Floor jacks
 

My Craftsman aluminum one pump floor jack has started bleeding down & leaving a Porsche like trail on the shop floor.....it's about 12 years old now.

I need a new one of similar longevity. Anyone bought such a thing recently? The one pump feature is not necessary, but light weight is gud.....I'm not getting any stronger with age. Cheep is gud too.:D

Napa has a twin piston, low profile 4 ton roll jack that can be had for about $150. More than worth the money. I used mine to lift the front end of a Western Star dump truck and it never missed a beat.

I keep waiting for my Sam's Club cheepie to wear out so I can upgrade to a lighter, lower profile one. I think I'm going on 12 years now, so your failure gives me hope.:)

Like compressors, toolboxes and riding mowers.......Buy an old one of Craigslist when they made stuff to last. I've had my craftsman over 30 years and it was used when in a mechanic shop B4 me....

Hate to say it, but I have four different floor jacks in my garage and my favorite of the group is the Harbor Freight (Pittsburgh brand) low profile "rapid pump" jack. Mine is not aluminum but they do make an aluminum version of the same jack.

I've got the Costco red low-profile jack (~$100, I think) and it has worked well for the last 4 years. No leaks and very good control going both up and down.

Our host sell them, that should be noted first.

PelicanParts.com - Tools > Hydraulic Jacks > AC Hydraulic > Floor Jacks/Jack Stands

But the Harbor Freight 3 ton jack is $69.99 this weekend. Regularly $159.99

I rarely use jacks anymore...made the move to ramps!

Can't say as I have ever heard of anyone complaining about their HF aluminum floor jack.

Last I heard them things is rebuildable.

So ya gots a discharge check valve, and a needle screw fer bleed off that may be leaking.

I'm betting a couple a $2 o-rings would do it. Oh wait, craftsman, make that a $20 rebuild kit.

If you have a compressed air supply, a jack with air lift is the way to go. After buying my compressor and an impact wrench, an air jack was next.

Just position the lifting arm, press open the valve, and it chugs/lifts away...lowering is done via standard bleed-off of hydraulic pressure, air is only used for lifting.

I've had this Omega model (China-made) for almost 10 years and never had an issue.

http://www.shinnfuamerica.com/Temp/j..._(500_500).jpg

Omega Lift Equipment 21032 3 Ton Service Jack with Air

it says they even speak espanol just in case you doan habla.

factory manual:
http://download.sears.com/docs/spin_prod_866925512.pdf

When I was a young pup, I usta rebuild BW T-10s for 20 bucks + parts....that included removal & reinstall. The aluminum case jobbie just got bench pressed from the floor in & out. Then one day I met the T-10 that Ford used....little did I know it had an Iron case. I figured it out when it popped out of its hole and tried to squeeze the life outta me......with a cushioned thud. I thought I'd never get out from under that thing. :eek:

I now have a return engagement with the iron case T-10 in my Mustang. Still no lift. A good light floor jack looks like an appropriate tool to crawl underneath with.:D

The oldie is leaking from the ram cylinder. I'll hang onto it with a rebuild in mind come summer.

Right now. I'm welding in a subframe support & Panhard bar which requires shifting around blocking, then back to pull the trans. My overhead welding sux which is not helped by the impact damage to the bottom of the subframe resulting in huge gaps.

I now have a deadline....just like a TV show:D. 21 April my son is coming up from CA to help install the new lump. I got a lot to do before then.

Harbor Frieght 3 ton jack. like a 100$. Been in current use for over 2 years now. And that thing has seen work.

Arcan XL2T
 

This'll be my next jack. I need low to get under the 911 and high lift to pick up the truck. Buddy has one and it appears as nice and any of the other non-US made floor jacks. Northern Tool carries them but shipping is prohibitive if you don't have a store in your AO. Currently out of stock @ Amazon Prime. -J

Arcan XL2T Black Low Profile Steel Service Jack - 2 Ton Capacity

Amazon.com: Arcan XL2T Black Low Profile Steel Service Jack - 2 Ton Capacity: Automotive

Check you out with all them technical words. Gonna be a moostang wonk any day now.

I'm still using my Costco jack after around 10 years. In addition, my neighbor gave me an old jack about 30 to 40 years old that works flawlessly. I may never be able to buy a new jack!

I've been using El Cheapo HF jacks. I like the 3-ton aluminum model.

Whenever hydraulic stuff starts leaking, I usually change out the o-rings and that fixes it.

If you can't get the repair kit, then I take the old o-rings out and have them matched up by a local place here called Central Distributing. They specialize in o-rings and seals and for usually less than $20 I walk out with everything that I need.