4104 jacking

[kaptar]

Is it safe to jack up the front of a 4104 with a floor jack under the center of the front axle? I want to raise it fairly high and use a pair of 12 ton jack stands.

[Iceni John]

If you placed the jack under the axle's center you could bend it  -  not good.   Put the jacks under each suspension mounting-point on the axle, then it won't see any different load than normal.   Is there somewhere under the axle that the tops of the jacks can nest inside to prevent them slipping off?   (My bus has spring mount pads under the axles that have convenient recesses for a jack to fit inside  -  does yours?)

Be careful, and block well during and after each lift.

John

[kaptar]

Thanks I was afeaid of that. My jack is so big there won't be any room for the jackstands if I jack under suspension mounts.

[gus]

Drive it up onto blocks or Jack each end and insert blocks under the tires so you can get the stands underneath.

There is always a way unless the bus is not drivable.

I've even dug holes so the jacks will fit under the axle, the 4104 is too low for most jacks.

[zubzub]

I lift mine using a shorty 12T bottle jack to start, once I have enough height I use an air over 20t bottle jack, like others I lift it from both sides.  2 jacks are pretty much mandatory for lifting/working on '04 as you need to lift high, and the throw of a single jack can make for a long day. 
remember, cribbing is safer than jack stands
, especially on semi hard surfaces, you would be amazed at how easily a bus will knock stands  over.

[chessie4905]

Our 4104 had jacking plates on the rear lower air beam channels (removable by loosening four anti-rattle screws) which needed a low profile 20 ton jack to lift. 12 ton requires too much effort to move handle. The only problem is that low profile jacks only have a few inches of travel; sometimes running out of travel before tires are off the ground. Make sure to run the threaded screw up first to minimize lost travel.Other option is to carry a couple of short pieces of plank to pull the tires up on and then use a Harbor Freight 20 ton AIR/ hydraulic jack. Once you use one, you won't want to use the old type. Either way, you need to carry some plank pieces for soft ground anyway.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Besides ramps and planks i also carry 2 pieces of 1/2" thick steel plate that is 1ft. x 2ft. to use under my 20 ton jacks when i am on gravel or dirt. Heavy little buggers but they don't take up  much room. I drilled a hole in them so that i can use a hook to drag them out from under the bus when i am thru using them,...makes it a little easier to do.

[DaveNCari]

Might anyone out there have some pics of a 4104 up on jacks and blocks to show the correct locations to load?

The safety freak racing engineer that I am would like to see...

Dave

[zubzub]

I don't have pics but I will say that most of the work I have done under my bus was  with the bus wheels on run up blocks and the   suspension blocked with hardwood blocks at max extension.  This has given me enough room to do whatever was needed (rear brake work, air tanks etc...From experience and stating the obvious, the rear of the bus is way heavier, 12T jack has no trouble lifting the front.