Friday, April 22, 2011

New: Used W115 Parts Page

This is a pic of the left taillight lens for the later W115 series that I have for sale on my new used parts page. I also have the right side lens in similar shape (I do not have the screw-on retainer knobs, however) as well as many other used parts. Check out the used parts page and email me with your needs. tom82baur@gmail.com

Monday, April 11, 2011

Texas: man killed under car lift February, 2011

http://thefacts.com/news/article_d66505f4-3f03-11e0-bd41-001cc4c002e0.html

71 yr old, under a lift.

Very sad.


Here is another one.... A car hoist accident from Australia in February 2010.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:TGeGQNQKJ0IJ:www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/02/17/189621_gold-coast-news.html

Indiana:
http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/marion_county/car-falls-on,-kills-man-at-southeast-side-apartments

Sandusky, Ohio
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/port-clinton/2010/oct/13/port-clinton-car-falls-jack-kills-man-33

Jacksonville Fl:
http://www.news4jax.com/news/26402651/detail.html

Michigan Today! April 11 2011
http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-michigan-man-dies-after-car-falls-off-jack-traps-him-20110411,0,3424726.story

Toronto Canada
http://toronto-on.ca/2011/03/man-killed-when-car-falls-on-him/

Genesee Township, Michigan
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/02/genesee_township_man_dies_afte.html

It can happen to you. Think safety.

Safety First, Safety last, Safety Always!

All credit to Tom D., Frederick, and 'funola', and many others who are working/thinking about this, for the benefit of all.  Great work!
--------------------

I have compiled a little of what you guys have done, and I want to post it here--- and a bunch of other places, too---- in case anyone missed it.  It is important stuff to know, and too important to miss.


OK Boys and Girls, we have some of our Best Guys working on this, in the interest of keeping everyone safe.  Please read it:

From ‘funola”, Peachparts Mercedes Shopforum Diesel Discussion

I dug out my Craftsman ratcheting jack stand and gave it a close look and a quick test. Mine is the 3 ton and I assume the 4 ton is of simillar design. I raised it halfway, crouched, stood and balanced myself on it, reached down and yanked upward on the handle. To my surprise, it (and I) dropped all the way to the bottom! That was very sobering! Jack stand with pins will never do that! I was expecting it to catch on the next tooth on the rack but not so. The handle only needs to be raised upwards 3/4" to release the rack for it to drop. I'll try to find the owners manual and see what warnings/ instructions are provided.

With the car's weight (let's say 3000 lbs) on the jackstands, how much force is required to hit the handle at such an angle and cause it to go up 3/4"? Any mechanical engineers here want to take a stab at it? The jack release handle is 4.5" long.


From Tom D.... bimmerforums E21 1975-83

it's actually just a simple machine and the mechanical advantage can be calculated. however, one factor is missing, the small section of the lever on the other side of the fulcrum. lets assume it's 1 inch. the handle is 4.5 inches. the car is 3000 lb.. and has a 50/50 weight ratio. each corner carries a load of 750lb. the mechanical advantage is 4.5 therefore it would take a total of 167 lb. of force to release the lock.

3000/4 = 750
750/1 * 1/4.5 = 167

keeping in mind that work in is always equaled to work out, so in order to raise 750 lb. 3/4". you would have to exert 167 lb. on the lever for a distance of 3 3/8 "

4.5/1 * 1/.75 = 3.375

__________________

This also assumes no damage to the ratchet or pawl and a full engagement... If you saw the pic of the junk stand I found IN USE you have to question yourself... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot are you thinking????

Thanks Tom D.

fjk, jr.  (Frederick J. Klorcyzk, jr.)

------------------------------------------------------

From Tom D. again bimmerforums E21 1975-83

i finally got a chance to look at my ratchet stands and my calculations although are correct, the operation of the ratchet is not like i imagined it.

the corner weight is still 750 lb.

the lever is 5.5" on one side of the fulcrum and 1.5" on the other. that makes the mechanical advantage 8.25

the pawl only needs to lift the weight 1/16" and move sideways 1/8" to disengage.

so without allowing for friction it would only take 90 lb. of force to lift and 1/2" of travel on the handle to move it off it's perch.

not good!

Tom D
----------------------------------------------------
From ‘funola”, Peachparts Mercedes Shopforum Diesel Discussion
I couldn't find my owners manual so went to Sears to look it up. I told the salesman about the accident in CT and he knew about it. He was very helpful and made a copy of the manual from a jack stand on the shelf for me.

Here it is. There's no warnings about not bumping the handle or positioning it with the handle facing away from the car.




__________________

I am going to post this all over the place, and I encourage everyone else to do the same.  There was another report of a guy killed under his car in Texas last week.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

New Page for Used W115 Parts

If anyone has a need for used W115 parts... Please check out my new 'used parts' page. Click on the tab at the top of the blog. I have lots of parts... all from my 1976 W115 300D that went to the crusher.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Jack Stand Safety III

While this blog is dedicated to my restoration project, we will continue to publish any info we feel relevant to promoting safety in the car hobby. Nothing is more important than keeping our fellow gearheads safe.

http://WWW.STACKSTANDS.COM/

Info from Christian's dad. Check these out.... Strong sturdy, no moving parts. Worth a look?


Safety first, safety last, safety always.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Surprise! Are ratchetting jack stands as safe as you think they are? Try this!

Quote:
Originally Posted by funola
I dug out my Craftsman ratcheting jack stand and gave it a close look and a quick test. Mine is the 3 ton and I assume the 4 ton is of simillar design. I raised it halfway, crouched, stood and balanced myself on it, reached down and yanked upward on the handle. To my surprise, it (and I) dropped all the way to the bottom! That was very sobering! Jack stand with pins will never do that! I was expecting it to catch on the next tooth on the rack but not so. The handle only needs to be raised upwards 3/4" to release the rack for it to drop. I'll try to find the owners manual and see what warnings/ instructions are provided.

With the car's weight (let's say 3000 lbs) on the jackstands, how much force is required to hit the handle at such an angle and cause it to go up 3/4"? Any mechanical engineers here want to take a stab at it? The jack release handle is 4.5" long.
Quote----------------------------------------------

Very interesting post.... Thank you very much. I would like to post your results in other forums to continue to raise consciousness on the subject of safety... As well as productive discussion. Yours is a most interesting experiment, worth looking at some more, in my opinion.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Video: Falling Jack Stands

It is an ad for a creeper but.... a picture is worth a thousand words.

http://www.creepex.com/Cr/crash.html

Think safety:  first, last, always.

Another Avoidable Tragedy

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...rfatality.html


March 27, 2011 Bremerton WA.

Post this everywhere. This poor guy evidently didn't get the message, and now he never will.

Sad.

Stay safe, fellas. It has happened again.

Redundant safety systems.  NEVER trust a jack.  Chock the wheels.  Sturdy safe stands under strong, solid points.  Rock the car BEFORE you go under it.