Bottle Jacks

[Farmall450]

They never seem to get mentioned much...how come?
My dad has quite a few, nothing better to lift a skidsteer or go on unstable ground.

Just bough a Torin 6 ton for the truck, like $15. Not too shabby IMO.




Also, what's the difference between the Torin and the Black Jack Torin?

 

[retrobuilder]

Bottle jacks are very versatile as well as the mechanical screw jacks. Most shop presses use them for compression.

For lifting a transmission, aligning a tail shaft or small trailers. We often used a small bottle jack which also had a top integrated acme screw for fine adjustments. Also useful for frame repairs.

Low $ for a lot of tonnage.. They do not make up for a jack stand though.

 

[Farmall450]

Bottle jacks are very versatile as well as the mechanical screw jacks. Most shop presses use them for compression.

For lifting a transmission, aligning a tail shaft or small trailers. We often used a small bottle jack which also had a top integrated acme screw for fine adjustments. Also useful for frame repairs.

Low $ for a lot of tonnage.. They do not make up for a jack stand though.

I completely agree, I have a small (2 ton) that was my grandpa's...dang handy, and they last forever!

The one I bought has the acme thread, pretty nice. None of my dad's heavier ones seem to have that...

 

[Rogue1987]

I have two of the red torin 6ton units at work and I love 'em. Also a mess of the cheap HF ones and some 30ton Taiwan units, they sure come in handy.

 

[signcrafter]

I have a couple but don't use them much. For most auto repair I use the floor jack because it's easy to move with wheels on it and easy to pump up. But I use mine for things like supporting or maneuvering a trans or something. I also keep a few older scissor jacks laying around from old vehicles for supporting things. I welded a nut to where the cheap handle used to go and just use the impact to zip it up and down. They come in handy when working by yourself ad trying to put up an exhaust or something, you can use one to support one end and work at the other. I have a couple 20 ton bottle jacks, I had to level a trailer for someone so got two from HF on sale. You can never have enough jacks to pick from!

 

[zcbauer89]

They don't necessarily last forever. We had a 12 ton that we would use regularly for farm work. The seals went out on it about 5 years ago. Its got to be 65 years old, and I don't know the brand. That was a hell of a bottle jack. I would be lost without my 20 ton bottle jacks and my 50 ton bottle jack.

 

[spotco2]

I love them. Nothing better for jacking up anything from your tractor to your house. They are very versitile and under rated. Their very stout for their small size.

 

[85FourEyedGT]

personally for me I work on a lot of sports cars etc and if I wanted to use a bottle jack I would first have to jack up the car a good bit with a standard trolley/floor jack just for the bottle to fit underneath, so whats the point?? I will admit you can get some impressive tonnage for a hell of a price though!

 

[Farmall450]

They don't necessarily last forever. We had a 12 ton that we would use regularly for farm work. The seals went out on it about 5 years ago. Its got to be 65 years old, and I don't know the brand. That was a hell of a bottle jack. I would be lost without my 20 ton bottle jacks and my 50 ton bottle jack.

I'd say 65 years out of a jack that gets heavily used is pretty good IMO. I imagine you can rebuild them fairly cheaply as well.

Does your 50 ton hook up to the air compressor?
I'd like to get one of those, even though I'd probably still use the nice 3.5 ton floor jack more often.

I love them. Nothing better for jacking up anything from your tractor to your house. They are very versitile and under rated. Their very stout for their small size.

Agreed, without them we'd never be able to change tractor tires/fix valve cores/etc...they'll lift one right up by the drawbar. Amazing.

I posted this because of that underrated part, I never hear anyone on hear talk about them but they're cheap, compact, and strong.

I have a couple but don't use them much. For most auto repair I use the floor jack because it's easy to move with wheels on it and easy to pump up. But I use mine for things like supporting or maneuvering a trans or something. I also keep a few older scissor jacks laying around from old vehicles for supporting things. I welded a nut to where the cheap handle used to go and just use the impact to zip it up and down. They come in handy when working by yourself ad trying to put up an exhaust or something, you can use one to support one end and work at the other. I have a couple 20 ton bottle jacks, I had to level a trailer for someone so got two from HF on sale. You can never have enough jacks to pick from!

How are those HF ones?
The Torin's are from China too so I would think they're comparable.

I have two of the red torin 6ton units at work and I love 'em. Also a mess of the cheap HF ones and some 30ton Taiwan units, they sure come in handy.

How are the HF ones?
I might get a 2 ton since they're so small and handy...

 

[Farmall450]

personally for me I work on a lot of sports cars etc and if I wanted to use a bottle jack I would first have to jack up the car a good bit with a standard trolley/floor jack just for the bottle to fit underneath, so whats the point?? I will admit you can get some impressive tonnage for a hell of a price though!

They have "compact" models now that are only a few inches tall yet lift quite a bit of weight.

 

[warmpancakes]

I have a pair of US jack 6 tons, with the acme thread Greatest things for getting a motor to line up with solid motor mounts

 

[skruft]

They are good tools but they are not very stable and the top of them, very narrow, exerts a lot of force. They are great for moving a component like a spring or axle up and down. Just do not ever get under a car if you have only the jack supporting it - I dropped a car on myself when I did this as a foolish teenager.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I work on snow grooming equipment as well as some other various heavier tracked machines. I love a good bottle jack, they are easy to use and easy to carry with me on road calls. I have what I think is a 30 ton taiwan(its not marked but is bigger than any 20ton Ive seen.) and the one I use most is a little 12ton, it fits in almost anywhere. Ive been wanting a little 2 ton one for doing certain things inside tub style chassis.

 

[Farmall450]

I have a pair of US jack 6 tons, with the acme thread Greatest things for getting a motor to line up with solid motor mounts

Can you screw it when there is weight on there.

They are good tools but they are not very stable and the top of them, very narrow, exerts a lot of force. They are great for moving a component like a spring or axle up and down. Just do not ever get under a car if you have only the jack supporting it - I dropped a car on myself when I did this as a foolish teenager.

I was thinking of making some bigger pads for the top of it because of that reason.

That's why you use jackstands!
I wouldn't crawl under a car with only one bottle jack, or even one floor jack holding it up regardless.

I work on snow grooming equipment as well as some other various heavier tracked machines. I love a good bottle jack, they are easy to use and easy to carry with me on road calls. I have what I think is a 30 ton taiwan(its not marked but is bigger than any 20ton Ive seen.) and the one I use most is a little 12ton, it fits in almost anywhere. Ive been wanting a little 2 ton one for doing certain things inside tub style chassis.

Yeah, I think I may get one for like $10 or 12 bucks.
That would still probably lift one "corner" of my truck.

 

[warmpancakes]

Can you screw it when there is weight on there.



I:

Yes but it the weight is off center they bind easily

 

[zkling]

I use them for positioning more than lifting. I have a tiny one with adjusting screw and it is super handy.

 

[Farmall450]

Yes but it the weight is off center they bind easily

That makes sense, I normally just screw it up to whatever it is and then lift hydraulically.

I use them for positioning more than lifting. I have a tiny one with adjusting screw and it is super handy.

Yeah they are! So strong too, even the little ones.

 

[smiffy]

Does anyone here use engineering jacks
They have a diaphragm or something in the
Reservoir so they can be used in any orientation
For positioning heavy components when they have to be moved sideways

 

[Farmall450]

Does anyone here use engineering jacks
They have a diaphragm or something in the
Reservoir so they can be used in any orientation
For positioning heavy components when they have to be moved sideways

No, do you have a picture?

 

[RECox286]

As always, different tools are made for different applications.

Floor jacks are the choice to raise vehicles where there is

not much clearance between the body of the car and the

floor, and the jacking point is located at an awkward distance

underneath the vehicle. Bottle jacks will do the job, yet

one would surely have to put ones' self in harms' way to

get the job done. I quess you wouldn't reach for a stubby

12 pt wrench when you would be better off with a heftier

6 pt deep socket and long ratchet to be on the safe side,

saying to yourself "either one will do the trick," as you wipe

the blood from your knuckles. I should think that most of

us here, as I do, have bottle jacks in their shop, but only

use them for those times and jobs when they are needed.

Uncle Bob

 

[zcbauer89]

@farmall450, my 50 ton isn't air operated, but my next purchase will be one. An air operated jack is an EXTREMELY handy tool to have. Saves the body a lot.

 

[smiffy]

No, do you have a picture?

here you go

http://www.liftingsafety.co.uk/product/lightweight-hydraulic-jacks-3037.html

 

[Farmall450]

As always, different tools are made for different applications.

Floor jacks are the choice to raise vehicles where there is

not much clearance between the body of the car and the

floor, and the jacking point is located at an awkward distance

underneath the vehicle. Bottle jacks will do the job, yet

one would surely have to put ones' self in harms' way to

get the job done. I quess you wouldn't reach for a stubby

12 pt wrench when you would be better off with a heftier

6 pt deep socket and long ratchet to be on the safe side,

saying to yourself "either one will do the trick," as you wipe

the blood from your knuckles. I should think that most of

us here, as I do, have bottle jacks in their shop, but only

use them for those times and jobs when they are needed.

Uncle Bob

Yup, I agree. I guess we just don't hear about them much here.

@farmall450, my 50 ton isn't air operated, but my next purchase will be one. An air operated jack is an EXTREMELY handy tool to have. Saves the body a lot.

I imagine, you could lift a semi too with one of those...

here you go

http://www.liftingsafety.co.uk/product/lightweight-hydraulic-jacks-3037.html

Nope, never seen one before. Must be a british thing?

 

[tibwd]

I have a 4 ton one, with adjustment screw on top of shaft, at least 25 years old, ALLTRADE is the brand, and though small (8 inches compressed) it is a strong heavy piece of gear. I never looked, but just checked, made in Taiwan!! Who knew.....these are great for positioning engines, using a board to avoid small area of pressure. Would like to get one that works horizontally for pushing or ramming.

 

[McFarmer]

I just picked up an OTC jack, made in Spain. Seems to be good, time will tell.