I have had a Torin 2 1/2 ton floor jack for many years and it has worked well. Recently I've noticed that it slowly drops while I'm setting the jack stands, and after using it for three different jobs this past weekend I have started to look at new ones.
Anyone have a preference steel to aluminum? Seems to me a steel jack would last a lot longer? I'm not worried about weight as it stays in the shop here all the time. I just got a Harbor Freight catalog and they have a whole page of Pittsburgh jacks at decent prices, just not sure how they would hold up.
I am curious what others are using and had good luck with.
NO I am not putting in a lift! The floor jack will have to do.
-- Edited by Chris S on Tuesday 25th of August 2015 09:29:25 PM
Tony Hoffer said
Aug 25, 2015
Ive had good luck with my OTC jack.. Looks like the product line has changed some since I bought mine though.
-- Edited by Tony Hoffer on Tuesday 25th of August 2015 10:02:56 PM
Dan Williams said
Aug 25, 2015
Try bleeding the old one first. I have a 10 year old NAPA floor jack that wouldn't hold up an empty gas tank so I grabbed the aluminum Craftsman that I inherited somehow and it wouldn't do it either. Went back up to NAPA figuring I would be spending a couple of hundred bucks and some old guy asked if I had bled them recently. Went back out to the shop and googled "bleed floor jack" and spent 5 minutes and picked up the Chevelle from both ends and the next day they were both still holding strong and both still work a year or so later. Worth a shot, cost me nothing.
Lost in the 60s said
Aug 25, 2015
Dan Williams wrote:
Try bleeding the old one first. I have a 10 year old NAPA floor jack that wouldn't hold up an empty gas tank so I grabbed the aluminum Craftsman that I inherited somehow and it wouldn't do it either. Went back up to NAPA figuring I would be spending a couple of hundred bucks and some old guy asked if I had bled them recently. Went back out to the shop and googled "bleed floor jack" and spent 5 minutes and picked up the Chevelle from both ends and the next day they were both still holding strong and both still work a year or so later. Worth a shot, cost me nothing.
That and lube the u-joint for the lock shaft. They can get rusty and don't lock tight unless you really crank on it.
I have a 3.5 ton ARCAN that I bought at Northern Tool several years ago and it has worked perfect, except when the u-joint would bind up... That reminds me to lube the wheels also..
bowtie said
Aug 26, 2015
reminds me.... I need to bleed mine. It's slowly dropping.
I have this one and has worked great. I like the quick pump feature that gets it up to height fast when unloaded. It did start leaking a few years back but I was able to purchase an o-ring kit for it locally and fixed it right up. I swear and bought it from Northern tool but I see they don't carry it anymore.
cooz65 said
Aug 26, 2015
I can tell you what not to get. Big Red Pro series. Got it from Northern. When the handle is in the down position, the gears at the bottom come free of each other, not allowing you to twist the handle and lower the vehicle. Makes it very annoying when working in tight places and you have to go underneath and twist the gear with a wrench to release the pressure. Just my thoughts.
Chris S said
Aug 26, 2015
Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to try the bleeding idea first chance I get. It would be nice if that is all it took.
Chris S said
Aug 27, 2015
Bled the jack tonight. WOW there was a lot of air in there! Rotated tires on the Chevelle and it worked fine. Seems my Brainerd run last month scrubbed some tread, but well worth it.
I have had a Torin 2 1/2 ton floor jack for many years and it has worked well. Recently I've noticed that it slowly drops while I'm setting the jack stands, and after using it for three different jobs this past weekend I have started to look at new ones.
Anyone have a preference steel to aluminum? Seems to me a steel jack would last a lot longer? I'm not worried about weight as it stays in the shop here all the time. I just got a Harbor Freight catalog and they have a whole page of Pittsburgh jacks at decent prices, just not sure how they would hold up.
I am curious what others are using and had good luck with.
NO I am not putting in a lift! The floor jack will have to do.
-- Edited by Chris S on Tuesday 25th of August 2015 09:29:25 PM
Ive had good luck with my OTC jack.. Looks like the product line has changed some since I bought mine though.
-- Edited by Tony Hoffer on Tuesday 25th of August 2015 10:02:56 PM
That and lube the u-joint for the lock shaft. They can get rusty and don't lock tight unless you really crank on it.
I have a 3.5 ton ARCAN that I bought at Northern Tool several years ago and it has worked perfect, except when the u-joint would bind up...
That reminds me to lube the wheels also..
http://www.omegalift.com/ProductDetails/Omega/3TonMagicLiftServiceJack/25030B/360
I have this one and has worked great. I like the quick pump feature that gets it up to height fast when unloaded. It did start leaking a few years back but I was able to purchase an o-ring kit for it locally and fixed it right up. I swear and bought it from Northern tool but I see they don't carry it anymore.
Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to try the bleeding idea first chance I get. It would be nice if that is all it took.
Bled the jack tonight. WOW there was a lot of air in there! Rotated tires on the Chevelle and it worked fine. Seems my Brainerd run last month scrubbed some tread, but well worth it.
Thanks again for the info Dan.