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Here's a list of Do's and Don't to bear in mind when you're lifting your serious bit of kit that you don't quite know how the suspension works on it....
- Do come on here and declare you are about to go on a big job (and yes I do know what I big job is, I used to be a lumberjack in the Sahara Forest)
- Don't forget you'll need a measuring tape clipped on one side of your trouser belt to balance out the mobile phone clipped on the left side of your belt.
- Do keep the missus well informed of your progress, and make sure she brings you cups of tea as and when needed.
- Don't forget to wear a high-vis jacket (local logistics company logo on the back is optional) so everyone knows you're "workin' hard doin' man stuff"
- Don't forget to phone people regularly during your big job. It sounds good when you can say phrases like "just torqued 'er up" or "I had to go for the BIG hammer" within earshot of the kids who will undoubtedly be impressed
- Do think about your skin, barrier cream and latex gloves are a must. If no family members have been in hospital recently and allowed you the opportunity to fill you pockets while visiting with the "free" ones they have there (Large size, of course) then grab the missus' marigolds. She can do the dishes bareback for a while

Windy Corner wrote:

Julian, DON'T buy the QL jack, I did and regretted it. The frame twists so easily and machine mart wouldn't entertain a claim for it, I ended up buying the proper 3 tonne one. If you look in my gallery, there is a picture of the two side by side. Ask yourself, if the big one is rated for 3T why should the small one be as well ?? Rik

For what it is worth, I have the same baby jack, at least it looks the same - has the same yellow handle and looks weak.

When changing a tire at home, I use a 2.5 ton trolley like your Clarke to lift the frame up enough to take the weight off the tyre/wheel and then slide the baby trolley jack under the wheel A arm and lift the arm such that the bottom of the tyre sits about an inch above the ground level. I find putting the new tyre on less difficult as I do not have to lift the tyre much. For the big jack, I also have the lifting adapter that pins up into the holes that are on the underside of the frame. This makes locating the properly locating the trolley easy, particularly for the left rear wheel near the air compressor as there is no chance of jacking on the compressor using the adapter.

I used to use a small bottle jack to lift the arm, but I find the baby trolley is just easier. Needless to day, I would not try to lift the 3 at the frame with the little one, nor would I lift the A arm without taking the weight off the assembly via the bigger trolley on the frame. I also note that my baby trolley is rated at 1,800 kgs, about half what your small one is marked at.

Below is a jpg of my "big" 2.5 long ton, (2,500 kg), Jet, Made in Japan, (it is that old), trolley jack with the adapter for viewing purposes, out of the hole it normally resides in. I think the way jacks are rated has changed over time as this 30 year old 2.5 ton rated jack appears to have more plate steel in it than todays 3 ton - do not however know much about the metallurgy of today vs a few years past.

Click image to enlarge

gilmore wrote:

I've got the big one on the right as well.

Me too, great piece of kit.

Dead solid, especially if you've got the adapter that slots into the chassis.
Will be using mine today to swap over all wheels.

Robbie wrote:

Using mine again today and I am still very happy with it.

Robbie - nice adaptor Home made or commercially available

Robbie wrote:

Robbie - nice adaptor Home made or commercially available