Floor Jack

[hickmlg09]

So I wanting to surprise my dad with a nice gift for his birthday. (Not until June, but I want to start looking around now for deals) What is a good floor jack? I would like to get something nice. Looking for something that he can use for the corvette and jeep. Want to just get him something special, as he derserves it

Any input is great

 

[metalhead212121]

corvette= LOW PROFILE jack... a "regular" jack wont get under a corvette due it being low to the ground.

stay away from sears jack's they ****. PM or search through HiBall's posts for anything and everything you want to know about jacks.

 

[hickmlg09]

Nice gift for your Dad.

Two questions to help with the recommendation: (i) what year Corvette does he have and (ii) does he jack at the side tie down locations (frame puck locations used for shipping and/or flat-bedding) or at the preferred jacking locations (factory recommended suspension cross-member locations)?

He will need a fairly long and low jack to reach the preferred jacking locations on a C5 or C6.

His corvette is a 1980. I'm not sure about the other question.

 

[thesilverone]

she's not going to have they money to spend on a jack like WHT suggested.

 

[hickmlg09]

corvette= LOW PROFILE jack... a "regular" jack wont get under a corvette due it being low to the ground.

stay away from sears jack's they ****. PM or search through HiBall's posts for anything and everything you want to know about jacks.

I have heard craftsman jacks are junk before to.

He has a nice jack right now that is a older one he got from my grandpa, but the turning park to lift and unlift is broken and he has to use pilars. I think the ex broke it when he borrowed it and took it to his parents, not really sure so im not going to blame him or my dad. Could be from old age also. He would use this jack on other things to besides his corvette. He does have jack stands for the corvette that he uses durning winter time.

 

[hickmlg09]

she's not going to have they money to spend on a jack like WHT suggested.

Why wouldn't I have the money? Are they over $500?

 

[hickmlg09]

Omega or AC DK13HLQ 2800lb High-Lift Floor Jack are two solutions used for the Corvette.

Can you use these on other cars like a jeep?

 

[trboxman]

If you have a Costco nearby you could look into the Arcan jack that they carry.

 

[tonydanzah]

costco arcan jack for $90 3ton low profile.

 

[hickmlg09]

If you have a Costco nearby you could look into the Arcan jack that they carry.

I do have one nearby, but don't have a membership anymore since I left cali.

 

[hickmlg09]

Yes they are fine for a Jeep. I have a Corvette and Jeep. The Omega is about $250 and the AC about $550.

These are the jacking locations for later Corvettes:

Sorry, I don't know much about a 1980 Corvette.

It's okay. His is consider a C3. $250 isn't bad. How many tons? Or can you choose what tons you want. I would like to find a 5ton.

 

[hickmlg09]

The Omega is 2 tons and the AC is 1.5 tons. Most of the low profile jacks used for sports cars won't be 5 tons. Not sure what Jeep your Dad has; but, I have both jacks and they work with my 4800 pound jeep.

You might want to join the Corvette Forum and ask the C3 guys what they recommend (forums.corvetteforum.com). You can go to the C3 section of the forum and search for jacks without joining.

Good luck.

He has a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. He is a member or that site so I will have to ask him for his loggin info and ask! Thanks for your help

 

[metalhead212121]

I have heard craftsman jacks are junk before to.

Heres a quick tip on craftsman jacks....

if you see a GREY craftsman jack for sale at a flea market or swap meet BUY IT! Ive got a GREY 3 ton jack from sears and the thing is great! It must be 15(?)years old. Only issue is its not low profile. (Would be great for Jeeps) IF this jack ever starts giving me problems I'll be PM'ing Hiball for replacement parts.

All sears jacks are now BLACK in color. I had one that I bought brand new and after a couple months the jack wouldn't go up straight! Biggest POS I ever bought... I tossed it in the scrap pile. Too dangerous to use... I worked at a shop that had another black craftsman jack... only lasted a year or two. The old craftsmen jacks were great... the new ones ****. End of story.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have heard craftsman jacks are junk before to.

Actually the old green Sears jacks are pretty good !

 

[theoldwizard1]

Related to this thread ...

What do you guys use as a spacer on you jack lift pad when you want to lift a truck/SUV, besides the old 4x6 chunk of wood ?

 

[hickmlg09]

Heres a quick tip on craftsman jacks....

if you see a GREY craftsman jack for sale at a flea market or swap meet BUY IT! Ive got a GREY 3 ton jack from sears and the thing is great! It must be 15(?)years old. Only issue is its not low profile. (Would be great for Jeeps) IF this jack ever starts giving me problems I'll be PM'ing Hiball for replacement parts.

All sears jacks are now BLACK in color. I had one that I bought brand new and after a couple months the jack wouldn't go up straight! Biggest POS I ever bought... I tossed it in the scrap pile. Too dangerous to use... I worked at a shop that had another black craftsman jack... only lasted a year or two. The old craftsmen jacks were great... the new ones ****. End of story.

I will remember that when I go to the flea market this summer! *Note to Self* Look for a grey craftsman.

 

[hickmlg09]

This is the floor jack that he has now.

I was thinking of maybe just getting him the spinning part to fix it for him.

 

[metalhead212121]

Actually the old green Sears jacks are pretty good !

NEVER saw a green sears jack... when did they make them??

Related to this thread ...

What do you guys use as a spacer on you jack lift pad when you want to lift a truck/SUV, besides the old 4x6 chunk of wood ?

I'm not saying I dont use wood as a spacer but be careful.... wood cracks and breaks after you use it over and over again. Ask me how I know.

 

[BD1]

here's the thread on the ARCAN. I just got two yesterday. AWESOME for the money.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36136&highlight=arcan

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139221&highlight=arcan

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103840&highlight=arcan

 

[hickmlg09]

here's the thread on the ARCAN. I just got two yesterday. AWESOME for the money.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36136&highlight=arcan

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139221&highlight=arcan

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103840&highlight=arcan

Thanks I'll check them out

 

[MrSnicks]

You can also pickup the ARCAN jack (not quite the same as costco) at northern tool.

Patrick

 

[GirlnAgarage]

You can also pickup the ARCAN jack (not quite the same as costco) at northern tool.

Patrick

I was just looking at that - $149 for the 3.5T. I realized also that I'll have to repaint the jack stands to match the other tools in the garage.

 

[MrSnicks]

I was just looking at that - $149 for the 3.5T. I realized also that I'll have to repaint the jack stands to match the other tools in the garage.

Keep watching it. It does go on sale for $99.00. I also get coupons in the mail from them to lower the price more.

Patrik

 

[BB767]

Actually the old green Sears jacks are pretty good !

NEVER saw a green sears jack... when did they make them??

I don't know when Sears started to make green jacks...

...but I bought this one new from Sears in 1976 as one of the first pieces of my shop equipment. It still works flawlessly over 35 years later.

hickmlg09, mine has many similarities like the one your dad has now.

I'd say it's almost the same shade green with white, the same silver foil label on the lift arm describing the weight capacity, the same location for the data plate, riveted on the right side of the frame etc. Yours is a different design jack and mine is only 1 1/2 ton capacity, but I bet the same manufacturer made them both.

Sears didn't make their own equipment back then, but bid it out to different manufacturers.

Here's a suggestion, buy your Dad a new low profile jack, he deserves it. Then snag his old one and take it to a competent repair shop and get it repaired and then keep it for yourself for the next 35 years and think of dear old Dad every time you use it. These were made out of material that still could be welded and repaired. Hiball should be able to supply you with any parts/seals needed for the hydraulics part of it should you need those.

BTW, when looking at flea markets, look for green Craftsman jacks. They are pretty good pieces of equipment.

Oh, one thing more.....don't think just because something is old it needs to be replaced...

...here's an over 70 year old Walker floor jack I restored...

...and I bet it out lives you and me both. Good luck and it sounds like your Dad is pretty lucky to have a daughter that cares this much. Way to go!

Thomas from the Restored 1930's Auto Shop

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51567

 

[hickmlg09]

Keep watching it. It does go on sale for $99.00. I also get coupons in the mail from them to lower the price more.

Patrik

Will do. I always try to check for sales and than wait, I still have tell June so no need to be in a hurry.

 

[hickmlg09]

Wow! Yours does. He got the Green one he has from my grandpa when he passed away. So who knows how long my grandpa had it. I will have to check the side of it and see what it says. Will do when I get home and post a update!

 

[240sxguy]

...and I bet it out lives you and me both. Good luck and it sounds like your Dad is pretty lucky to have a son that cares this much. Way to go!

Thomas from the Restored 1930's Auto Shop

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51567

Hick' is a daughter most likely

 

[jjoel]

costco arcan jack for $90 3ton low profile.

$104.99 now... and mine is a 3 1/4 ton from costco. nice jack though

 

[BB767]

Hick' is a daughter most likely

Oh................I knew that ..............sigh...............

Thanks 240sxguy.

Open mouth........wide.........insert foot........repeat as necessary..........

Thomas

 

[hickmlg09]

Oh................I knew that ..............sigh...............

Thanks 240sxguy.

Open mouth........wide.........insert foot........repeat as necessary..........

Thomas

Yea! I'm a girl. Your forgiven thou

 

[BB767]

Yea! I'm a girl. Your forgiven thou

I was right!! Your Dad is a lucky guy to have a great daughter like you.

Thanks for giving me a pass on that one! Again good luck with the jack, hope I was of some help.

Thomas

 

[hickmlg09]

I was right!! Your Dad is a lucky guy to have a great daughter like you.

Thanks for giving me a pass on that one! Again good luck with the jack, hope I was of some help.

Thomas

No problem. Yea he will use me once I learn how to do it! I joke around with him and I told him he would have to pay me, but he disagrees since I'm his daughter.

 

[Outlawmws]

This is the floor jack that he has now.

I was thinking of maybe just getting him the spinning part to fix it for him.

Take the positioning bolt out (Top of the cast part the handle fits into) and remove the handle. Someone just gave me a similar jack and it was loaded with dirt and rust in the collar area the handle fits into. A bit of wire wheeling and cleaning, and then greased to get it smooth again and some more grease in the gears that work the screw for operating the jack, and Voila! A working jack...

 

[I_know_Nothing]

Regarding your Dads' floor jack.
Sears Floor Jack - 2 Ton
-Model #328.12031
-Made In Japan

very high quality, worth rebuilding.

Is it hard to turn the handle?
Sometimes the handle yoke goes out of center and binds the spider gear or makes it hard to turn or stuck.

When the handle yoke is centered with the gears by a washer on one side or both to prevent the handle yoke to slide to the left or right, will make it very easy to turn the handle.
Having the handle yoke and the gears aligned also lessen the side loading of the pump.

If you have a broken gear it was probably cause by a mis-alignment of handle yoke and gears that made additional force required to turn the handle.

 

[hickmlg09]

Take the positioning bolt out (Top of the cast part the handle fits into) and remove the handle. Someone just gave me a similar jack and it was loaded with dirt and rust in the collar area the handle fits into. A bit of wire wheeling and cleaning, and then greased to get it smooth again and some more grease in the gears that work the screw for operating the jack, and Voila! A working jack...

Will take a look. Since i couldn't do much with the ratchet I guess I can use this as a project.

 

[hickmlg09]

Regarding your Dads' floor jack.
Sears Floor Jack - 2 Ton
-Model #328.12031
-Made In Japan

very high quality, worth rebuilding.

Is it hard to turn the handle?
Sometimes the handle yoke goes out of center and binds the spider gear or makes it hard to turn or stuck.

When the handle yoke is centered with the gears by a washer on one side or both to prevent the handle yoke to slide to the left or right, will make it very easy to turn the handle.
Having the handle yoke and the gears aligned also lessen the side loading of the pump.

If you have a broken gear it was probably cause by a mis-alignment of handle yoke and gears that made additional force required to turn the handle.

When you turn the handle it doesn't lift at all or when he has it up it doesn't bring it back down. He has to use a screwdriver. I think it is right at where the gears are to spin it.

 

[KMinAF]

NEVER saw a green sears jack... when did they make them??



I bought one identical to that pictured, must be going on 30 years ago. I paid the painful sum (for a college student) of just over $100.00 and it has never failed me. I am still using regularly to this day.

 

[toolz]

I have had that same 1 1/2 ton Green (Japan) Sears jack for 25 years,
have worked it pretty hard, even as a steering dolly for moving equipment.
It's really a pretty good piece.

I think it cost about a hundred bucks, in 1985.

 

[toolz]

I have had that same 1 1/2 ton Green (Japan) Sears jack for 25 years,
have worked it pretty hard, even as a steering dolly for moving equipment.
It's really a pretty good piece.

I think it cost about a hundred bucks, in 1985.

This one....

 

[pop pop]

If your Dad received it from your Granddad, he might be sentimentally attached. Perhaps you may want to have it repaired and cleaned up for him. Send a picture and PM to Hiball. He is the expert and might even do the repairs. He'll need some better pictures of the parts where the handle fits though. Hiball can also steer you to the new quality jacks that are available.