Recall: HF Pittburgh jack stands

[Mooseman]

I just received an email from HF about this recall because I have bought four of the 6 ton version. And I had just used them recently too.

Since we don't have HF in Canada, what am I supposed to do with them? The closest one is in Pottsdam NY and the border is still closed for at least another month, and I don't plan on travelling to the US just for this or anything else.

Anyway, if you have these you should stop using them and bring them back. According to this article, there about 450,000 of them in circulation.

Harbor Freight Jack Stands Recalled for Risk of Collapsing

Check yours immediately.

www.roadandtrack.com

 

[aaserv]

I been laying under 4 of them for the last 6 months. I didnt trust them because Id have em on say the 3rd notch and slide em over a feet and they would drop...Seemed to me if they would drop like that they would drop if the car got bumped or something. I backed them up with house jacks , glad I did...

 

[Mooseman]

I think it has to do with the flats on the ratchet notches that if the lock doesn't fully engage inside the notch, it can just drop. Otherwise I can't see how they can come out of the notch if it's in properly.

Princess Auto (Canada's version of HF) has their Pro Point brand that looks very similar however, their newer version now has an additional safety pin that goes across the next notch above so even if the ratchet were to fail somehow, the pin will prevent the collapse.

And I remembered seeing this video.

 

[Mounce]

Took my pair of 3 tons back today. Need to replace them but they didn't have any in stock if you could imagine..

 

[Beacon]

I feel lucky that my laziness has saved me. I just bought another pair of jack stands last fall, and was too lazy to drive all the way to if even though I knew I could get them cheaper there.
I wonder how many people have been hurt by these?

 

[Mooseman]

There is a lawsuit but sounds looks like a feeler to attract those that have been injured.

Harbor Freight Jack Stands Lawsuit | Harbor Freight Recalls 2020 Lawyer

Harbor Freight recalls Pittsburgh Automotive 6 Ton Steel JackStands over fall / injury risk. Contact a lawyer for Harbor Freight Jack Stands Lawsuit info.

www.schmidtandclark.com

This article says that there is no mention of actual injuries or deaths with them.

Harbor Freight recalls over 1.7 million jack stands that can suddenly collapse

Harbor Freight is recalling over 1.7 million Pittsburgh-branded jack stands that can suddenly collapse due to a manufacturing flaw. The recall campaign includes three- and six-ton stands wearing item numbers 56371, 61196 or 61197. Harbor Freight told the National Highway Traffic Safety...

ca.news.yahoo.com

I've noticed many similarities to Princess Auto's stands to the HF. I just fired off an email to them to see if they happen to be from the same source.

 

[Mooseman]

Here's another video that came up and shows the difference between the new replacement ones and the defective ones and how it can collapse.

 

[Mooseman]

And another one compared to the replacements:

 

[Mooseman]

Got a response back from Princess Auto:

We are sorry for the delay in response due to the volumes of email correspondence being received,

The stands carried by Princess Auto are produced in a separate facility, and purchased from a separate vendor to the one that impacted items carried by Harbor Freight. Quality assurance testing, continues to pass on the product being purchased/received, meaning that there is no current reason to doubt their safe use within the application that they are designed for.

 

[Mounce]

Went to HF today for something. Forgot to look at the display so I asked the cashier and he said they had no idea when they'd get some back in stock.

Anyone have experience with the aluminum models? I need some more desperately right now but I'm not sure I trust aluminum. Haven't looked at other options yet, so I'll do that now lol.