Ailing Hein Werner needs help

[FrankFIII]

I recently acquired an old Hein Werner service jack. I don't know the model as the tag on the lift arm is missing where the 4 rivets are located. On the lift arm it is cast "H-W" and "1 1/2 ton" below that. I assume it is a WS. Is there another location on this jack where a model number can be stamped?
This jack has had a hard life. The wheels have not seen lube in ages and the lube holes were packed with grease so hard, I needed a twist drill to get them cleared. While it does go up when pumped, (assuming this is a WS and using a WS parts list) hydraulic oil was seeping out of the unit block at plug 28 located on the parts list. The unit was obviously been into multiple times as the slot on plug 28 was really rounded off and must have been tightened with an impact of some type. I managed to take it off and I think I found the cause of the leakage to be a missing seal #29 from the WS parts list. I was able to locate a replacement seal #29 but since it was not in there to start with, I can only assume the direction it is supposed to be installed. The seal is round and tapered much like a dog's water dish. I am thinking the wider part of the seal goes in the port first so it points to the bottom of the block with the narrow end towards plug #28. I can't understand how some people can let their machinery get this bad.

 

[paulsomlo]

Yes, that's most likely a "WS".

The seal goes in open end first, closed end facing the plug, you're correct on that. You can also use some teflon plumber's tape on the plug, being careful not to get loose bits in the works. If you get both male and female threads clean enough, you can use a sealer, like loctite 518. They most likely used the impact, because they thought it would stop the leak.

By the way, welcome. And there's no lack of info here on that particular jack.

 

[FrankFIII]

Thanks Paul! that's one problem down on this. I'll be working on the rest of it one piece at a time. I also got a new plug # 28 so if I can clean up the unit block enough, I'll throw some locktite 518 at it.

 

[paulsomlo]

Some advice Frank - if you plan on rebuilding the hydraulics, tear it open and inspect before you buy a rebuild kit. That way, you avoid nasty surprises, like corroded cylinder walls, etc..

 

[Roberts210]

Does it look like this? Most difficult thing about rebuilding these is getting the tank nut offl

 

[FrankFIII]

My major concert is the frame. Someone welded a 90 piece of 1/4" thick angle iron with punched holes on it as a "nose" along/between the front wheels. Maybe to keep the frame plates in line? Whoever did that should have opened a shoe shop as he was a real cobbler.

 

[FrankFIII]

Does it look like this? Most difficult thing about rebuilding these is getting the tank nut offl

Roberts210 - I can't see any pictures. Do I need to make a change in the setup on my side?

 

[Roberts210]

Not sure. Can anyone else see the pictures?
Frank, are you using a cell phone, or a computer?

 

[paulsomlo]

Pics show up fine on my desktop.

 

[FrankFIII]

Not sure. Can anyone else see the pictures?
Frank, are you using a cell phone, or a computer?

I am using my home computer and work from home computer, but they are viewable now. My jack looks similar, the lift arm has an "HW" cast into it. it is painted "rattle can red" but where ever the paint is scratched I can see orange underneath. I found a picture online that looks like my jack, but this one has a tag on it and is rusty/orange.



I was able to stop the oil leak at the plug with the new plug and seal. I also had difficulty getting to the oil fill plug. The ripple piece of metal would not budge. I found that the tag ends of the frame were bent, both to the right and bound up the plate. Using a square and a little persuasion everything by the handle is square again. What is the normal lift height of this jack?
I was wrong before. The guys that owned it before was not a cobbler, he was a shoemaker and could open an entire warehouse!

 

[Roberts210]

How high will it lift? Never measured mine, but high enough I guess.

 

[paulsomlo]

Had the same issue with the metal cover being hard to pivot on mine. Lift height is probably 19" or so.

 

[FrankFIII]

I'm getting a 12 1/2" lift, I think it needs some more oil. New find on this jack, on the cross pin or bridge (#14) is a pin #11 that is described in the parts list as a "rd head rivet" #11 - 19095. Does anyone know the diameter and length of this rivet? This jack has a piece of bent-over coat hanger in this spot. The use of a coat hanger allow the cross piece to rock between a loaded and unloaded state.

 

[Roberts210]

Mine definitely goes higher than 12.5 inches.

 

[paulsomlo]

I'm getting a 12 1/2" lift, I think it needs some more oil. New find on this jack, on the cross pin or bridge (#14) is a pin #11 that is described in the parts list as a "rd head rivet" #11 - 19095. Does anyone know the diameter and length of this rivet? This jack has a piece of bent-over coat hanger in this spot. The use of a coat hanger allow the cross piece to rock between a loaded and unloaded state.

I have a bunch of leftover parts from my WS rebuild - if it's the part I think it is, it's 0.183" dia. (nominal 3/16"), and about 1 3/8" in length. Mine was just bent over to retain it, not sure if that was original or not. I didn't reuse it, I replaced it with a large cotter pin. Its only function is to retain the ram upon retraction. A #10 screw would probably do it.

I think the fill procedure is, with the hydraulics level, fill up to the bottom of the fill plug. Just checked mine, lift height is 20".

I'll link the drawing here, just so I don't have to keep going back to hcrcnow.com to see which parts you're referencing: https://www.hcrcnow.com/uploads/drawings/heinwerner_ws_floor_jack_1.5_ton.pdf

 

[FrankFIII]

Thanks Paul! I filled it with oil and was able to get it up to 20.5". I was disassembling the front wheels and on each side there is a bushing that is retained to the front axle by the same rivet (callout # 30 - 19095). I removed it to get the axle out and while it is used, it has a 0.178" diameter and the length is 1.4" may be different since it was peened over. The round head has a diameter of 0.320" as best as I can tell as that is beat up too.

 

[Roberts210]

Thanks for posting the link to the schematic Paul. I hadn't seen that before, and I own 2 Hein Werner floor jacks and an H-W bottle jack.

 

[FrankFIII]

I'm getting closer to the end on this HW. This one had one caster in the air about 3/16" on a flat cement surface. I've seen it mentioned on the forum in several spots. I loosened up the nuts on the pivot point on the lift arm just a tad, then did the same on both sides of the main block where they bolt through the frame. I then used the jack to put a little load on it, and while slightly loaded, tightened all the nuts and bolts I had just loosened. The load put all the casters on the floor and slop in the drilled holes on the frame allowed more than enough wiggle room to get the casters in the same plane. The pump roller (call out #8 - 23730) that is part of the handle assembly was worn flat on a couple sides and really no longer rolled. Took me some time to locate a NOS one online. Still waiting on that to come in.

 

[paulsomlo]

So, it holds a load then, no rebuild necessary?

 

[FrankFIII]

Yes, I was able to fully lift, and hold, without any gradual dropping or oil spots on the garage floor, the back of my 2002 Tahoe loaded with 1/4 ton of sakrete and 250 pounds of landscaping rock. I did not want to leave it jacked up overnight as that would probably not be good for it, but I left it up in the air for about an hour to an hour and a half.

 

[Roberts210]

I tested mine like this for 24 hours. No leak-down at all.

 

[FrankFIII]

I'll retest mine overnight then.

 

[FrankFIII]

It was a success! I had the jack hold up the loaded Tahoe again overnight for 24 hours. There was no leak-down or oil spots under it when I released it this morning. When I have a chance I will take a picture of it and post it.

 

[FrankFIII]

As promised, here are some pics of the jack. Only thing missing is a label and rivets on the lift arm. It came with the rivets but no label, I took out the rivets in case I come across a label at a reasonable price. It's not perfect but does not leak or leak down.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1073762&stc=1&d=1606105517

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1073763&stc=1&d=1606105517

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1073764&stc=1&d=1606105517

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1073765&stc=1&d=1606105517

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1073766&stc=1&d=1606105517

 

[Roberts210]

That's a beautiful restoration. It should work well for another lifetime now.

 

[FrankFIII]

Thank you, I am looking forward to using it as well. Next job for the jack, put the snow tires on the car. I like to wait until the day after thanksgiving for that.

 

[FrankFIII]

I started my Christmas shopping early and got something for my newly acquired HW WS floor jack. It is a saddle pad. This pad just drops right on top of the existing cast iron saddle and should allow me to safely jack without chipping away or gouging any finish on the body or frame.

 

[waltinbatonrouge]

Good morning! its been a while, but hope all is generally well with you guys..
Question for frank about the jackpad on his Oboy...as the saddle is a wee bit cup shaped, does this pad fit down into the saddle or it it just flat? I've replaced a couple of the flat ones after they crack in half lifting wifes Lexus on the side seam weld....
NOT lifting wife, she's not quite that heavy, oh oh, bats here comes the frying Pan!!! yeow!