It could save your life. The larger paint mark means the pawl grabbed a lot more of the tooth. Chocks are simple wedge-like devices that prevent the vehicle from rolling. A sturdy piece of wood can also be used in a pinch. A design flaw caused by old tooling in the factory that constructed them could cause the pawl to disengage, letting the jack (and the vehicle on top of it) suddenly and unexpectedly drop. Hahaha getting fired for returning a tool what a BS. Examine your jack standswhether the pawl, pin, or screw type. Also remember that jack stands are intended to be used in pairs, which partially explains the shared weight rating. Dedicated to serving your needs. No he did not even try to look it up, even though I told him purchased them at his store. This is dramatically illustrated by a few photos from a Reddit user, who shared it with us anonymously and we're reprinting here with permission. He's being a lazy dickbag. Ensure the jack stands are vertical and not resting on any debris. As the vehicle settles, make sure the jack stands stay vertical and make good contact with the jack points.
TLDR: Return denied, had to lug them home. Update: More apparent trouble with Harbor Freight jack stands, according to the owner of a replacement set for his recalled units, as reported byThe Drive.
I'm a supervisor and I would've took these back no questions asked and im sure my store manager would've too. Manager said the models in black must be returned with a receipt within the standard return window like every other product. They're emergency items for occasional use, like changing a tire on the side of the road. Before getting underneath, think about what might happen if a jack stand (or the jacking point) fails or shifts, dropping the vehicle. Has this happened to anyone else?
Slowly release the jack to settle the vehicle onto the jack stands. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
There's a huge problem if they have a defective product that they aren't taking back. But first, let's take a look at the issues facing those particular Harbor Freight jack stands so you have an idea of why this is all so troubling. Is the best way to use the "Contact Us" form on the website? I can guarantee it. The company is specifically recalling 1.7 million units with model numbers 56371, 61196 and 61197.
A sub-reddit dedicated to Harbor Freight and reviewing their tools. Getting bad vibes? According to the owner, one jack stand failed dramatically at the welded seam under the weight of a Volkswagen Golf (as seen in the Facebook photos below). Yeah, I would go to corporate with that. Harbor Freight recently recalled 454,000 Pittsburg Automotive jack stands and is asking all their consumers who purchased these stands to stop using them immediately. Our guide below is intended not as a how-to, since every car and truck is different, but rather as an outline of some best practices that will get you thinking critically about your methods.
Applicable sales tax will also be refunded, All items indicated in RED are recalled in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), All other items can be returned at the customer's discretion. Make using chocks a habit no matter which end you're lifting. There are products called jack stabilizer pads that can be used to support a jack or jack stand.
Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Have they released the 6 ton replacements yet? With nearly 2 million units in question, the odds are good that you or someone you know owns a set of these, so please go and check them now and urge your family and friends to do so, too. This drops the jack stand to the lowest position, possibly injuring anyone underneath.
Working underneath a lifted car is inherently extremely dangerous, and it's easy to be cavalier or place too much trust in equipment that might not deserve it. What weight rating should you choose?
Place two behind the wheels of the end you are not lifting up.
The July 2020 recall affects more than 450,000 Pittsburgh Automotive 6 Ton Heavy Duty Steel Jack Stands according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency also said it has received reports of injuries due to the defect.
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These are pawl-type jack stands, with a pawl that engages with teeth on the lifting arm of the jack stand. For a free, no obligation consultation with an experienced attorney at Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP, regarding your case, please fill out the form above. Idk why this store manager didn't. If you or someone you know was seriously injured by any recalled product please contact HMG Law Firm online or at 361-882-1612 to schedule a free consultation. Do what you can to level the vehicle, and ensure the jack stands rest on a hard surface. First of all, basically no one is ever going to lose their job over a return. The company replaced the stands with a different product.
Try to use high-quality equipment from a reputable manufacturer. When the jack stands are carrying weight, the latch mechanism can release if the stand is bumped in the right place with a trivial amount of force. Call another store that's close and ask for the district managers # . Odds are good that you or someone you know has a set of these lurking in the garage. Told me he understood why I would be confused and it was confusing to him too. Working on your car or truck yourself is rewarding, fun, and can also save you a lot of money, so use safe lifting techniques, common senseand have fun. We've heard of tragic instances where a person, pinned by a vehicle, would have survived if help came in time.
Many vehicles have sturdy lift points intended for this purposebut make sure the shape and style of the lifting point is a good match for your jack and jack stands. To check to see if the jack stand you own matches the recall item number for the Harbor Freight recalled jack stands you can follow these steps below: For questions about the recall, email recall@harborfreight.com. Fields marked with * are for required information. Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. It's not a bad idea to place a third jack stand, the floor jack, or even a tire underneath in a convenient spot to help protect you if the worst happens. Make sure they're set to the same height on both sides. They applied some paint to the pawl of a unit in question and let it transfer onto the teeth of the jack stand, which gives a sense of exactly how little the pawl is meshing with the teeth.
For reference, the same user took a photo of an older Harbor Freight jack stand that's not involved in the recall, using the same technique. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety recall report, Harbor Freight will notify the owners about the recall notice.
I would never wish any type of serious injury on anyone, but to be realistic data reveals that defective jacks can lead to all kinds of injuries from amputations, disfigurements and unfortunately death. Ended up having to pack them back in the car and take them home because the store manager would not even scan them to see if they could be returned. Make sure no one is under the vehicle, and it won't contact anything coming down. I showed a cashier the Instagram post where the CEO states that they will accept any jack stand return and it wasnt a problem for me. Before starting, make sure you've got the right equipment for the job. It's also not a bad idea to let someone know you'll be under the car, or have a phone handy. The exchange process is as simple as bringing your affected jack stands to your local Harbor Freight, once stores are reopened, where you'll be reimbursed for them with a store gift card for the current shelf price of comparable models. The web page seems very clear that any of the listed models can be returned without a receipt. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship. Your life isn't worth taking a shortcut or using questionable equipment. Whenever possible, a flat, hard, level surface-like a concrete garage flooris by far the best surface to lift a vehicle from. Harbor freights are not like Walmarts, some are hours apart. The company's tools and parts make car repairs and modifications possible for many enthusiasts on limited budgets, especially when it pertains to things like jacks and jack stands. This store had 3 ton only and very limited stock. This information is strictly confidential and will not be shared with anyone. Make sure this back-up device doesn't inhibit your ability to out from under the vehicle quickly.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Where you lift from, and where you place your jack stands under the vehicle, is going to vary depending on the vehicle in question. Our attorneys are available, either by telephone or video conference, to answer your questions. The information is necessary for a conflict-of-interest check that we must perform prior to responding to you.
The original article continues below. The Jack Stands I was attempting to return were not specifically recalled, but when the recall of similar models happened I tested these jack stands myself and found that they can fail under certain conditions. Likewise, make sure your lifting device is up to the job. Make sure to set the parking brake, and put the vehicle in "park" or in gear to help ensure it won't roll as you lift up one end.
You can always raise them more later.
Lastly, check the lifting dimensionswill the jack lift enough to get the jack stands underneath? That definitely sounds like bs to me. (View the PDF of the recall document here for more details.) COVID-19 Update: Neumann Law Group is open for regular business and is accepting new clients. Refer to the owner's manual if you're unsure. If the jack points are damaged or you can't locate one, don't lift the vehicle and consult your dealer or trusted mechanic. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help. We serve clients throughout Michigan, Massachusetts, California, and New York, including, but not limited to, the following localities: Grand Traverse County including Traverse City; Kent County including Ada, Cutlerville, Forest Hills, Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Rockford, Walker, and Wyoming, Harbor Freight Heavy Duty Steel Jack Stands. filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If it doesn't feel solid and secure, double-check your setup and perhaps jack the car back up to reset everything. A soft surface could cause the jack stands to shift, potentially dropping the vehicle. He did not answer. Make sure you check the number before you use them again, and tell everyone you know. According to an article in the USA Today, the recall notice that is posted on the retailers website says this sudden drop can cause serious injury for people near or under a lifted vehicle. All rights reserved. It's not recommended to use only one jack stand to support a portion of the vehicle, nor to use two sets to support both ends of the vehicle at the same time (although raising both ends and supporting them with jack stands is common, in practice). Was told by the store manager that he would lose his job if he accepted the return because they were not recalled models. People make all kinds of jokes about the quality of tools and equipment that come from Harbor Freight. Check your specific jack stands' manual or label to confirm the weight rating to make sure that you've actually got the right equipment to support your vehicle. Harbor Freight Heavy Duty Steel Jack Stands | Grand Rapids Product Liability Lawyers. Is there an actual problem with those jack stands? Apparently, the units that fall under the new recall also suffer from inadequate welds that can fail. I also referred my friend to Neumann Law Group regarding a medical malpractice matter. Stop and make sure you've got the right tools for the job, and you know how to use them properlyor take the job to a professional. Determine your vehicle's curb weight (it's generally in the owner's manual) and pick jack stands with a similar rating.
Customers can verify which jack stands fall under the expanded recall here. Start with the jack stands on a lower setting. It's the latter of those two that has come back to bite us in the ass, however, because Harbor Freight is now recalling its Pittsburgh-brand six-ton jack stands over risks that they could collapse during use, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (PDF) from March 20, a dangerous fault first reported on by The Drive on May 19. Manager did not think so. If you have his name a simple email to corporate with his name will straighten him out. Our attorneys remain committed to providing our existing clients uninterrupted legal services, as well as evaluating new claims. 719 S Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Mo-Fr: 8AM - 5PM. Could've gave a gift card at the very least.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a recalled Harbor Freight jack stand, you should contact the experienced dangerous product attorneys at Neumann Law Group for a free consultation. I don't understand why this manager was so scared of losing his job over a return like this where the policy is clearly spelled out on the company website. See below: If you have jack stands from Harbor Freight, please take a minute before reading on to see if they're affected by the recall. I'm an employee at hf and that's bs he didn't take it back.
How are you going to protect yourself, and how are you going to get out from under the vehicle?
Finally got around to return a pair of 6-ton jack stands (item number 62393) and a pair of 12-ton jack stands (item number 34924) to the closest Harbor Freight store to me which is about an hour away. You can see the mark, below: Without knowing about the recall, this sort of defect would be incredibly hard (if not impossible) for a user to noticeuntil the vehicle came crashing down, with potentially tragic consequences. Round up rather than down. She has also been overly satisfied with this firm. Harbor Freight toldThe Drive that the company is investigating the issue. And if you have any concerns about your situation, or equipment, don't get under the vehicle. I said it's not confusing to me at all, which part is confusing to you?
If you are a member of the media and have a question about a case, please send us an email at media@hmglawfirm.com and we will respond in a timely manner. I hate that some hf managers go on power trips when we are always told to do right for the customer. But also remember that the parking brake generally only works on the rear axle. The reason for the recall is because the teeth on the stand may not fully engage to a sufficient depth which may cause the jack stand to fail and drop suddenly. If we have fraudulent returns, yeah. According to Harbor Freight's NHTSA filing, the problem with these jack stands is that due to worn tooling at the factory, the pawl that engages with the toothed height-adjustable part of the stand doesn't do so sufficiently to reliably lock it in place. Quality vehicle ramps are also a safe, sturdy, and less expensive alternative for raising two or four wheels off the ground for certain repairs, and they're fast and convenient when used properly. Are the jack stands long enough to adequately lift the vehicle? A bump or a knock could cause the pawl to disengage, dropping the vehicle suddenly. You can find these numbers(PDF) on the label on the top part of the stand on three-ton units, or a yellow sticker on the base on six-ton units. Seems clear to me. See the mark on the pawl below: There's only a sliver of paint transferred onto the tooth, a graphic illustration of how little holding power this particular set of recalled jack stands can muster. In many circumstances, these might be safer and quicker alternatives to the floor jack and jack stand method, provided you're not working on projects that require the wheels to come off. Now, also per The Drive, Harbor Freight is recalling some three-ton jack stands that some customers purchased as replacements for the previously recalled items.
He's had a lifelong obsession with cars and motorcycles (both old and new), and covers them for CNET Cars as its news & features editor. Can any HF employee confirm what the policy is supposed to be? If you have these stands, Harbor Freight is giving consumers who bought these stands a store gift card equal to the retail price at the time the stands were purchased. I am guessing he thought the first bullet point (receipt not required) applies to only the red items. Showed this page to the store manager, he said he had never seen it before but after reading it, only the model numbers in red on that page could be returned. We don't recommend using the jack that came with your vehicle, usually a scissor or bottle jack, for regular maintenance.
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