You Can Do It Projects

The jack stand bracket on an old hay swather was bent. There was a good deal of weight sitting on that crooked stand. Perched at that angle (see top photo at left) the stand was in danger of snapping off.

The jack stand was attached with a 1/4-inch-steel, C-shaped bracket (photo 1). The bracket, which allows the stand to be rotated up during haying operations, had become deformed over time, allowing slope, or movement between the stand and the swather. A steel pin and cotter pins connect the stand to the swather.

Our plan for repair included only a few quick, easy steps and the use of two small pieces of 1/4-inch bar steel. The repair cost only time—about 1 1/2 hours.

	The bracket connecting the jack stand to this hay swather had become deformed during longtime use. Leaning at an angle only created more pressure on the C-shaped bracket.
	Every repair needs a hammer. We removed the stand and clamped it into a vise. Then we used the hammer to reform the bracket, recreating its original shape.
	From a 1/4-inch piece of flat bar steel we cut a support plate matching the inside shape of the C-shaped bracket (as seen in this detail) and welded it into place.
	To support the jack stand mounting plate on the swather, we cut another triangular-shaped piece of 1/4-inch steel. The notch in the piece allows the piece to fit over the pin hole.
	Here's the newly repaired jack stand. The stand is now supported by the small welded plate (shown) and the triangular piece (not seen), which is welded into place behind the mounting bracket (left in photo).