Oysterman Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 Hi, so what is the general consensus on which trolley jack to use under the cruciform ? Need something low to lift my R500 Gavin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Mackenzie Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 I've got this one https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ctj1250ab-1-25-tonne-aluminium-racing-j/It fits OK under my R400 K which is still in a full race set up and sitting very low.....CheersIan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 Yep - I have one as well. Easy low enough to get under the A frame mount on the dedion tube with 13" and CR500's, can't see you needing anything lower than that Only criticism I can give is when new it was difficult (but not impossible) to lower the car very slowly, this seems to have become easier over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 That's the one. You can lower it gently if you only turn the handle a little way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 I've recently bought an Arcan HJ2000EU ... to be honest it looks pretty much identical to the one above. Very happy with it, makes very easy work of lifting the car as high as my axle stands will extend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Fox Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 I have had a machine mart one for many years, I keep it in my trailer for use at events and it's always been good.i bought another similar jack on eBay for use at home and it's poor quality all over. I'm not saying all eBay ones are bad, but..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative bluenose Posted May 10, 2017 Area Representative Share Posted May 10, 2017 I have a 1.5 tonne SGS one. Seems fine.http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/trolley-jacks/tja15-aluminium-trolley-jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 I use the arcan jack Revilla mentions purchased from costco. Ordered online and paid a minor surcharge for not being a member.I've never jacked it off the cruciform though have thought about making a doubled up sheet of 3/4 ply that slots into the chassis and locates the jack to a) spread the load on the various tubes and b) stops the car slipping off the jack.currently use the towing eye to jack it up.RegardsIan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted May 10, 2017 Member Share Posted May 10, 2017 So, no, there isn't a consensus. But there are several pages of threads. Most people seem to be happy with what they bought, but probably not as happy as with silicone hoses. :-)The key features are in the discussion above. How much do you value each of the following: Low cost? Low mass? Remember trackdays etc. Low entry point? Safe jacking weight? Not too important for the 7 but will you ever want to lift anything heavier, eg to fit winter wheels?How low is your 7, eg minimum height below sump? You can trade entry height for other features by starting with the car on planks, or, with some jacks, by removing the front wheels in advance. Of the jack.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 I think there may be slightly more consensus in this thread than you realise Jonathan - I think if you look closely at the Machine Mart, SGS and Arcan ones they look like basically the same jack, just rebranded! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackSeven Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 I bought one of the Machine Mart alluminium 1.25 ton racing jacks a few years ago and didn't have a good experience with it: within the first 12 months it started leaking - dumping hydraulic oil all over the drive. MM took it back and changed the seals and the guy in the shop commented that they had a lot back with the same issue.About a year later the same thing happened -this time I bought a seal kit from MM for about £8 as it was out of warranty. The bore of the hydrailic cyliner looked very poor but I gave it a light hone and rebuilt it. When it failed for the third time in about as many years, I decided enough was enough and it finally went to the tip.Clarke may have sorted the QC on their jacks now but from my experience I wouldnt touch one again as the hydraulics appeared to have been made to the lowest standard they could get away with.I now have a couple of the Costco alluminium jacks whch (so far) are working well and fit nicely under the Seven. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 The Clarke one seems to be lower, longer and a lot lighter than the SGS one, but the quality issue with the Clarke may be a concern. SGS products are usually quite robust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edzup Ezzer Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 At the risk of being a pedant there are a number of differences between the jacks, particularly in lift capacity which may not be crucial for lifting a Seven, but might be important if used to lift other cars. I've got the Arcan which is steel and aluminium construction which makes it heavier than the other two but that's not too important to me as I only use it at home. If portability for racing or track days is important then the Clarke or SGS jacks may suit some users better. I agree they do look similar but I think closer examination will reveal significant differences. For example the Clarke has a roller at the front which gives it a smaller foot print than the other two which can be useful when using axle stands at the front. Pedancy has its uses!Ezzer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griffchris Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 Slight thread drift - I bought an SGS trolley jack as recommended on one of these threads late last Summer - height wise it is fine (but heavy) - when jacking the front on the crucifix, its significant width means there isn't enough space to place the axle stands on the cross members arising laterally either side of the crucifix.Is there an acceptable alternative front jacking point that leaves the cross members clear for axle stands (or an alternative place for the axle stands)?ThanksChris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted May 10, 2017 Member Share Posted May 10, 2017 I think there may be slightly more consensus in this thread than you realise Jonathan - I think if you look closely at the Machine Mart, SGS and Arcan ones they look like basically the same jack, just rebranded!:-)I meant to include that if it might be worth looking at the special offers from Aldi and Lidl... has anyone identified those yet? For nonspecialist but decent tools I haven't been let down yet.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted May 10, 2017 Member Share Posted May 10, 2017 Is there an acceptable alternative front jacking point that leaves the cross members clear for axle stands (or an alternative place for the axle stands)?The towing eye, as noted by Ian.There are different opinions about using the cruciform member, with at least one report of damage. There's also a concern in the archives about jacking on the towing eye because it's off-centre, which I don't share.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 Chrisi put the jack 'transverse' under the towing eye IYSWIM which lifts the car in an arc left to right. This leaves enough room to get two axle stands on the thicker centre tube on the cruciform adjacent to the chassis side rails.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilCSR Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 Also have a couple of Arcan 2tn jacks, from Costco. Very good and fine under the cruciform with a decent plastic pad, but always go straight to stands once up.I did (mistakenly) get an SGS jack, but found it impossible to use in a confined space as the gap between the cam and piston was so great that there was no pumping until the handle was about 40 degrees off the vertical. The Arcans pump from pretty well vertical.Still got it, pretty well unused, any offers? Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 I think there may be slightly more consensus in this thread than you realise Jonathan - I think if you look closely at the Machine Mart, SGS and Arcan ones they look like basically the same jack, just rebranded!No, the Machine Mart 1.25 tonne one weighs half as much and doesn't lift as high (37.5 cm vs. 47). Not sure if the Arcan one has quicklift (less pumps when not under load) but the MM one doesn't. SGS and Arcan may well be the same.I have the MM one and the old BlatChat Bulk Buy one, which is similar in size to the Arcan. The BCBB one is better in the garage, the MM one is better to take racing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 p.s. lowflying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 I stand corrected, thank you. They looked so similar in the pictures that I assumed they were at least based on the same platform as it were, buy it appears not. Yes I think the Arcan does have quick lift, it certainly seems to come up very quickly until it takes the load then you feel the ratio change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike150 Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 1Halfords sell low profile trolley jacks, I bought one 2 years ago for £25 if I remember right. I see they are £35 now.http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchRouter?srch=trolley+jack&action=search&storeId=10001&catalogId=10151&langId=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative bluenose Posted May 10, 2017 Area Representative Share Posted May 10, 2017 SGS 1.25 tonne jack is 12.5kg, MM 1.25 tonne jack is 11.65kg. Not a huge weight difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Your right, I was looking at the 1.5T.No stock of 1.25 at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oysterman Posted May 13, 2017 Author Share Posted May 13, 2017 I have a Halfords jack (similar to the yellow £35 model) was fine for my Elise's but not for getting under the front of the R500 ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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