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MG MGA - Correct Name For The Car Jack Jacking Point

This question is not MGA specific. I am after opinions in an effort to start standardising some of the terminology I use in my car jack website: http://www.classic-british-car-jacks.uk/

My first such query is what do you consider the correct name for the jacking plate at the top of the screws that physically makes contact with the chassis?

The Metallifacture catalogue I have refers to it as the 'Step' with its scissor jacks.

With screw jacks I tend to use terms such as 'saddle jacking point' and 'L shaped jacking point'.

My esteemed jack trader colleague has often referred to them as the 'Crutch' or 'Crotch'. Made me chuckle.


Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve,
surely it can vary, with WSM or Driver's Handbook, if it refers to such.

Later parts (suppliers) catalogues may refer to different parts names, original or not I've have no idea.

I remember recently a post in a thread referring to a part with reference to it's jacking point and not trusting it a few years after the car was new (but not the details, sorry), perhaps you saw that and hence this thread(?).
Nigel Atkins

Saddle is the term that most comes to mind. Patent wise, "lifting head", "head of the ram", "head support", and "saddle" are all used, as are other terms. Methinks saddle is a simpler and easier term to remember.
Nick Kopernik

“Saddle” is good Steve. The word came immediately to me. Suggest you use it.
Best
Bruce.
Bruce Mayo

Thanks all so far for your comments. When I accidentally started the databases I had zero knowledge of the subject matter. As some of you may remember it was in the relative early years of the internet back in the late 90s that I researched the jack I needed for my MGA. I put the findings in my MGA rebuild website and from that date things sort of got gradually out of control!

During the following years I have called some of the parts by various names so I am now intending to tidy it up to at least be consistent throughout the site. All your comments will be useful in that respect to help me decide on the best words. For example 'pinion' is one word that could describe a screw jack winder. But is the meshing drive that raises the screws a 'gear wheel', 'crown wheel' or 'drive nut' etc? I have seen various. I am not suggesting one is correct and another is wrong. I just want the best description and then be consistent in its use.

I have started a pictorial glossary of terms but yet to go live with it although it is in the website but without any direct link to it from the home page. If you want to have a look to see where I am this is my 'hidden' link: http://www.classic-british-car-jacks.uk/terminology.htm

Cheers

Steve

Steve Gyles

Probably depends on the part of the world you’re in. The USA and the UK have a common language but as we all know, the same words have very different meanings in our respective countries! For instance, in the US, shag is a dance but it has a completely different meaning in the UK. Be careful what you call the car jacking point!

Jim
JL Cheatham

Yes you a correct JL, you have to really careful how you use the word "shag" here in the UK!

You could end up with all kinds of things-

Some rough-cut tobacco.

A cormorant-like sea bird.

A deep-pile carpet.

A type of cloth with a velvet finish on one side.

Or a tangled style haircut.

Or is there something else that I have missed JL? :^)

Colyn

Colyn Firth

Great point Jim. Love it.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 11/08/2021 and 20/08/2021

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