Found A Walker 884 B Series in a junk pile!

[RazeHail]

I mantain a small farm for the local veterinarian. A few houses and many vehicles and other assorted projects. I recently opened up her pre-1950 cedar tractor shop in order to maintain her vehicles. Needing a heavy duty jack, I remembered i had seen one in one of several metal piles. I retrieved it and took down the info hoping to get it working again. I am amazed at the amount of info here and the jack fans. I welcome any and all advice through out what I,m sure will be long process. I don,t have much money to spare so bare with me. Thanks in advance.
Jack Info: Walker Hydraulics Roll-A-Car
No.884 Series B Range 4 to 24
Capacity 4 tons by Walker MFG. Co
Love the Red, White and Blue of a truly american made piece of history.
Can,t wait to have it lifting all the vehicles I need to service and the one I,m beginning to work on (Old Mail Jeep).

 

[Richard Cranium]

hi-ball is our local jack expert.

 

[RazeHail]

Ok, Thanks. I was just reading his often asked questions post. This is gonna be a new one for me. No experience with hydraulics.

 

[blazemaster83]

Nice score! I have one of these that I use almost daily. It really is a nice jack to use, mine has a small leak and have been meaning to get a rebuild kit as well. Get it fixed up and it'll be your favorite jack.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Rebuilding mine soon, it's the same but an A series.

 

[RazeHail]

I actually had moved this jack on two different occasions during my work. I was even the one that had thrown it in the metal pile. At the time I had no shop, no use for such a large and old jack, I still don't have the money for restoring one and with so much else to do at work that I might be able to rebuild a Jack never crossed my mind. Then after my boss lady expanded my duties from general fence and yard work to also maintaining her three houses and 5 vehicles, it became apparent that working from the back of my 94 Explorer wasn't going to be effective, she has generously allowed me to not only move my camper on site, but she's paying the utilities and put one of several run down structures in my hands. It's rough and old with concrete floors and electricity. Now, I need a work horse of a Jack. Will dig it out this morning, look it over and post more pictures this evening. I,'ll keep doing so until I,'ve finished. I can't wait to get there today!

 

[RazeHail]

As I am truly out of my element with hydraulics in all regards, can any of you tell me what signs I should look for? What steps to take as far as testing and servicing the workable parts? I know plenty in carpentry, automotive and even PC,s and phone repair. No hydraulic or diesel experience. HELP!

 

[RazeHail]

Hiding in plain sight.

 

[RazeHail]

I'm going to upload today's pics. Show the condition and hopefully get some advice. Got a few questions.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Tore mine apart today, except the lift arm and two sides of the body...I am not sure how or if they are easily separated. My plans are clean it up, redo all hydro seals, then use for another 50+ years. Cleaning up the pieces tomorrow, then hopefully mid week rebuilding.

 

[RazeHail]

I'm trying to upload them to my album. I cleaned mine up and accessed the damage. Considering I just plan to get mine into working condition, I dont think its too bad. If you ignore the release valve modification some hillbilly done when the axle part broke.

 

[RazeHail]

Hope this works.

 

[RazeHail]

and then..

 

[RazeHail]

and theeennnn...

 

[RazeHail]

The End! For now.

 

[RazeHail]

Ok. I've got two broke springs and a stripped out top plug. a broken/modified linkage, a dented yet working castor and a chip on the bottom of the handle near the welds. Not to mention the Milky water/Hydraulic fluid mix I emptied out of it. Suggestions? Comments? But know this. This jack will be functional and I will learn to rebuild hydraulic jacks.... Its missing the top cover that says Walker as well. It ***** but oh well.

 

[whateg01]

Old thread, but there's a fully documented restoration of one here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51567&page=167

You'll have to skip around because he posts updates on the jack throughout the thread from somewhere earlier to page 167. He doesn't do anything with the hydraulic unit, though. It would be cool to take the jack info from the thread and give it its own, but I've found the whole thread interesting.

I just picked up a Walker 884, don't remember which series it was. I'm thinking of tearing it down and painting it, but not sure where it will end up on "the list".

Dave