to the automobile.

    To make use of a scissor jack, first place it beneath the designated jack level on the automobile. The jack level is often positioned close to the wheel that must be lifted. Ensure that the jack is positioned in order that it will likely be steady and never more likely to slip.

    Subsequent, pump the jack deal with up and down till the automobile is lifted to the specified top. You’ll want to pump the deal with slowly and evenly to keep away from damaging the jack or the automobile.

    As soon as the automobile is on the desired top, insert the jack stand beneath the automobile. Jack stands are used to offer further help and stability to the lifted automobile. Place the jack stands in order that they’re supporting the load of the automobile and never the jack.

    Lastly, decrease the jack by slowly releasing the strain on the deal with. You’ll want to decrease the automobile slowly and thoroughly to keep away from any sudden actions that would trigger harm.

    Individuals Additionally Ask About Easy methods to Use a Scissor Jack

    How do I do know if my scissor jack is protected to make use of?

    It’s best to at all times verify the producer’s directions in your particular scissor jack to ensure that it’s in good working situation. If the jack is broken or has any unfastened elements, it shouldn’t be used.

    What’s the most weight that my scissor jack can raise?

    The utmost weight {that a} scissor jack can raise will fluctuate relying on the mannequin. It’s best to at all times seek the advice of the producer’s directions to seek out out the utmost weight capability in your particular jack.

    How do I eliminate a used scissor jack?

    Scissor jacks must be disposed of in line with native rules. In some areas, you might be able to recycle the jack at an area recycling middle.