HF Jack Stand Recall
RVNEWS wrote:
Attention shade tree mechanics: Harbor Freight is recalling nearly two MILLION jack stands that it has sold over the years. The stands in question bear the company’s SKU codes 56371, 61196 and 61197. The numbers are on a label on the top part of the stand on three-ton units, or a yellow sticker on the base on six-ton units. Seems that tooling in the manufacturing plants got a little worn out, and at times, the pawl that bites into the notched height adjuster can possibly slip if the unit is bumped or disturbed. If you bump it while under the truck it’s supporting, life could get a bit difficult. The company says it is voluntarily recalling all of these, and those who bring these suspect stands in will be rewarded with a company gift card for the shelf-price of the stands.
I actually had a personal experience with this. I was working on the rear brakes when it got dark. I had the jack stand under the truck and so thought it was OK to leave it until morning. Come morning the hub is in the dirt, I was mystified about why the jack stand failed. Now I know. I've become more and more suspicious of HF products. I refuse to buy anything electrical from them but thought that simple basic mechanical items like Jack Stands were fool proof, I guess they showed me.
