Need suggestions for transmission floor jacks

[atikovi]

I've had this style for 30 years and got my monies worth but feels pretty sketchy at the top of it's travel.



Looking for something more substantial but that is light enough I can still carry it to the basement. See this from Harbor Freight,



Weighs 75 pounds which is probably at the top of what I want to carry. Any other options?

 

[Nutria]

I have a recommendation about what not to get-- one of those floor jack adapter jobs. Clunky and didn't work well for me.

 

[ColoradoMech]

Ive used the Harbor Freight floor jack you mention. It worked well enough with the F250 transmissions in terms of it not killing me however I made a few modifications. The main one was I welded brackets to the bottom of the plate to hook a ratchet strap to so I could really crank it down into place instead of a loose chain that lets it flop around. I also a took the adjuster handles off and put an oversized nut on and welded it in placeand put the knobs back on so I could use a wrench to turn the adjuster screws if needed because sometimes the transmission weight makes the knob hard to turn with dirty hands. The biggest hurdle is getting it out from under the vehicle while still on the jack just due to height. I also think carrying it would be a bit of a PITA, its not the lightest

 

[atikovi]

I also think carrying it would be a bit of a PITA, its not the lightest

Can it be taken apart?

 

[ColoradoMech]

Can it be taken apart?

I wouldn't say so conveniently. You could pop the head of it off but that's probably about it

 

[pbon]

I used the HF scissor jack for years but later bought a 2 stage trans jack that goes 6’. I am a DIYer with BMWs so my trans are not 500 lbs.

 

[Beauregard]

I've used the Harbor Freight screw jack for years. I raise and lower with a Milwaukke 18v. Works great on heavy-*** gas tanks too.
The updated version looks good.

 

[Wamsutta]

I wouldn't say so conveniently. You could pop the head of it off but that's probably about it

If you can carry this bad boy by hand along with its handle, you 'da man.

 

[atikovi]

I wouldn't say so conveniently. You could pop the head of it off but that's probably about it

Well, for the once every year or two years I may need it, how much trouble would it be to take out the ram or other bits. I take my engine crane apart between uses so nothing weighs more than 40 pounds going to the basement.

 

[Speed-Racer]

I've had this style for 30 years and got my monies worth but feels pretty sketchy at the top of it's travel.



Looking for something more substantial but that is light enough I can still carry it to the basement. See this from Harbor Freight,



Weighs 75 pounds which is probably at the top of what I want to carry. Any other options?

I briefly owned the scissor trans jack be careful mine broke on me. Car transmission and I feel lucky no one was hurt.

Found a vintage Hein Werner, the tilt adjustments are really nice. If you can find a HW model 54 in good condition, grab it.

I like this model from Jegs, the lower height helps with the larger automatic transmission, plus the wider base is more stable.

JEGS 79026: Transmission Jack Low Profile [2000 lb. Capacity] - JEGS

Get the Best Performance with JEGS Transmission Jack Low Profile [2000 lb. Capacity] 79026 parts at JEGS. Shop Now at the Guaranteed Lowest Price!

www.jegs.com

Another option.

https://www.amazon.com/Tool-International-KTIXD63515-Profile-Transmission/dp/B09VS43LM5?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[rsanter]

I started with a flat plate welded to round stock that would fit in place of the jack cup.
Was better than just using a jack but not,ideal.

I got one of those things that convert the jack into a trans Jack, my god that thing sucked. Was too tall so the car had to be way up in the air and was not all that stable.
Tried to use it omce and went back to the plate.

Finally got the actual trans jac like the grey one you show and it much better. I don’t use it much but it works much better than the other two options

I friend has used his AtV Jack

 

[csp]

I found a legit, multiple direction adjustable trans jack from a local auction house that does monthly online tool rental and other private seller consignment auctions. I think I gave $65 for it and it works flawlessly. It's ugly and was dirty when I bought it but the entry price was worth the effort to clean it up.

 

[atikovi]

Did Harbor Freight shop printing discount coupons? I only buy something once every year or so, but remember last time seeing 20% or 25% off coupons in their fliers.

 

[boom_bap]

Ya they stopped, you have to get on their email list to get deals now adays.

There is a harbor freight coupon thread that is pretty active. Nothing great at the moment, but MLK weekend is not far off..

 

[VolvoRyan]

You want the dedicated low profile trans jack.

Sadly, everything on the market for trans removal on jackstands is pretty iffy. They're all at the same price point, and you're lucky if you get a couple uses out of them.

-Ryan

 

[cgrutt]

I recently bought the HF jack but think it was the model up from the one you posted. It worked pretty good (no problem with handling weight but tilt adjustments were a bit iffy) for my F150 transmission and transfer case (removed separately). I made and used a wood/rubber adapter instead of the pieces of angle iron that comes with it as well as a ratchet strap vs the chain but overall am very happy with it. I had to take transmission off jack to get it out from under truck which was a PITA but doable. As far as weight it was pretty heavy but movable. I got it in and out of car by myself but didn't do stairs. It has some handles welded on ends so think stairs would be manageable esp with an extra pair of hands.

 

[atikovi]

I recently bought the HF jack but think it was the model up from the one you posted. It worked pretty good (no problem with handling weight but tilt adjustments were a bit iffy) for my F150 transmission and transfer case (removed separately). I made and used a wood/rubber adapter instead of the pieces of angle iron that comes with it as well as a ratchet strap vs the chain but overall am very happy with it. I had to take transmission off jack to get it out from under truck which was a PITA but doable. As far as weight it was pretty heavy but movable. I got it in and out of car by myself but didn't do stairs. It has some handles welded on ends so think stairs would be manageable esp with an extra pair of hands.

I'd prefer that model since it drops lower and raises higher but at 140 pounds it's double the other one, so no way I could take it up and down the stairs between the basement and driveway. Can it be taken apart so no single part is more than 50 or 60 pounds?

 

[cgrutt]

I'd prefer that model since it drops lower and raises higher but at 140 pounds it's double the other one, so no way I could take it up and down the stairs between the basement and driveway. Can it be taken apart so no single part is more than 50 or 60 pounds?

I'm not sure but assuming you could disassemble it if you needed to. Have no idea what individual components weigh. I'll take a few pics in a little bit.

 

[Gebirgekind]

I’ve been happy with the Torin Big Red TR4076, it seemed higher quality than HF and wasn’t much more money. Handled my 4Runner transmission just fine, but like others I built a custom base to hold it better.

 

[cgrutt]

Here are some more pics of the HF jack. You could probably separate the pump, piston and lift assembly pretty easily but the two legs of frame are welded together. Looks like a main through bolt, two smaller bolts and maybe a couple of snap rings. Doubt either piece weighs 50 lbs or less. Anyway hope that helps good luck.

 

[bcschief]

I have a recommendation about what not to get-- one of those floor jack adapter jobs. Clunky and didn't work well for me.

Too high even with the jack all the way down. I also have one pre Harbor Freight and believe me it's worthless.

 

[bcschief]

I've had this style for 30 years and got my monies worth but feels pretty sketchy at the top of it's travel.



Looking for something more substantial but that is light enough I can still carry it to the basement. See this from Harbor Freight,



Weighs 75 pounds which is probably at the top of what I want to carry. Any other options?

I have the scissors jack style one and I bought it to do a fuel tank drop on my car worked great and will use it again shortly to pull the transmission from my Ranger for a rebuild.

 

[White Shadow]

I have that same low profile Harbor Freight transmission jack and I like it a lot. I used it to remove the manual transmission from my Audi without any issues at all. And FWIW, the manual transmission on my Audi is huge and heavy because my Audi is quattro and the transmission contains the front differential as well as the clutch assembly.

Some people might say it's really a transaxle and I guess by definition that may be true, but the car has a longitudinal engine and transmission, so it just looks like a large RWD transmission. And the fact that the clutch and pressure plate stay with the transmission when you remove it also makes it heavy and a bit strange compared to "normal" cars.

Anyway, it worked great for me and I think it was a good purchase.

 

[cgrutt]

I have the scissors jack style one and I bought it to do a fuel tank drop on my car worked great and will use it again shortly to pull the transmission from my Ranger for a rebuild.

Just fyi I'm a bit leary of scissor jacks had one fail on me and truck dropped immediately and without warning. The screw section snapped in half. Fortunately tire was still on truck and I wasn't underneath it but have since replaced with a bottle jack. Be careful with the scissor lift.

 

[White Shadow]

I'd prefer that model since it drops lower and raises higher but at 140 pounds it's double the other one, so no way I could take it up and down the stairs between the basement and driveway. Can it be taken apart so no single part is more than 50 or 60 pounds?

The smaller one is definitely not 70 or 75 lbs. I can weigh mine for you, but I don't think it's even 50 lbs.

 

[atikovi]

The smaller one is definitely not 70 or 75 lbs. I can weigh mine for you, but I don't think it's even 50 lbs.

Just going by the specs at HF,

 

[theoldwizard1]

Ive used the Harbor Freight floor jack you mention. It worked well enough with the F250 transmissions in terms of it not killing me however I made a few modifications.

This guys was pulling a transmission out of a dump truck. Came close to loosing it completely. Detail on his reinforcements.

Harbor Freight Transmission Jack

 

[WWheeler]

Did Harbor Freight shop printing discount coupons? I only buy something once every year or so, but remember last time seeing 20% or 25% off coupons in their fliers.

You might want to check out a fellow GJ'er's Harbor freight price tracker that will email you when a coupon comes out on an item you've added.

Hey kind of a late reply but I just added this feature to https://hfpricetracker.com/ check it out and let me know if it does what you need.

At that link above, go to the 'All tools' page and search for the item you want tracked for you. For example, this is the page that turned up in a search for "Low Lift Transmission Jack" where it shows the price history on that item and under that you can add your email to create a price drop alert when a coupon comes out that meets your criteria, you'll get an email notification with a link to the coupon. (Looks like there was coupon on it that expired just yesterday. doh!)

I've used this HF Price Tracker site quite a bit so far. It works great and has definitely saved me some coin.

 

[Speed-Racer]

Located in MD. If you want a vintage one. Do a search Milwaukee hydraulics are high quality.

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[ColoradoMech]

Just fyi I'm a bit leary of scissor jacks had one fail on me and truck dropped immediately and without warning. The screw section snapped in half. Fortunately tire was still on truck and I wasn't underneath it but have since replaced with a bottle jack. Be careful with the scissor lift.

You are NOT suppose to use them as a replacement for a vehicle jack. On top of that you should have been using jack stands whenever you use a jack, no matter the objects weight and jacks rating. Sounds like your own recklessness that almost got you hurt/killed, not the equipment

 

[atikovi]

Located in MD. If you want a vintage one. Do a search Milwaukee hydraulics are high quality.

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I don't mind buying used, but not an antique.

 

[cgrutt]

You are NOT suppose to use them as a replacement for a vehicle jack. On top of that you should have been using jack stands whenever you use a jack, no matter the objects weight and jacks rating. Sounds like your own recklessness that almost got you hurt/killed, not the equipment

I was using the factory jack to change a flat tire on factory attachment point on the side of the road. What was I supposed to use please enlighten me.

 

[ColoradoMech]

I was using the factory jack to change a flat tire on factory attachment point on the side of the road. What was I supposed to use please enlighten me.

This is a thread about transmission jacks, specifically mentioning transmission scissor jacks. You started talking about a vehicle scissor jack and still did not mention that fact. Its pretty reasonable to see how somebody can get confused.

 

[cgrutt]

This is a thread about transmission jacks, specifically mentioning transmission scissor jacks. You started talking about a vehicle scissor jack and still did not mention that fact. Its pretty reasonable to see how somebody can get confused.

Ah, but I did make the distinction between a jack and a lift did i not?. Just relaying my personal experience with the same mechanical feature used in the suggested lift. Personally I wouldn't use that style based on my experience with same mechanism used in a different application.

 

[Speed-Racer]

I don't mind buying used, but not an antique.

phjjacks.com: Milwaukee Trans Lift - Reconditioned

one of the nicest floor model made, offers greater tilt adjustment Also one of the lowest and highest range. Very stable. Not a fan of the wheels, but they work. Rebuild kits are inexpensive. If I needed a floor model this would be in my top 2 choices, surprised to see one listed.

 

[dyermullet]

Looking for something more substantial but that is light enough I can still carry it to the basement. See this from Harbor Freig

I have that same jack but from jegs painted yellow. It is an absolute pice of junk. Had to weld on the head adjustments. Then when using it if you rotate handle it will hit the release valve.
Second time using it, started leaking down. In the middle of swapping 4l80e, ended up jamming 2x4 into the mechanism so I could finish the job.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I've had this style for 30 years and got my monies worth but feels pretty sketchy at the top of it's travel.



Looking for something more substantial but that is light enough I can still carry it to the basement. See this from Harbor Freight,



Weighs 75 pounds which is probably at the top of what I want to carry. Any other options?

I have owned that same transmission jack for 60+ years. I think someone copied the design. My trans jack came from Princess Auto, a Canadian Company.

 

[WWheeler]

I've used the Harbor Freight screw jack for years. I raise and lower with a Milwaukke 18v. Works great on heavy-*** gas tanks too.
The updated version looks good.

Yeah mine's worked great for transmissions and several other purposes. I also use an impact to raise/lower which is way faster and easier. I had to use a 1/2 to 3/4" adapter though to make it work.

I have that same jack but from jegs painted yellow. It is an absolute pice of junk. Had to weld on the head adjustments. Then when using it if you rotate handle it will hit the release valve.
Second time using it, started leaking down. In the middle of swapping 4l80e, ended up jamming 2x4 into the mechanism so I could finish the job.

Welp, I've now been talked out of ever upgrading my HF Scissors trans jack for one of those. I'd already have tossed it on the scrap pile if it did that to me.

 

[White Shadow]

Just going by the specs at HF,

Okay, I just weighed mine and it's exactly 70 pounds with the handle. So heavier than I thought, but still a little lighter than the HF spec sheet. It really feels more like 50 pounds to me. About the same as a bag of dog food or fertilizer, which I buy in 50 pound bags.

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

I have a recommendation about what not to get-- one of those floor jack adapter jobs. Clunky and didn't work well for me.

I bought one of these years ago. Used it a few times, did the job but had to lift the trans off it/onto it under the car because we couldn't get the car high enough to roll the loaded jack under the car.

Once it was situated in position to install the trans it worked alright.

I wouldn't recommend it if you were doing many swaps.