hydraulic jack recalls

[steptoe]

lately noticed a few hydraulic jacks have been recalled due to ratings. One was rated at 2000kg but should only have under 900kgs on it.

I recently bought an aluminium racing jack from gasweld because -
it was light weight (weigh up physio visits, time off work in its cost analysis) could lift to 450mm (higher than my other taiwanese cheap arse jack),
looks sexy in anodised red and silver,
my uncle was shopping with me ( he has one already, also wiser)
its 1200kg rating is more than enough for my needs
lowline 90mm minimum height

I have since found it can only lift one end of my 1070kg car to 410mm.
Pissed off i went back to gasweld and measured up another in the shop where no staff offered me any assistance and found the shop stock could lift to 420 no load. Mine could lift to 415 no load.

Wondering now if this jack is over rated in more ways than just its lift height.
While i was looking in shop another customer who bought one told me his mates had burst seals in several of these trying to lift one end of 2500kgs 4WD's - that is understandable.

Surely if a rating is 1200 there is still soem built in safety margin in its specs