Pittsburgh floor jack done? or repairable ?

[Rusty Ratchet]

I bought a Pittsburgh 3 ton floor jack from Harbor Freight about a year
ago.. used it maybe 10-15 times over the time period since..
Used it on a standard SUV... I think well within normal usage
parameters, less than 2 tons curb weight.

I took it out today, and tried to put the handle in the socket but it would
not "catch" and screw into position.....I tried pumping it anyway
and the hydraulic oil started squirting out...

I looked into the handle socket and saw that U joint appeared to be
leaning to one side touching it.. never checked this before so not sure
if this is the normal position or not....

Anyway.. just want to know generally... do i just junk it or can I get it back
to working condition without going through ridiculous hoops..?

It was $100 new, so it may just be a lesson learned too soon, and not worth further investment of time or money.

Thanks for replies in advance...

 

[Boneebone]

Go buy the same one new and use the receipt and take back the defective one.

Simple

 

[Hiball]

I would first check to make sure you didn't accidently unscrew the release valve completely out of the block, do this by hand, not with the handle as you don't want to cross thread anything.

 

[Rusty Ratchet]

@BoneeBone.. why didn't I think of that... haha

@Hiball... thanks for the reply... should I need to remove any parts to get at the
release valve.?. sorry I have pretty much 0 experience trying to refill or repair these things..

 

[American Locomotive]

Yup, sounds like you unscrewed the valve all the way out of the jack. Should be pretty straightforward to get back in.

 

[Hiball]

@Hiball... thanks for the reply... should I need to remove any parts to get at the
release valve.?. sorry I have pretty much 0 experience trying to refill or repair these things..

Should be able to work around the handle pivot and get it threaded back in with your fingers.

 

[Rusty Ratchet]

@American Locomotive and
@HiBall...

thanks indeed gentlemen, will try this tomo... and see if I can get back in business with it. will be back to post results...

be a nice occasion to save a couple Ben Franklins for a new one

 

[Rusty Ratchet]

@Hiball
@American Locomotive
you nailed it... fortunately the piston was not all the way out..just had to screw it
back in, top it off with jack oil ($4 AZ ) , bleed, close her up, and I was in business

do better branded Jacks have some kind of stop to keep you from doing that?
just curious..

thanks again... relieved

 

[American Locomotive]

Most jacks I've seen using that particular design allow for the valve to be fully unscrewed. On my ancient U.S. Made Blackhawk jack, removing the the valve is the only way you can get the handle off.

 

[Hiball]

@Hiball
@American Locomotive
you nailed it... fortunately the piston was not all the way out..just had to screw it
back in, top it off with jack oil ($4 AZ ) , bleed, close her up, and I was in business

do better branded Jacks have some kind of stop to keep you from doing that?
just curious..

thanks again... relieved

I wouldn't say "better branded" jacks have a stop, but the majority of your newer imported jacks have a fork to prevent the release from being fully unscrewed.

Glad your back in business.

 

[texasprd]

My apologies for temporarily going off topic, but...

Go buy the same one new and use the receipt and take back the defective one.

Simple

I can see where your ethics are - or lack of ethics...

OP, shame on you too for your response to that suggestion...

 

[ryan20021982]

My apologies for temporarily going off topic, but...



I can see where your ethics are - or lack of ethics...

OP, shame on you too for your response to that suggestion...

OP better watch it I think your Mom caught you ^^

 

[coffeesnob]

I know a guy who did that with a vacuum cleaner. Back on topic are Pittsburg jacks considere to be a decent Jack?

 

[SnapOnAddiction]

He said he bought it about a year ago don't most jacks come with a 1 year warranty?

If so just go replace the sucker ,althoughhe has already fixed the issue ,just saying if it had been broken.

No shame on the switcheroo either as I'm sure HF probably gets credited from the manufacturer for the "defective" product and I'm sure they pump them out for pennies for the thousand.

Not saying it's entirely moral but HF seems to lifetime warranty everything even plastic socket holders at least mine did.

 

[Wamsutta]

My apologies for temporarily going off topic, but...



I can see where your ethics are - or lack of ethics...

OP, shame on you too for your response to that suggestion...

There's honest and then there's overboard honest....

 

[visionguru]

I know a guy who did that with a vacuum cleaner. Back on topic are Pittsburg jacks considere to be a decent Jack?

I would say that ANY JACKS on the market are pretty decent and are probably made by the same few companies.

 

[Roberts210]

Go buy the same one new and use the receipt and take back the defective one.

Simple

Advice like this doesn't help us as a Country. It just sinks us lower and lower into deception and deceit.

 

[zendriver]

I know a guy who did that with a vacuum cleaner. Back on topic are Pittsburg jacks considere to be a decent Jack?

I have a couple of them, one for over six years.

They raise, hold, and lower.

They seem decent to me, especially for the money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TorKe]

Advice like this doesn't help us as a Country. It just sinks us lower and lower into deception and deceit.

Well the tools ain't 'murican so sure as hell ain't helping this country, i tell you hwhat.

 

[dogdog]

I think they are decent for home use, have the 2 ton low profile... and that 3 ton... It's a pain to carry it down the driveway..... still uses my quasi operating Craftsman aluminum one. only because it is lighter.

 

[dogdog]

Well the tools ain't 'murican so sure as hell ain't helping this country, i tell you hwhat.

It's just one of those things.... It's "justice is blind, ethic have one eye open".

 

[blown94conv]

Oh, we have different levels of honest now. Didn't get that memo.

 

[Fcvapor05]

@BoneeBone.. why didn't I think of that..

Probably because you're a decent human and your first impulse isn't to commit fraud

 

[70staged]

Back on topic

The HF jacks aren't the worse jacks out there. I actually have 2 over them, both the aluminum versions. Used them over the coarse of 8 years and haven't had a problem with them. Now my Mac one I bought new needs to take apart and fix after2 years of use. If I needed a new one I would go back to HF.