2 Stage transmission jack with best head?

[Diesel Addiction]

I own a diesel performance shop that specializes in Allison transmission builds. We remove and install Allison 1000s (about 350 lbs) a few times a week. We also drop fuel tanks, install lift kits, remove axles, ect with the trans jack. For years I got surprisingly reliable service from a cheap used Central Hydraulics (HF?) single stage jack. When the seals got bad I decided to upgrade to what I thought would be a nice 2 stage. I picked up a Ranger RTJ-1 and was very disappointed as seen in my reply to THIS THREAD. After 8 months of horrible service I am ready to retire this one to fuel tanks and back-up use - so I am back to trying to find a good transmission jack.

The main problem with the Ranger was the head - the pivots are so loose it has about 10 degrees of play in each direction, making it impossible to line things up when re-installing the trans. From past experience with other products I am looking at OTC, but was interested in other options and especially in experienced opinions - specifically on current models. Unfortunately the quality of most tools in the US is going downhill fast and companies who used to make top of the line equipment are now selling imported junk. Even the "Made in the USA" brands seem to be importing cheap components to build with.

Here are my needs:
2 stage - all I've seen have acceptable range
No pump lever under the head - the ones with 1st stage air, second stage pump - the lever would get in the way.
Manual pump operation - I don't mind air over if you can still use it fully without air
***4 way tilt - without much of any slop or play***

I am looking at:
OTC 1791
Meyer ETJ1500

I see that OTC Stinger line is imported but does anyone have experience with them? Like the 1793A - can't find another import that looks like it and hoping that at least the head has OTC quality.

The thing I care the most about is the head - 4 way tilt without a bunch of slop that lets it tip all over. Any decent jack will physically jack it up and lower it - I need an easy to adjust head that is nice and tight.

How about Sunex, they are import but have a good rep and are sold by Cornwell?

How about Omega/Blackhawk? Again import but made by a company that also has US made jacks?

MAC sells a relabeled Omega/Blackhawk (import) and Hein Warner (USA but has the handle under head).

Snap-Ons are also import and overpriced for being such.

MatCo doesn't seem to offer anything from what I see online

Cornwell sells OTC, Sunex, BendPac, Norco and others - seems to be the truck to ask with the biggest selection.

BendPac/Ranger/AFF are out from my past experience.

 

[Diesel Addiction]

Just an update for anyone else who may have been in my position since this thread got zero replies.

I called and stopped at a few transmission shops, one being SunCoast Converters in Florida who does nothing but diesel pick-up transmissions, like myself. Every transmission shop said the same thing - Gray Transmission Jacks. I also called Peterson's Hydraulic Jack who rebuilds transmission jacks, sells refurbished jacks, and sells new jacks. He said he can't keep a used Gray in stock, and that they have a private label "look alike" Gray jack that is also a great seller. He also said that on all of his private label jacks he uses a Gray head. The OTC 1728 is a relabeled Gray. The Hein Warner is also a relabeled Gray.

All this good stuff about Gray - you would think I would have just bought one. However, they only make one model of jack and it uses (and requires) air for the first stage; then uses a hand pump under the head for the second stage. I don't want to have to hook up air every time I use the first stage of the jack. The pump lever would get in the way even though you can swing it around and I would rather have both hands on the trans and use a foot pump to jack it up that last 1/2". If you don't mind either of those things I would say go with a Gray - one at a transmission shop that has been using it every day for 15+ years had less play in the head than my Ranger did new.

I had heard the OTC Stinger jacks are not great at all. I had heard pretty good things about the Omega and Norco but the heads look a lot cheaper than the OTC 1791 and 5237. I found a video of a Sunex jack

and the guy touching the head shows you the head flopping all over the place.

I was looking hard at the OTC 1791 (previous model) and 5237 (current model) and I found a video of an OTC 5237

and even with a gas tank adapter amplifying the movement it had very little play in the head. They come with OTC's marathon lifetime warranty and are made in the USA, and are the only foot operated transmission jacks I could find that are made in the USA. I found the 5237 on Amazon for $1565 and pulled the trigger on it today. I'll report back on it when it comes in.

At that price this transmission jack is not for the DIY guy that might pull a trans once a year. It is also not for a general mechanic shop that might use it once a month. This and a Gray are both for the shop that will use it almost every day and need it to be safe, fast, and reliable. I tried a $600 jack and it was not safe or reliable and was a complete waste of money.

 

[ringneck]

A lot of great information. I was watching this one,as I am in the market for a trans jack, that doesnt ****. Thanks for the post!

 

[JTH]

Bought a used Gray for 75$ and a rebuild kit, used the **** out of it for many years. Worked for several Ford dealers as rebuilder. Sold it when I left the dealer game, bought it back and used it hard for a few more years, sold it to a friend who rebuilds at a Ford dealer still going strong. Only repairs have been to pump handle you don't want in your way. Built in ST Joe, MO.

 

[Diesel Addiction]

Bought a used Gray for 75$ and a rebuild kit, used the **** out of it for many years. Worked for several Ford dealers as rebuilder. Sold it when I left the dealer game, bought it back and used it hard for a few more years, sold it to a friend who rebuilds at a Ford dealer still going strong. Only repairs have been to pump handle you don't want in your way. Built in ST Joe, MO.

If I had found a used Gray for $75 I would have bought it right up and learned to like it, or cleaned it up, rebuilt it, and sold it for at least $500.

 

[Danglerb]

Could be a SoCal thing, but I've seen a Wuden trans jack in many good shops.

 

[Jbullfrog]

Gray would probably build one with a foot pump and full hydraui if you asked. They are great to work with. Why not go to HF and get a new one like what you had before?

 

[Diesel Addiction]

Could be a SoCal thing, but I've seen a Wuden trans jack in many good shops.

I never saw anything about Wudel in my searching and even now can only find a few references to them and it looks like they are out of business and possibly have been for years.

Gray would probably build one with a foot pump and full hydraui if you asked. They are great to work with. Why not go to HF and get a new one like what you had before?

I bought the Central Hydraulic one used years ago and while it gave surprisingly reliable service I bought it when I was building one transmission every month or 2, not a few a week. It was also only a single stage jack.

The OTC Jack came but was missing the casters - not sure if that was Amazon's fault, UPS's fault, or OTC's fault. Amazon only wanted to do a complete exchange and it could take months for them to get another one. I called OTC and they sent them out at no charge, no proof of purchase, and no questions asked. I'm liking this jack already, just from how helpful OTC has been. Playing with it a bit the head is very nice, with really smooth adjustment. I'll report back when we get the wheels and start using it.

 

[Diesel Addiction]

My guys and I have been loving this transmission jack. We use it everyday and it has a great head and smooth operation on the hydraulics.

 

[rsanter]

Another option

Look at the head on the jack you do not like and see if you can improve it. If the holes are sloppy perhaps oversize the hole a little and put a bushing in it to groove a tighter clearance. If it side to sidevplay perhaps some shims.

Or

Buy a grey or OTC replacement head and swap it onto the jack

Bob

 

[MattPersman]

I was looking at one of my trans jacks just yesterday and looks like I could take some of it apart and add some sort of sleeve or washers to take much of that head movement out of the picture. What is the purpose of all that slop?

 

[Ign]

Interesting. I was eyeing a 2 stage Danmar last year just 'cause the price was right at around $350. But I appreciate the OP's thorough posts and research.

 

[rsanter]

I was looking at one of my trans jacks just yesterday and looks like I could take some of it apart and add some sort of sleeve or washers to take much of that head movement out of the picture. What is the purpose of all that slop?

Wide manufacturing tolerance. Cheaper to follow loose or side specifications than tight ones.
Assembly goes faster

Bob

 

[bmwpower]

Anyone have any experience with any of the AC Hydraulic units?

http://www.ac-hydraulic.dk/us/products/transmission-jacks/vl3-vl6-vl10/

 

[MattPersman]

Ok to add to this thread

I need of a new jack both of the old Blackhawk branded units were on borrowed time, one actually sent me to the medcheck last Friday (hydraulic upper collapsed ) so got a new Blackhawk unit. Not impressed but got the three transmissions done that needed to get done in the last two days. Anyways I remembered this thread and we called our vendors in the area to get the gray, OTC or HW the one that is supposed to be the same gray unit.

No one sold the gray, the OTC was around $3000, and our one guy was a HW seller. So he brought the book in and I was talking to him and he claimed it was not made by Gray anymore. Said they are making it in MO by them. Used to be made by gray but they got greedy so no one buys from them. Told me the OTC was made over seas now and is just a copy of the gray I told him even on the website and brochure it sAys USA period he said they are full of sh1t. Ok I don't know I am not in the hydraulic sales industry and maybe this is all true.

So I had him order the HW (gray copy?) trans jack for a fair price and being he is a dealer and services them it seemed like the best choice for me. Could have bought the gray online for less but he claimed no one serviced them around there and the parts were more expensive. If it was for my home or personal use I would have bought the gray as it can be had for right over $1500

Will update this when it arrives and I use it a few times

This is a good thread with loads of good info about high lift trans jacks that is why I chose to add to this thread instead of making a new one. Maybe hiball knows about who is making what jack now. Not that it is hard to buy a gray jack and have your company copy it these days.

 

[Diesel Addiction]

Anyone have any experience with any of the AC Hydraulic units?

http://www.ac-hydraulic.dk/us/products/transmission-jacks/vl3-vl6-vl10/

I looked at them and they look like very high quality tools, the VLT6 has 3 stages and I would be able to go straight from it to my transmission building stand. I may have to try to find one. I found a place called Pelican parts that sells AC stuff out of CA, but they don't list any of the trans jacks for me to know the pricing here in the US.

Told me the OTC was made over seas now and is just a copy of the gray I told him even on the website and brochure it sAys USA period he said they are full of sh1t. Ok I don't know I am not in the hydraulic sales industry and maybe this is all true.

OTC Stinger products are made over seas and compete with prices of other imported tools. The OTC 1791 (discontinued) and 5237 (current model, one I have) are not copies of the Gray, the OTC 1728 is a relabel or copy of a Gray. The OTC jack (5237) that I bought is made in the USA.

 

[Halfdawg]

I got my 2 stage from Napa, it has been great, but I can't compare it to others because it is the only one I've ever used. Cost just over $1000.

Part: NLE 7917140

 

[04chase]

reviving an old thread but searching for a trans jack and found this which looks to be identical to a both a GRAY HTJ-1000 and OTC-1728. probably just bought one of them and sent it over seas for re pro . Just need a qulaity trans jack for my personal shop for use on trucks . the heaviest trans ill pull is about 500 lbs or less. I just want quality and stability.

https://t-p-h.net/product/tph-half-ton-air-hyd-trans-jack/

 

[04chase]

Well finally bit the bullet and bought that Jack. So far I am impressed. Quality seems great everything came in great shape . Love the ratcheting arms on the head . The pivot axis adjustments have very smooth action with hardly any slop. The legs were fit well and even had set screws to make them perfectly snug. The controls of the main stage on the legs are easy to operate with your feet. Each of those legs have locking casters. Very little assembly and overall for 699 shipped I believe it's a great deal. Willing to bet it came from the same factory as otc and grey units do. Just wish it was green.





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