Skip to main content

Harbor Freight just sent out a recall for their 3 and 6 ton jack stands ..they are failing..................... 

Harbor Freight is now recalling its Pittsburgh-brand three- and 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, and first reported on by The Drive on Tuesday.

The company is specifically recalling 454,000 units with model numbers 56371, 61196 and 61197. 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.

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. A bump or a knock could cause the pawl to disengage, dropping the vehicle suddenly.

Return them to a store and get a Gift Card aka store credit.

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

@IaM-Ray posted:

I never did like regular jack stands because I felt the handle seemed to not flimsy on some that I saw at my HF or PAuto so I opted for the big red with the slide in lock pins which lock the pawl at the height you selected.... see the pin below. 

 

Do you have a model number Ray, I can find the double lock but without the feet. Those feet look like they would be easier on the garage floor. I ask because I actually live with a "Garage Queen" , she prepped and paint the floor so its personal now.

Manf date is 2013-2019.  Some user feed back on this site.  One guy posted photos of the finger he almost lost.  We're redoing our condo's dock.  I'm going old school and saving the short PT 2x6" & 4x4" 

https://www.thedrive.com/news/...ld-suddenly-collapse

It's just so hard to find tools that aren't made in China, India, Pakistan.  Even new Craftsman tools are made in China.  Plus the 2 Sears near me are no longer in business. 

Don't buy the $3.99 dial tire PSI gauge from HF.  The head blows off at 36 PSI despite being rated for 100.  

I have four stands similar to Jimmy's (Tubular with center pin) which I got at a yard sale for a place that stored RV trailers and such, plus four more similar to the HF versions in Alan's post.  

For those last four, I'll check them, anyway, just to make sure they engage properly, but IIRC (it's been a long time) they came from Carquest or something years ago.  Still, always good to check your equipment when your life and limb depend on it.

Don't want to end up like 8-fingered Bob or the old, grizzled mechanic at Peterson's garage when I was a kid - They called him "Lefty" because he had no "righty".  

Last edited by Gordon Nichols
Post Content
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×