AC Hydraulics distributor
- Thread starter bmwpower
- Start date
For anyone still looking for AC Hydraulic stuff, there is a guy selling their jacks including the DK13HLQ and flat top jack stands at: http://www.ac-hydraulics.com
There is a post on there saying he has them in stock. Dated January 2010
There is a post on there saying he has them in stock. Dated January 2010
ultgar
Well-known member
Kudos to anyone willing to take on the line in this market. Big commitment ($25-35k orders at a time)....not sure how they are handling the product liability issue. SD
Vinko
Well-known member
Can you comment more on "the product liability issue"?
Vinko
Well-known member
I know. It makes me much less willing to buy a pair of their jackstands, though I'd like to, even at 200 clams. I wonder if the Chinese variant is built in a ISO certified factory? ABout $140 vs. $200 and the Danish made don't seem that painful a purchase.
ultgar
Well-known member
When I was selling the AC jacks and stands, the flat top version was NOT being made at the Danish factory....it was outsourced and there were quality issues with surface rust and sloppy welds. It looks like the new version is based on the factory 1500N which should eliminate those quality control issues...not sure where the posts are made.
I'm surprised AC didn't base the flat top jack on the heavier duty 3000n....cost would be $5-10 more per stand for twice the weight capacity.
SD
ultgar
Well-known member
As the sole importer, the distributor is required to carry product liability insurance. They will be the first point of attack in the event of a lawsuit here in the states. SD
This is actually great news for someone that's tired of replacing/repairing their leaky Chinese jack every couple of years. If I was in the market for a low profile floor jack, an AC unit would definitely be on my short list.
It's real sad that an American owned manufacturer can't offer us an option for a high quality low profile floor jack.
CRTDI -That's exactly what I was thinking. I've had enough Harbor Freight and Sears jacks in the last 3 years to pay for two AC jacks. My brother-in-law has had his DK13HLQ for years without problems.
I'm gonna email them to get estimated shipping time, and method, and then order one.
I'm gonna email them to get estimated shipping time, and method, and then order one.
MotecM,
If you don't need a low profile jack, you might look into a Hein Werner or a Milwaukee Jack, both offer good quality options and are at least manufactured here in the U.S.
I've posted pics of my Milwaukee unit earlier on this thread, post #72.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45278&highlight=floor+jack&page=4
Good luck with whatever you choose.
If you don't need a low profile jack, you might look into a Hein Werner or a Milwaukee Jack, both offer good quality options and are at least manufactured here in the U.S.
I've posted pics of my Milwaukee unit earlier on this thread, post #72.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45278&highlight=floor+jack&page=4
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Vinko
Well-known member
Interesting. Was the "outsourcing" confined to Denmark or Europe or completely off the Continent, do you know? Part of the justification for me to pay the 200 clams would be that they were made in Denmark at the factory.
Whatever the story, this might change my view on them v. the Esco brand that you sell. At least for flat tops.
MrMark
Well-known member
I purchased 2 flat top AC 3000N-GS1 3000 pound jackstands from Flemming Lauridsen in June of last year.
They cost me $190 shipped from Canada.
He told me they were made in Denmark. Although the unit itself has no marking at all on it other than an AC Sticker.
They are tall. I might get two more later.
I wouldn't get under a car on a Chinese Jack. That's just me though.
The welds on these AC stands are just OK, nothing to write home about. They do look massively strong though.
EDIT: I just looked at mine and the label says 3000 kg, not pounds. Wow! That's over 6000 pounds per stand. These are some bad *** stands. No wonder I bought them and now I see that Flema Products doesn't have them anymore. I wonder what is up with that.
They cost me $190 shipped from Canada.
He told me they were made in Denmark. Although the unit itself has no marking at all on it other than an AC Sticker.
They are tall. I might get two more later.
I wouldn't get under a car on a Chinese Jack. That's just me though.
The welds on these AC stands are just OK, nothing to write home about. They do look massively strong though.
EDIT: I just looked at mine and the label says 3000 kg, not pounds. Wow! That's over 6000 pounds per stand. These are some bad *** stands. No wonder I bought them and now I see that Flema Products doesn't have them anymore. I wonder what is up with that.
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How did you pay for your stands? He will only take payment by check, cashiers check or wire, no credit cards. FWIW he quoted me $438.75 for a dk 20 and $89 each for 3000N-GS1 stands. Sending effectively cash to someone for this amount doesn't exactly inspire confidence
Try going to http://www.ac-hydraulics.com He takes credit card and is located in the states (if that matters to you)...
They don't show 3000N-GS1 stands on the site, but have the similar 1500N-GS1 flat tops stands and the DK20 hydraulic floor jack
They don't show 3000N-GS1 stands on the site, but have the similar 1500N-GS1 flat tops stands and the DK20 hydraulic floor jack
MrMark
Well-known member
I did pay by check. I was only a little bit worried, but he was recommended to me by the AC Hydraulics people in Denmark. I figured he was legit and he was. It was worth the small risk to me to get the Euro quality stands.
My main concern with the ac hydraulics site is that if you do a whois search on them, they don't have an admin/registrant contact info as well as no physical contact information on their website, just an email.
Flema on the other hand while not accredited by the BBB has no complaints and has a Canadian business license according to BBB. I wouldn't mind sending them check, but I was wondering if anyone else here had received what they ordered.
Flema on the other hand while not accredited by the BBB has no complaints and has a Canadian business license according to BBB. I wouldn't mind sending them check, but I was wondering if anyone else here had received what they ordered.
I think ebay has ruined me for purchasing from unknowns online!
I didn't think twice when I place an order with AC-Hydraulics.com for a ($$$) DK13HLQ. But, that's because they take Visa, whom will always protect the customer. They also process through PayPal so the merchant doesn't see your car info either.I'll keep you posted if I have any problems with my order. UPS shows a Friday arrival date!
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I'll probably just send him a check. He seems legitimate, just looking for someone to push me over the edge. Worse case scenario I could use the BBB to negotiate with him. He said that he would be closed from February 12 at 4 PM until March 2. So I won't get it until March, bummer.
I think ebay has ruined me for purchasing from unknowns online!
That's why I google and use Garage Forums before I buy.
Interested to see how your purchase turns out...MrMark
Well-known member
FWIW, I bought the Hein Warner US 2 ton jack from Jack Exhange for less money than you are looking at. You could also call Milwaukee jack directly and get a decent price on the best jack made. For me it came down to the US milwaukee, the US Hein Warner (which is a legendary bullet proof design) or the AC. I can get parts and warranty on the Hein Warner or the Milwaukee. Those things might be problematic on the AC jack.
ultgar
Well-known member
I think ebay has ruined me for purchasing from unknowns online!
I'll keep you posted if I have any problems with my order. UPS shows a Friday arrival date!
I shipped hundreds of DK13HLQ jacks when I was a dealer (just had a major hernia repair 3 weeks ago because of this...boxes are heavy and awkward size).
Here's what I did with each jack (took 20-30 minutes with each jack, more if adjustments were required). If I were paying $700+ for a jack, I'd want it perfect by the time it got to me....
1. Check the wheels for broken o-rings. Check for broken wheels. Replace as needed.
2. Check the plastic handle for damage. Repack this securely in newspaper or bubble wrap. Its also good to add protection to the handle extension. I also replaced the 6x16mm allen screw with a stainless steel version (there was way too much blue paint in the ones from the factory).
3. Check the hydraulics for proper adjustment. There should be 4-8mm between the handle extension and the fork at the cylinder. If not adjusted properly, the jack may come down on its own (too little clearance) and if the gap is too large, turning the handle will fail to make contact with the fork and the jack will not lower.
4. Run the jacks through a few lift cycles to bleed the air and ensure proper function. I did this because there was a tendency with customers to raise the jack to its max right out of the box....getting them to come down on their own was difficult without weight and air in the cylinder. (Note - caution.....the DK13 can be a little sensitive when lowering under load. Practice a few times until you get a feel for it. There were reasons for this which you dealer will explain to you.)
5. Secure all parts in the box and use strapping tape in both directions to prevent the jack from tearing open the box when Fedex or UPS drops it in transit to the customer (see photos...shipped w/o strapping)......
Shipped with strapping (see below) eliminated 95+% off all damage claims....
Steve D
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I would have purchased a Milwaukee if they made a low profile version. My justification for getting a DK13 is that it will eliminate the need to drive up on 2x4's to get the clearance I need for lifting for now on... The right tool for the job makes all the difference!
Ultgar- Thanks for posting Images of that beast! I now know I'm in for a treat when mine arrives.
Vinko
Well-known member
Steve: that's some serious attention to detail. That's the way to do it.
What kind of crimper is that? It looks like one of those Swiss jobs.
I'll post more later, but I've been getting conflicting reports from various sources on whether or not the jack stands are presently being made in Denmark. If they aren't, I thinking I might as well go Esco for the flat top jack stands.
What kind of crimper is that? It looks like one of those Swiss jobs.
I'll post more later, but I've been getting conflicting reports from various sources on whether or not the jack stands are presently being made in Denmark. If they aren't, I thinking I might as well go Esco for the flat top jack stands.
ultgar
Well-known member
The original AC Hydraulic flat tops were never made in Denmark....that's why they were the first to disappear from the factory website. SD
Z06 427
Well-known member
Just got my DK13HLQ. Timely shipping and showed up in great shape. I really like it, no more running the Z06 up onto 2"x4"s yto get it up in the air.
Many congrats on your new purchase. It would be great to see it in action. When you get a chance please show it off to us here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45278&highlight=floor+jack
It would be great to see it in action. When you get a chance please show it off to us here:http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45278&highlight=floor+jack
MrMark
Well-known member
Now you have me wondering. I asked Flemming Lauridson directly where the flat tops (3 ton version) were made and he stated Denmark. I certainly wouldn't have bought them if he said otherwise. Now, you say they were never made in Denmark and I see nothing on these stands stating COE, just some AC sticker. The welds are OK.
I am wondering if I was lied to
ultgar
Well-known member
Now you have me wondering. I asked Flemming Lauridson directly where the flat tops (3 ton version) were made and he stated Denmark. I certainly wouldn't have bought them if he said otherwise. Now, you say they were never made in Denmark and I see nothing on these stands stating COE, just some AC sticker. The welds are OK.
I am wondering if I was lied to
I think I met Flemming at a Stertil-Koni open house years ago. Stertil was the exclusive importer for AC Hydraulic from 01-06 until Esco took on the line. (note - DK20 jacks were $180ea back in the early days and DK13hlq's were $275-300).
I designed the flat top stands for AC Hydraulic back in 2001 with Niels Rahbek from AC and had the exclusive rights to sell them through 2003. From what I was told (multiple times), by both Stertil Koni and Esco, the flat top stands were not made in house. As I mentioned previously, they were not in the factory literature and are absent from their website today.
The AC branded stands are very good but overpriced (in my opinion) ....this is why I took on the Esco alternative where the flat top stands are $68ea and the standard 3000n cradle post version is $48ea. Flemming should call Keny Andersen at AC to confirm country of origin on this product. SD
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MrMark
Well-known member
I could have sworn that I saw the 3000N flat top stands on the AC Hydraulic website when I researched this prior to purchase last summer.
I looked at the ESCO import (in pictures) and the only difference I see between the ESCO and my "AC Hydraulic" stand is that the ESCO has a gold colored tube for the adjustable support, whereas the AC one I have is silver. Hard to say from a picture, but it looks like maybe one factory makes these bases and then someone slaps a sticker on it to mark it ESCO or AC
It ***** because I really am big on not getting under Chinese jackstands. I don't care how good they look. Just don't trust them.
I looked at the ESCO import (in pictures) and the only difference I see between the ESCO and my "AC Hydraulic" stand is that the ESCO has a gold colored tube for the adjustable support, whereas the AC one I have is silver. Hard to say from a picture, but it looks like maybe one factory makes these bases and then someone slaps a sticker on it to mark it ESCO or AC
It ***** because I really am big on not getting under Chinese jackstands. I don't care how good they look. Just don't trust them.
Vinko
Well-known member
Do you know where they were made? Do you know where they are currently being made? If so, are you willing to post this information? Don't know if you imported these direct, or from a distributor within the US, but that information would be easy enough to come by. If you did know, I would understand were you not to feel comfortable revealing such information.
One North American dealer claims to have confirmed with the Danish factory that these stands are made in Denmark, while someone at the Danish factory claims that they are not made in their factory, but didn't answer the rest of my query concerning country of origin. I'll have to go back to the original e-mail to see if he stated they weren't made in Denmark at all.
@ Mark: I agree that I wouldn't buy them if they were made in China. At least for that money. I'd probably go Esco. What I would like to know is if the steel is any different between the alleged Danish ones and the Chinese ones. I'm curious to know specs.
I was offered in one e-mail the argument that were they made in Denmark, they'd have to be priced so high that no one would buy them. I think there would still be a market for them. I don't know what (if any) steel is being produced in Denmark, but Swedish stuff is very good. I can't imagine, being sorta familiar with steel prices, that raw materials would be that expensive. Now, set-up at the Danish factory might be a different situation. Tooling and what-not. From what I've read, they don't have that many employees, and a lot of robotic tech. Other thing is that Steve observed elsewhere that the welds on the Esco were superior to the AC's at some point. I wonder if the AC's were being made in China all along? Maybe somewhere else in Europe? Who knows, but this has got be very curious indeed.
edit: just saw read your other post, so I guess that sort of answers some of my query....
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ultgar
Well-known member
I could have sworn that I saw the 3000N flat top stands on the AC Hydraulic website when I researched this prior to purchase last summer.
I looked at the ESCO import (in pictures) and the only difference I see between the ESCO and my "AC Hydraulic" stand is that the ESCO has a gold colored tube for the adjustable support, whereas the AC one I have is silver. Hard to say from a picture, but it looks like maybe one factory makes these bases and then someone slaps a sticker on it to mark it ESCO or AC
It ***** because I really am big on not getting under Chinese jackstands. I don't care how good they look. Just don't trust them.
I used to be able to buy the posts and pads separately for customers who had regular 3000n's and want to convert them to "flat-tops". I suspect the posts were made outside of Denmark and used with the Danish made 3000n base. This would need to be confirmed by someone at the factory.
MrMark
Well-known member
Vinco and Steve: This has made me very curious. And, I don't like being lied to.
Steve: Are those posts that you were able to get gold or silver?
Now, I am really confused. You just stated that there was a Danish made 3000N base. If so, isn't that base the same as the flat top base that I purchased last summer. Why would the Danish factory make the base for the "regular" stand, but not the flat top model. Confused.
Mark
Edit:
Steve: Do you have some kind of jack adaptor/pad for a hein warner floor jack to pick up MB by factory jack pads and/or tubes?
Steve: Are those posts that you were able to get gold or silver?
Now, I am really confused. You just stated that there was a Danish made 3000N base. If so, isn't that base the same as the flat top base that I purchased last summer. Why would the Danish factory make the base for the "regular" stand, but not the flat top model. Confused.
Mark
Edit:
Steve: Do you have some kind of jack adaptor/pad for a hein warner floor jack to pick up MB by factory jack pads and/or tubes?
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MrMark
Well-known member
Steve, In looking back over your posts I think I see where some confusion is coming from.
When you stated that the original 3000N flat tops were never made in Denmark what exactly were you referring to? It seems you may have only been referring to the support tube, which you had a hand in designing. I think this may be what is confusing me and maybe others.
Can you clarify?
When you stated that the original 3000N flat tops were never made in Denmark what exactly were you referring to? It seems you may have only been referring to the support tube, which you had a hand in designing. I think this may be what is confusing me and maybe others.
Can you clarify?
ultgar
Well-known member
The word from the importers in past years was that this product was not made in Denmark. I don't know why AC would outsource the whole product.....I would assume (and I can't confirm this...Keny Anderson or one of the other product mgrs at AC will have to do this for you) that only the post was made offsite.
Flemming should get you your answers...he is the one who sold you the stands and is in contact with the factory on a regular basis. SD
Vinko
Well-known member
Mark: take what I've written as just another guy on the internet. I haven't confirmed anything. And I didn't want to post the e-mail messages I've received concerning this since I assume that all e-mail is sent with the expectation of privacy. Let me re-read them and make sure I've got right what I've been told. Last thing I want to do is spread misinformation.
I've understood though I'm not certain that some of the current offerings on the AC jackstands are made with the 3000 base and a flat top, but let me confirm that.
All this said, if it ain't made in Denmark or some European ISO standard factory using good steel, I'd be more inclined to just go with the Esco for the flat stands. Maybe the HW or other American-made jack stands as well, since the prices, last I checked, were pretty reasonable.
ultgar
Well-known member
On a different note, I received my DK13HLQ from AC-Hydraulics.com today!! Looks to be in great condition (Thanks UPS
The rubber pad (assuming you got one with the jack) will press into the stock cradle the first time you raise a vehicle. It is the same one used on the flat top jackstands and will protect the underside of the vehicles you're lifting. I keep a bunch of these in stock should you ever need a replacement.
SD
Maybe someone (ultgar?) can offer some advice.
I bought DK13HLQ about 1.5 years ago from ASE deals. It started to lower itself like shortly after a year. I only now realized it came with 2 year warranty. How do I go about requesting warranty repair now after the distributorship change? I guess I should contact acjacks.com and ask them
I bought DK13HLQ about 1.5 years ago from ASE deals. It started to lower itself like shortly after a year. I only now realized it came with 2 year warranty. How do I go about requesting warranty repair now after the distributorship change? I guess I should contact acjacks.com and ask them