martyn Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Just tried to get my car up onto 4 axle stands but immediately ran into problems. I'm sure this is easy once you know how and where to place the jack!At the rear, the Assembly Guide and Owner's Handbook both suggest to place the jack centrally on the chassis rail at the front of the fuel tank. Within one pump of the jack I quickly realised that this rail isn't strong enough and would bend if I continued.This guide here (if I've understood it correctly) suggests to jack up the A-frame by placing the jack centrally at the tip or point of the A. That's all well and good except that my jack isn't low enough to fit under the point of the A-frame! - Guess I'll need one of those low profile ones.So.. Which is the correct method?Also, when it comes to the placement of axle stands for long term storage, again the Caterham documents suggest the rail at the front of the tank, whereas the linked guide suggests the front of the A-frame, nearer to the front of the arches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titanium7 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 A Frame is the norm, if your Jack won't get under it roll the car up onto a couple of planks for wood ( angle the end of the wood to help getting onto to it) Failing that get low entry Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted January 25, 2015 Member Share Posted January 25, 2015 As above. Planks are better but in emergencies you can take the wheels off the jack. (There is a residual controversy about jacking under the crucifix members at the front... )Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Thanks for the replies. Will jack from the point of the A-frame and see how I get on with that.And what about the placement of axle stands? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted January 25, 2015 Member Share Posted January 25, 2015 Axle stands: I can't find the Club Guide and it isn't on the Alcester Racing 7s site, which I thought it was.It's described with photos in the Assembly Guide: would you like a copy?Safety points include: Don't go under a car on a jack. If you're jacking both ends for some reason the 7 travels longitudinally. Watch this so you can see what happens and check the stands are true after it does.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titanium7 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Personally I have always put the stands on the side rails at the back. When you then go to the front ensure the wheels of the Jack are straight as the Jack needs to move when you start jacking if the back is already up. I always use the cross rail of the crucifix for the front stands. Stands have some carpet or cork glued to them. The Jack I use has a rubber pad on the jacking point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Jonathan, thanks I already have an assembly guide. There is some conflicting information (see my original post) and that is the reason for me querying the correct method / placement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian B Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Jacking Guide in the, er, Guides section Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbutnotslow Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Jack the front first using the cruciform. I always place traditional type axle stands under the side railsMoving to the back using the rear A frame to jack under I place axle stands under the rearmost cross rail as close as possible to the side rails.Ive found these to be the most secure at the rearhttps://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/library/product/medium/02/020110003.jpg?2and these for the front https://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/library/product/huge/02/020110000.jpgI always place a small square of carpet between the axle stand and the bodywork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted January 25, 2015 Member Share Posted January 25, 2015 I put the stands as in the Assembly Guide. With strips of carpet taped on. The platforms on the rear set fit the angle of that bit of metal that's welded on the rails: some others don't.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Paul Richards Posted January 25, 2015 Area Representative Share Posted January 25, 2015 You really need to look at the GTKY7 pages of the site. HERE Lots of info on basic maintenance including good pics of jacking up, axle stands etc. There's a lot of good info on the new site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I always drive onto some planks of wood 1" thickness is enough for me and my cheap jack, use the 'A' of the A-frame as those mentioned above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Thanks all. So it seems that the Caterham docs, and the 2 different guides all suggest different positions for the rear axle stands. I guess on a car this light, with such a rigid chassis it probably doesn't matter that much. Think I'll go with the GTKY7 positioning.Should have checked this earlier but I presume that its good practice to put a Caterham on axle stands if it’s not to be used for several months? I've done this with my other cars when in storage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted January 25, 2015 Member Share Posted January 25, 2015 I don't, for two reasons: The 7 does few enough miles as it is and I don't want anything inhibiting getting it out more. Bone idleness.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twincamtim Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Ha, ha, ha! Loved that last comment from Jonathan....winner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy77 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Don't know if it's just me, but I find it far easier / safer / sturdier to jack from the sides with a block of wood between the jack and flat chassis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A7 OOH Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Cracking article in the GTKY 7 series on jacking up the 7. Are the other series available.Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn Posted January 26, 2015 Author Share Posted January 26, 2015 Yes they are available, just change the number at the end of the URL and you can get all 9. I dont know if these are linked / presented properly somewhere, but if not then they should be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 They are listed in: Guides Getting Started Guides Get To Know Your Seven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A7 OOH Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Thanks GuysI will check out the guides etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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