I've done searching and found a thread with people recommending enerpac or spx I searched for those and they're all like a grand I'm not trying to spend that. Aside from those all I can really find is tool truck brands and the blackhawk/HF/ebay kits. I'm planning on getting the snap on kit which I can get for 200 but wanted to see if anyone has a better recommendation.
good 4 ton porta power
- Thread starter alpaca
- Start date
36truck
Well-known member
I have a older used 10 ton Blackhawk porta power for sale. This is from back in the day when Blackhawk meant something. About 25 years old. The rams are newer enerpac units. $ 250
OutsideMachinist
Well-known member
Enerpacs are awesome, but yeah they cost a ton of money. I use the HF all the time works great. Blackhawk and a few others are ok but they are china now the new ones I believe. I would grab the HF one, get the low profile ram also. Maybe consider the pullers and other accessories. You could get all of those for like 200-250.
Bill Bowman
Well-known member
Zeke
Well-known member
Buy the HF 10 ton and don't look back. I have the 4T and I've strained it just doing body and fender work. (old fashioned term)
I would make sure you really need one. I thought I did quite a few times, until I finally bought one....haven't touched it since!
yea I do borrow one atleast once a week
i hate borrowing tools
ur avator
y'sguy
Well-known member
I bought the HF 4 ton for one specific job. It worked well, and I didn't tear up anything else! Close though!
But now I will gladly sell it on craiglist for less than I paid, as I hope I'll not need it again. HF has a coupon for it once in awhile. Of course with HF I wouldn't expect very long term usage.
But now I will gladly sell it on craiglist for less than I paid, as I hope I'll not need it again. HF has a coupon for it once in awhile. Of course with HF I wouldn't expect very long term usage.
Any good ones that aren't so expensive? Those kits are over a grand that's out of my price range.
I'm looking to get one for pro use that can be rebuilt so no go on the HF. The blue point seems like a deal at 200 but looking up the parts they only sell the pump/ram as an assembly.
Strouty
Well-known member
Best bet is to look for used on craigslist or even ebay. Enerpac and older Blackhawk are great ones that pop up frequently. I honestly think the HF and other import ones are not as powerful as they claim. I spent about $500 on some used ones last fall, it came with multiple rams, cylinders, attachments, and things I don't even have a clue what they are called.
What brand are you borrowing? If it works maybe you can find the same thing?
What brand are you borrowing? If it works maybe you can find the same thing?
Strouty
Well-known member
Just so you know what you can find used, this was what my $500 got me, including the toolbox.
I've been borrowing a cornwell. Haven't seen a cornwell guy at the shop I'm working at now.
And yeah nice score. I searched porta power on craigslist and found nothing. I guess I'll just start searching reguarly.
rsanter
Well-known member
I agree. Get the ten ton and use the **** out of it.
Unless you are using it every day on critical stuff then don't spend the money.
And if you are buying a set from snap on for $200. Then I will guarantee it is a blue point made in China relabeled one. Same as you can get elsewhere for under $100
Bob
finn
Well-known member
The generic HF 4 tonner works ok for the price, although I wouldn't recommend it if something better was available. My HF broke the spreader attachment, I had to rebuild the ram, and now the hydraulic fitting at the ram broke (dropped it while removing the ram from a bent car).
The spreader was on the HF shelf as a stand alone part, so I imagine failure rate is high so they stock them separately.
Somewhere along the line I had the foresight to buy a ram rebuild kit, although I don't think I've ever seen another one.
The fitting is some sort of weak high sulfur free machining steel with very thin wall thickness at the thread roots, designed to fail. I assume a hose supply store will be able to come up with a replacement. I robbed the fitting off of the spreader to keep going, and my normal sources (Farm & Fleet, TSC, Ace, Menards, auto parts stores, etc.) haven't been of help.
It works, but I really get irritated when fixing the tools becomes the project.
The spreader was on the HF shelf as a stand alone part, so I imagine failure rate is high so they stock them separately.
Somewhere along the line I had the foresight to buy a ram rebuild kit, although I don't think I've ever seen another one.
The fitting is some sort of weak high sulfur free machining steel with very thin wall thickness at the thread roots, designed to fail. I assume a hose supply store will be able to come up with a replacement. I robbed the fitting off of the spreader to keep going, and my normal sources (Farm & Fleet, TSC, Ace, Menards, auto parts stores, etc.) haven't been of help.
It works, but I really get irritated when fixing the tools becomes the project.
Depends on how much use its seen, hydraulic seals when not utilized lose there ability to seal as they Harden prematurely, factor in the age and you might be on borrowed time. I currently have a 107b set here at the house that is due for service, if it wasn't for a friend I probably wouldn't mess with it.
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Strouty
Well-known member
Does it look like this one?
https://idahoauctionbarn.hibid.com/lot/9475292/astroline-4-ton-porta-power
I do not know the astroline history. $125 for a 4 ton sounds steep, does it have a bunch of accessories with it?
https://idahoauctionbarn.hibid.com/lot/9475292/astroline-4-ton-porta-power
I do not know the astroline history. $125 for a 4 ton sounds steep, does it have a bunch of accessories with it?
Strouty
Well-known member
I was going to suggest asking Hiball and then he just appeared.
Depends on how much use its seen, hydraulic seals when not utilized lose there ability to seal as they Harden, depending on the age you might be on borrowed time. I currently have a 107b set here at the house that is due for service, if it wasn't for a friend I probably wouldn't mess with it.
here's a pic
it says it comes with a bunch of accessories in the ad not sure if there is more I'm about to text him
How hard is it to rebuild one of these and how much does it cost?
here's a pic
it says it comes with a bunch of accessories in the ad not sure if there is more I'm about to text him
How hard is it to rebuild one of these and how much does it cost?
Not terribly difficult, but monetarily unless you are buying seals in bulk or have a local supplier who isn't going to gauge you it doesn't add up. I have the same kit here at the house, should have a small ram/spreader and a host of extensions/adapters etc, it's hard to tell if the extensions are in there or not based off the angle of the pic. I wouldn't give $125..
Strouty
Well-known member
That's a Hell of a nice set you have there Strouty...
Now if I only knew what everything was for!
