There often comes a situation where the saddle of the floor jack is not wide enough to provide proper support to the vehicle. A cross-beam attachment comes in handy in such a scenario. However, many people are not aware of how to use a floor jack cross beam the right way.
Do not get intimidated by the heavy terms and the hefty sizes of the accessories, using a floor jack cross beam is not a difficult task. If you are following all the necessary guidelines and protocols, then there is no danger in using a floor jack cross beam.
The real question is how to know which guidelines are the correct ones, and where to find them. To eliminate this dilemma entirely, I have dedicated an entire article to it. You are going to find a step-by-step procedure, along with precautionary measurements of using a floor jack cross beam in the article below.
How To Use A Floor Jack Cross Beam?
By following the steps below, you will be able to use a floor jack cross beam with so much ease.
Assembling The Floor Jack Cross Beam
If you own a floor jack that comes with the cross beam attachment present separately in the package, then first you will need to assemble them. Place your screwdriver, cross beam attachment and the floor jack in a well-lit area. The cross-beam attachment goes where the saddle sits on a floor jack. Therefore, you will need to remove the saddle from the floor jack. Once it is removed, then take the cross beam attachment and fix it on the floor jack with screws. Make sure that you tighten all the screws properly.
Using A Floor Jack Cross Beam
When you are using a floor jack cross beam to lift a vehicle, you also need a couple of jack stands for support. Therefore, if you want to lift your car up in the air, then make sure you have 2 floor jack cross beams and 4 jack stands.
Step 1
Take the first floor jack cross beam and slide it under the body of the vehicle, from the side. When it comes to this type of floor jack, picking the spot for jacking up is the critical step. Make sure that you place the floor jack cross beam closer to the front tire. However, it should not be right next to the tire, you need to leave at least 6 to 8 inches of space from the tire.
Step 2
Once you have picked the spot for placement, fix the floor jack cross beam in its position. Now start pumping the handle to raise the car. Make sure that you pump slowly. Once the car is lifted high enough for a jack stand to slide under, take 2 jack stands and place them under the car. One should be behind the front wheel and the second should be closer to the back wheel.
Step 3
As you raised enough to slide the jack stands under the car easily, the top of the stands will not be in contact with the body of the car. So, turn the release valve of the floor jack cross beam to lower the car on the jack stands. Repeat the same steps on the other side of the car with the second floor jack cross beam and the two remaining jack stands.
Step 4
If you wish to raise the car even higher, then you should pump the floor jack cross beam first. Keep raising it till the car is at your desired height level. Now raise both of the jack stands to provide support to the vehicle. You need to lower the vehicle slightly, as shared above, till it is sitting on the jack stands. Repeat the same steps on the other side of the vehicle. Some people use a single floor jack cross beam for raising the vehicle from both sides. They remove the floor jack cross beam from under the vehicle once it is sitting on top of the jack stands, and then raise the other side by using the same floor jack cross beam. However, you can also choose to leave the machine in its place with the jack stands if you wish to have more support and security.
Conclusion
A floor jack cross beam is quite a nifty creation. As amazing as this machine is, if you do not use it the correct way while following the proper guidelines, it can turn into a headache. So save yourself from the trouble and read the article above to find out how to use a floor jack cross beam.
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