Harbor Freight Jack Stands

[5chn3ll]

Harbor Freight has now recalled the jack stands they used to replace their recalled jack stands:

The May recall covered three- and six-ton stands with item numbers 56371, 61196, and 61197. This expanded recall adds the three-ton stand with item number 56373.

One of the three-ton stands failed while holding up a VW Golf, so it doesn't sound like you need to have them loaded at or above their rated capacity to have one fail.

If you are a cheap-ass like me and own some Harbor Freight stuff, it would be worth checking your stands to ensure you're not using one of the affected parts:
https://images.harborfreight.com/hftweb ... _61197.pdf

[DBJoe996]

https://www.thedrive.com/news/34629/har ... ld-defects
Read about this. Very dangerous!

[Kalashnikov]

When this recall came out... I remembered this scene, now it is a DeJa Vu.

[Einsteiger]

I'm uncertain whether my previous post was deleted or whether it was operator error. Only the admins know.

I've always not trusted the ratcheting-type jack stands. They just made me nervous. I avoided even the American-made ones; when there was such a thing.

I used to be a Harbor Freight disciple - until I went through the local store one day to see if I could find a single American made item. I swear all their inventory is from China. Maybe something from Mexico or Viet Nam on occasion, but dang.

This latest round of failures and recalls, combined with the revived Buy USA spirit might not bode well for HF.

[FRUNKenstein]

Harbor Freight has now recalled the jack stands they used to replace their recalled jack stands:

You sure this doesn’t belong in the “You’re drunk, Internet, Go Home” thread?

[gnat]

I used to be a Harbor Freight disciple - until I went through the local store one day to see if I could find a single American made item. I swear all their inventory is from China. Maybe something from Mexico or Viet Nam on occasion, but dang.

They've never (to the best of my knowledge) sold anything made in the US. I'm surprised you found things not made in China though.

The really disgusting part, in my opinion, is how they use manufacturer named to try to get you think that they are US companies

This latest round of failures and recalls, combined with the revived Buy USA spirit might not bode well for HF.

As long as there are those that need tools and are unwilling/unable to pay for quality stuff, HF will have a viable business. If they get you in, it's almost impossible for you to make it out without finding at least one thing "you might be able to use"

HF is definitely "you get what you pay for", but that doesn't mean they are bad. I'd certainly never buy something that I'm going to have to trust my life too (e.g. jack stands) or could go catastrophically wrong (like the 100ton press they were selling for $200 the last time I went in one (8 years?)), but I have some clamps, a heat gun, and some fine point needle nose pliers that are doing their jobs just fine. I did have a flat head screw driver break in half on me the first time I tried to use it as a pry bar (turned out to be cast rather than forged ) though.

[32wildbilly]

I used to be a Harbor Freight disciple - until I went through the local store one day to see if I could find a single American made item. I swear all their inventory is from China. Maybe something from Mexico or Viet Nam on occasion, but dang.

They've never (to the best of my knowledge) sold anything made in the US. I'm surprised you found things not made in China though.

The really disgusting part, in my opinion, is how they use manufacturer named to try to get you think that they are US companies

This latest round of failures and recalls, combined with the revived Buy USA spirit might not bode well for HF.

As long as there are those that need tools and are unwilling/unable to pay for quality stuff, HF will have a viable business. If they get you in, it's almost impossible for you to make it out without finding at least one thing "you might be able to use"

HF is definitely "you get what you pay for", but that doesn't mean they are bad. I'd certainly never buy something that I'm going to have to trust my life too (e.g. jack stands) or could go catastrophically wrong (like the 100ton press they were selling for $200 the last time I went in one (8 years?)), but I have some clamps, a heat gun, and some fine point needle nose pliers that are doing their jobs just fine. I did have a flat head screw driver break in half on me the first time I tried to use it as a pry bar (turned out to be cast rather than forged ) though.

Wait...?

[kc0433]

I own and have used a set of 3 tons for about 6 years, even under my Toyota Highlander. They aren't on the the SKU list but that doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy to use them again.

[OceanBlue2000]

I stopped buying Harbor Freight stuff after the ball joint puller I got from there snapped trying to get the second side out. I’ll stick with my local Sears crap, although that looks like it’ll be tougher now.

[32wildbilly]

I stopped buying Harbor Freight stuff after the ball joint puller I got from there snapped trying to get the second side out. I’ll stick with my local Sears crap, although that looks like it’ll be tougher now.

Yeah Sears has folded it's tent and walked away out here.