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Bottle jack recommendations

Dave Nelson

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Sep 25, 2011
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181
Looking for a good short or stubby bottle jack preferably under 7 in. collapsed. Any brands better than others?
 
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Hiball

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Price? Tonnage? How often are you gonna use it?

7" Wow.. Do you mean Floor Jack? They make Stubby Bottle jacks but they are pricey
 
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Dave Nelson

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Sep 25, 2011
Messages
181
I have a sliding jack tray on my 4 post lift, needs to be that low to get under front crossmember, don't want to spend a fortune.
 

Hiball

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Its not near the jack as that Norco, it only has a 3" worth of Hydraulic Lift versus almost 4 on the Norco, That williams has the Same Crappy Valve system as all the Cheap Bottle Jacks.

There are a handfull of threads concerning Low Profile Jacks to use on Lifts here at GJ, Unfortunatly my Search didnt bring up anything.
 
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msnow

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Nov 16, 2009
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192
Just bought a bunch of bottle jacks so I feel uniquely qualified to answer this question. Norco bottle jacks are primarily made in Japan although they do make some products in the US. They are considered to be the top of the line now a days. The only bottle jacks I could find that were US made are made by US Jack. They are also top of the line but more pricey then the Norco. Anyone that has ever had to use a jack to lift up a substantial load would probably recommend buying a good jack is money well spent. I ordered that same Norco 12 ton Low profile just the other day. I am waiting for my jacks to come in and will post some pictures when they do. I ordered both Norco and US Jack. Another solution might be an enerpac ram if you have a hand pump.
 

EDGAR

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Aug 21, 2010
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437
Harbor Freight has a 12 ton, low profile bottle jack, model # 66569, but its minimum height is 7.5 inches. It is on sale for $34.99. Their 20 ton low profile also has a 7.5 inches minimun height.
 
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IngyHere

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Aug 22, 2011
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Harbor Freight has a 12 ton, low profile bottle jack, model # 66569, but its minimum height is 7.5 inches. It is on sale for $34.99. Their 20 ton low profile also has a 7.5 inches minimun height.

Would you trust your life to a $35 discount jack? What about a 7-year-old or 10-year-old $35 discount jack?
 

msnow

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Nov 16, 2009
Messages
192
Would you trust your life to a $35 discount jack? What about a 7-year-old or 10-year-old $35 discount jack?

You know the real problem with Harbor Freight is they make great stuff for people who have never seen things go really wrong especially when it comes to lifting or dealing with a heavy load. Or for people who need to use the equipment on the minimum end of the specification i.e. jacking 1 ton on a 12 ton jack.
 

EDGAR

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Aug 21, 2010
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437
Do not be fooled by high prices. Some expensive jacks are built like the cheaper jacks, only that they charge more for them because they are selling you the brand name. For example, Craftman sells a floor jack that is the same as the blue Michelin (with minor cosmetic differences) but at twice the price. There is also a new Blackhawk which sells for $200.00 which is the same as the blue Michelin. These three jacks are made by Shinnfu of America but the person that buys the more expensive one thinks that he got a better jack when in fact that is not the case. Remember the saying "buyer beware". For example, a jack like the OTC FLOOR BOSS is expensive but it is built using the same cheap main seal as the cheap China imports so the OTC's are as good or as bad as the China imports. All the OTC's use a cheap main seal ( except the rebranded Weavers) and everyone thinks highly of them because they do not know what is inside. Again, do not be fooled by name brands.

As for the quality of the machining of the jacks pumps, I have yet to find an import jack that is badly machined. Even the small trolley jacks or mini jacks show good machining. The problem with many imports is the quality of the seals used. With good quality seals an import becomes as good as any other jack can be.

Just because a Harbor Freight bottle jacks cost $35.00 does not make it instant ****. I have repaired $130 bottle jacks that use the same cheap main seal (ram seal) as the cheap bottle jacks. A good brand of bottle jacks is OMEGA, becuse they use real u-cups. These are also manufactured by Shinn Fu which, which by the way, also builds the HEIN WERNERS.

By the way, the Michelin, the Craftman, and the Blackhawk use a real u-cup so that, at least, is a good point about them. Just change the o-rings seals and they are great.
 
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Dave Nelson

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 25, 2011
Messages
181
Do not be fooled by high prices. Some expensive jacks are built like the cheaper jacks, only that they charge more for them because they are selling you the brand name. For example, Craftman sells a floor jack that is the same as the blue Michelin (with minor cosmetic differences) but at twice the price. There is also a new Blackhawk which sells for $200.00 which is the same as the blue Michelin. These three jacks are made by Shinnfu of America but the person that buys the more expensive one thinks that he got a better jack when in fact that is not the case. Remember the saying "buyer beware". For example, a jack like the OTC FLOOR BOSS is expensive but it is built using the same cheap main seal as the cheap China imports so the OTC's are as good or as bad as the China imports. All the OTC's use a cheap main seal ( except the rebranded Weavers) and everyone thinks highly of them because they do not know what is inside. Again, do not be fooled by name brands.

As for the quality of the machining of the jacks pumps, I have yet to find an import jack that is badly machined. Even the small trolley jacks or mini jacks show good machining. The problem with many imports is the quality of the seals used. With good quality seals an import becomes as good as any other jack can be.

Just because a Harbor Freight bottle jacks cost $35.00 does not make it instant ****. I have repaired $130 bottle jacks that use the same cheap main seal (ram seal) as the cheap bottle jacks. A good brand of bottle jacks is OMEGA, becuse they use real u-cups. These are also manufactured by Shinn Fu which, which by the way, also builds the HEIN WERNERS.

By the way, the Michelin, the Craftman, and the Blackhawk use a real u-cup so that, at least, is a good point about them. Just change the o-rings seals and they are great.

Thanks Edgar, very good info.
 

Hiball

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Apr 30, 2009
Messages
14,027
Location
Missery
IMO The Big Difference between your Cheap Import Bottle Jacks and the Higher End stuff (US Jack, Norco, Vintage US Made stuff) is the Valve System (Outside of the Seals, Already Mentioned by Edgar). The Low End stuff uses a Cartrige system that Generally sits under the Pump and they are Tempermental to say the least. Your high-end stuff is gonna have the Seats machined into the Block with apropriate Balls/Springs etc.

Would you trust your life to a $35 discount jack? What about a 7-year-old or 10-year-old $35 discount jack?

I cant Stress enough.. Dont trust your life to any Hydraulic Jack/System. If you intend on climbing under a suspended load, Make sure you are using apropriate Jack Stands.
 
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msnow

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Joined
Nov 16, 2009
Messages
192
As promised my bottle jacks came in.

Norco 4 ton, Norco Low Height 12 ton, and US Jack 12 ton.

Great quality got 2 of each of the 12 tons.
 

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