Early Bilstein Jack question, not that I ever plan to use it Options

[Jgilliam914]

when I got the 71 it came with the widowmaker jack. It was ran up to the top and I am having a difficult time getting it to release. My question is after watching a YouTube video, do they use the weight of the car to collapse it? I just plan on putting it in the stock location for decoration

[wonkipop]

when I got the 71 it came with the widowmaker jack. It was ran up to the top and I am having a difficult time getting it to release. My question is after watching a YouTube video, do they use the weight of the car to collapse it? I just plan on putting it in the stock location for decoration

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) "widowmaker".

ok - i'll give this a shot off a probably unreliable memory.

yours is 71. and i can't be sure about this but they are the earlier style VW jack?
and i remember my old VW type 3. same jack - same peril. someone will correct me if my memory really is this unreliable, but i recall to drop the jack you used to put the end of the wheel nut wrench into a slot in the jack head and lever a tongue in there. or maybe it was the lever that came with the jack that you used. but there was something you did to the head of the jack that released it and it had something to do with taking the lever out of the circular housing you operated to raise the car and you inserted it somewhere else.
and the jack would release and the car would drop.

it was a long time ago.

i probably have this memory, even if its inaccurate because dropping the car down was always a violent exercise that was part of its well deserved nickname.

my 74 has the later style jack. which you wind back down. not that i would know. i have never used it nor do i intend to. i value my life.

so......maybe if i am right, look for that tongue like bit in the head of the jack. lever it with a screw driver and see if you can get the jack to slide back down.