Axle Stand Inspection & Spares

Axle Stands — Inspection, Spares & Replacement

WHY IT MATTERS

The pin bends, not breaks. Every Melco load pin is sized in the correct grade so that, if the stand is overloaded, the pin bends rather than shatters. A bent pin is therefore a visible warning that the stand has been overloaded — not a failure to ignore. Never return an overloaded stand to use without finding out why (off-centre load, or over the safe working load).

HOW TO INSPECT A STAND (in order of what shows first)

1. Load pin. Check the correct Melco pin is fitted — not a substitute — and that it is straight. A bowed, bent, missing or spurious pin (a bolt, track-rod end or screwdriver) condemns the stand until the correct pin is fitted.

2. Crutch holes. Check the holes the pin passes through for elongation (stretching). Elongation on one side only points to an off-centre or lateral load.

3. Crutch top. Check the top of the centre column / crutch for wear or damage — tilted to one side, or bent down at both sides from repeated overloading.

4. Top ring. Check the ring at the top of the stand: if the pin has pressed into or dented it, the stand has been loaded beyond capacity (this does not happen under the safe working load).

5. Tube / column. Check the tube is straight and not pulled out of line where a hole has elongated one side.

6. Legs & welds. Check no leg has started to bend or crumple from the side (a sign of very off-centre load, overload, or being run over), and that all welds are intact.

WHEN TO ORDER A SPARE PART

Order a pin & chain. When the pin is bent or bowed, missing, or has been replaced with a spurious part. Fit the correct Melco pin and chain for that specific stand — see group 1660. This restores the stand to conformity.

Order a crutch. When the crutch top is worn, spread, tilted or bent, or the crutch holes have elongated — but the legs, tube and welds are still sound. Fit the correct Melco crutch for that stand (group 1660).

WHEN TO REPLACE (CONDEMN) THE WHOLE STAND

Condemn the stand. Replace the whole stand when a leg is bent or crumpled, the tube is bent or out of straight, welds have failed, or there is deformation that a genuine spare cannot restore. If a stand has been run over or crushed, condemn it. When in doubt, take it out of service.

Because Melco is uniform. Because the Melco design has been held uniform for generations, every pin, chain and crutch is available as a spare — so a worn stand can usually be refreshed to conformity rather than scrapped.

WHO INSPECTS

Operators & inspectors. Inspection may be done by the user / operator, an in-house person responsible for health and safety, or a third-party garage-equipment inspector as part of the annual check. A factory or equipment inspector can condemn a stand and issue a replacement order. Commercial use requires annual inspection.

Related guides

• Axle Stand Safety Advice — the golden rule and safe-use checklist.
• Which Axle Stand Do I Need? — match a stand to your vehicle and capacity.
• Replacement Parts — genuine Melco pins, chains and crutches.