Force it back to place.

 

Yep force it back into place. You may need to tap it with a rubber mallet or deadblow hammer.

 

I'd be worried about what force caused it to be so badly deformed in the first place, and if that could have damaged something enough to make it unsafe to use on the car (imagine that failing under load, in the middle of a flat tire change by the side of the road at night, in the rain).

If it is simply shifted out of position and can be easily moved back, then, perhaps, there was no permanent damage, and if after shifting it back you can confirm the gears completely mesh when you begin to lift it (in other words, there be no way for it to slip like this when it is being used) but only if that was the case would I consider to use it.

If you have any doubt about its safety, and can get a replacement for $35, bin this scrap one and use that one instead.

 

Wind it out all the way to where the thing gets really loose, then straighten it. I'm gonna guess the jack was not stowed away properly. You're supposed to put it under a little bit of pressure when you mount it in it's designated bracket in the trunk, that way it's ready to go when you need it.

 

Vehicle slid off jack while on it, tugging "cog" along with it. Vehicle weight was sufficient enough to do this.
I'd not trust that jack especially, if I were to get under the car.
Otherwise, junkyards have jacks a plenty for el cheapo in dozens.

 

The emergency jack on the '96 Camry was racked like the picture when received, even a pry bar / hitting it with a hammer w/ moderate force would not move it back easily. Ended up replacing it -> junking that jack.

 

Just get a new jack. Don't want a jack failure while you're on the side of the road.

 

"I'd not trust that jack especially, if I were to get under the car."

Never trust any jack to get under a car. The only safe time to get under a car is when it is supported by jack stands.
People die when a car comes down on them, when a jack slips, or the car rolls off a factory jack or a floor jack seal leaks and loses pressure.

A college friend died like that and so this is a subject that I am very serious about, whenever it comes up.

 

Same goes for ramps. The ONLY safe way to get under a car is on a rack, car over a pit, or on jackstands, in that order.
Reason for the order: A rack is specifically designed for the job, plus has as unlimited access AND airflow.
A pit can gather fumes and is difficult to exit quickly.
Jackstands are last owing to the limited access and difficulty in exiting.

Sadly my wife has a kid who claims that his shop class teacher told him ramps were OK. Though he won't give the teacher's name, or school where taught. Similarly won't give facts on why he doesn't wear a seat belt, either.

 

Do what everybody is saying. Toss that jack in the garbage and get a new one from a salvage yard. Probably around $10. I would never trust that jack again, even if you were able to straighten it out.

Mike

 

why would a ramp have any lower safety capability than jack stands?

 

I agree. Unless you specifically need to work on suspension or brakes, what is the issue with using ramps as long as the wheels are chocked?

 

I just use a jack and jack stands...

 

I've thought about using ramps a while back. I even tried some but the slope was not angled enough to clear it and once I did clear it, I only felt a sense of dread of when to stop, when I was parked, and when I got off. Pretty sure these were the Harbor Freight Steel Ramps and generally I would trust the steel a lot more than the plastic variants I still felt that dread regardless.

I rather take the extra couple of minutes using a rolling jack and jack stands. Now if the ramp was just a solid piece of steel, I would trust it but if it were it would be too heavy to use. At most, the only time I would use ramps is if it was made out of concrete. My uncle had one in his yard.