Blackhawk jack

[crab]

Picked this up today. Not sure what I've got, the only number I've found on it is 217 on top. I'm guessing from the size that it's probably 1 1/2 ton, needs rebuild but that's cool. I'll be calling Hi-ball probably. Soooo, anybody know anything about this jack ?

 

[whateg01]

Looks like a S-17 from the casting. 1.5 ton. Not sure if these little jacks are as bad as the bigger ones like the S-4, but I've heard they cost quite a bit to rebuild. Hopefully, my S-4 never has to be rebuilt, only restored to look nice. Cool machines, though!

Be sure to post pics of the work you do to it.

Dave

 

[crab]

Thanks. I haven't done anything with it yet but the wheels need attention, needs new seals and I think one of the side plates is bent. Well, I know one of the side plates is bent unless they are made that way. The handle wasn't designed to come up very far. I hope I can modify that somehow. I think I got it at a decent price so there's a little room for seals as long as that's all it needs.

 

[dlcwent]

Crab, I used these guys for my S-4 rebuild kit. Around $120.00 if you go that route.

www.hcrcnow.com/shop/seal-kits/blackhawk

 

[crab]

Thanks dlcwent, I want to deal with the wheels and the bent frame side plate before I get to deep here. I wish it was an S4 like yours but it really should be fine for jacking up the corner of a car, I've got a 3 ton craftsman anyway. They're just really neat jacks, I couldn't resist it.

 

[dlcwent]

They are awesome jacks. I rarely use mine as I have lifts, but I love the Blackhawk. The rebuild wasn't very difficult. I did have to manufacture my own universal that operates the release though. I couldn't find any hard parts for it anywhere.

 

[crab]

I'd like to be able to date it, haven't had much luck on the net yet. It's going to end up being one of those deals where you have more money in it than it's worth probably but I guess the entertainment is worth something. I'll get it apart this week and see what I've got myself into.

 

[dlcwent]

Good luck crab.

 

[crab]

It's apart, straightened the side plate, it's cast steel . I was afraid it was cast iron in which case it would break . There's a place in Tn. that I'm going to send the pump to, they do a lot of these and can do anything it might need and have all the parts, google Blackhawk.com, anyway for app. 150 including parts it will be like new. That also includes any machine work that may be needed. Not sure I'm going to do anything about the wheels, they don't use bearings just an axle through the wheel. There are options to tighten them up but none are cheap, we'll see, that's the last thing to do anyway. I'm going to put it back together to make sure everything still fits with the side plate straightened up and then I'll send the pump off and start the painting process. Turn around on the pump is about 2 weeks they said so I should be ready to put it together and be finished when I get the pump back. I'll take a piece that still has paint on it to a PPG paint store to get a match for single stage urethane .

 

[whateg01]

That's good news about the side plate. The side of my S-4 has a slight bend to it and Ihad thought about straightening it. I, too, was worried about it being iron. Didn't seem like the most likely choice for the part, but it's definitely cast, so it could have been.

Dave

 

[crab]

Didn't even need to heat it, used a press. Seems like a lot of these old jacks have a bent side plate but I suppose in 60 or 70 years they've been through a lot. Who knows how they were bent. I'd sure like to know when these were made, I'll find out eventually but so far no luck at all.

 

[CRTDI]

Picked this up today. Not sure what I've got, the only number I've found on it is 217 on top. I'm guessing from the size that it's probably 1 1/2 ton, needs rebuild but that's cool. I'll be calling Hi-ball probably. Soooo, anybody know anything about this jack ?

Super nice looking jack... It's a 1.5 Ton, S-7. See post #145 and #149 for another here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127364&highlight=blackhawk&page=8

 

[crab]

I saw a sales flyer on e-bay for my jack, it was from 1938. It was an S7, mine is stamped S17 which I guess is just a latter version, it looked identical, so I think it was probably produced in the late 30s or early 40s. Sent the pump off yesterday, took all the parts to work and spent some time with the parts cleaner. Next is some soap and water, wire brush and primer. I doubt that I'll actually use it very much although I do want it in perfect working order but it will probably be more of a display piece in the garage. This could get addictive, I've been watching C-list for the next one. Is this the way it starts ?

 

[crab]

Well she's done, picked up the back of my wife's Jeep G.C. and the back of my pickup, no problems . Turned out pretty good, I may touch up a few places that got nicked putting it back together but I may not. Half way through it I was wishing I hadn't bought it , now I'm ready for another one. Saw an AUSCO on C.L. .

 

[469 runner]

That is really nice. Getting one just leads to more. It is a sickness.

 

[whateg01]

There's one on CL in KC. I thought about picking it up when I was up there last weekend, but it's not really a deal. Probably a fair asking price, but not great. There's an S4 in Tulsa, too, but it's a little high, IMO. There are actually a few older jacks from Tulsa that keep coming up.

Nice job on the cleanup!

Dave

 

[crab]

Thanks, you really don't know what you've got until you get it apart so you can't pay to much for one. I don't know if there is a market for a restored jack. I know that there are 2 American made floor jacks on the market, U.S. Jack and Milwaukee Jack, either one start at around 700 and go up from there. I would love to have an S4 with a working light. I may take a look at an Ausco . Guess I've been bitten by the jack bug. A jack with a light and a key to lock the handle, how cool would that be !

 

[whateg01]

I'm working (slowly) on getting the light working on my S-4. I've started machining a master lens to make a mold from. Once that's done, I'll cast one in epoxy or urethane. Then I want to make a switch to replace the missing one. I'm all for the look and feel of the original, but I want better, so I'll replace the bulb with an LED and then maybe use a 9V battery or something to power it. So, it's going to look original, but it'll work better.

I find it interesting that new USA made jacks are so expensive, but a lot of these older jacks can't be given away. Then there are those who are trying to get top dollar for them, just because they are old. It's an interesting dynamic. I kind of get the feeling that those who are really interested in them, would rather buy them and fix them up, so they aren't looking to spend a lot of money maybe? Then again, we spend a lot of money fixing old stuff up sometimes.

I still get a chuckle out of all the times people ask for recommendations and there are so many replies that the jacks at Harbor Freight are the greatest thing since sliced bread. I get that sometimes a guy needs the low profile that some offer, but I can't believe that anybody mistakes them for a top quality product.

 

[dlcwent]

Wow Crab, that looks great. I'm sure you're happy with the end result.

 

[crab]

Wow Crab, that looks great. I'm sure you're happy with the end result.

Thanks a lot, yea it's really fun when it turns out good. My next project is a bar b q station/work table. I'll weld up something that will hold 2 different grilles and have a good work surface with a cabinet on the bottom to hold charcoal/wood etc. I actually need that, then I may try to find another jack. I wonder what the smallest floor jack ever made is, I don't think I've ever seen a real small one, that would be cool.

 

[dlcwent]

I'll have to look into that crab. It would be cool.

 

[whateg01]

I keep buying bigger and bigger floor jacks. Started out as I just needed another floor jack, and now I have a collection. Last one I picked up was a Walker 884. Gonna need a bigger shop...

Dave

 

[dlcwent]

I keep buying bigger and bigger floor jacks. Started out as I just needed another floor jack, and now I have a collection. Last one I picked up was a Walker 884. Gonna need a bigger shop...

Dave

Dave, starting to collect anything can overtake any free space for sure, but jacks take up a lot of room. You will be pushed out the door before long.

I started collecting vises a while ago and now I seem to have "piles" of them scattered around. Good luck with your collection.......Dan

 

[whateg01]

The first step to recovery is recognizing that you have a collection - er, problem.

Dave

 

[dlcwent]

The first step to recovery is recognizing that you have a collection - er, problem.

Dave

 

[gearage]

Hey there I just joined the GJ and saw your jack you posted some time back. I have an S7 which is very similar and would like to fix it from leaking. I know I need a seal kit, but can I do the work myself?