HF transmission jack, any good?

[DodgeZ]

http://www.harborfreight.com/450-lb-capacity-transmission-jack-39178.html

What is the feedback on this thing? I need to pull the auto trans from my truck. It is going to be rare that I'll need to use again after this job.


If you just want to talk trash because you hate HF please start your own thread.

 

[lennoxlennox]

ummmmm my life and safety ain't worth this cheap pos

 

[TexasT]

I bought one of these about 6 years ago from northern tool. Works great. Not sure about the HF one.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...regates-_-Google-_-Auto Repair>Jacks-_-144845

Great for gas tanks and as a seat too.

 

[bronc3buster842001]

I have the low pro one from HF. Works great. Bought it to use for the NV4500 trannys in my trucks.

 

[kythri]

I wouldn't buy the scissor-lift style, personally.

I don't have anything against HF jacks, but I'd definitely spend a few more bucks and buy one rated significantly higher than what I needed.

 

[lennoxlennox]

IMHO there are some, and i mean some things you can go with at HF, but at the end of the day it's chinese ****, no standards, breaks etc.

you can get away with stuff for a while, but i'm a tech and i've seen too much of their **** fly apart by some cheap tech.

i'll never use their air tools, sockets or any critical piece of equipment. period.

there's a reason you pay a premium for american made products, it works, plus they are here in the US and make sure their products work, who ya gonna call when you get injured from a HF product?

It's like when I ride, (motocross), it's amazing how many people shell out big for their bikes and then buy the cheapest nastiest helmet for $50.... we have a saying... cheap head..... cheap helmet.... same with HF

(rant over)

 

[kythri]

It's like when I ride, (motocross), it's amazing how many people shell out big for their bikes and then buy the cheapest nastiest helmet for $50.... we have a saying... cheap head..... cheap helmet.... same with HF

The bikes are import, why not buy import helmets?

 

[lennoxlennox]

The bikes are import, why not buy import helmets?

i don't have a problem with japanese quality on the bikes, or austrian (ktm)... probably even better than american - so it's all a matter of where the import is from, you know standards, testing

as for cheap *** helmets... most are made right here in the US

the point being why cheap out for the most important thing... your safety

 

[ptschram]

I have one of those that a friend gave to me after swapping the ZF in his BMW. Worked fine for him, we use it whens tripping trucks.

I also have one of the low-profile hydraulic ones (but not HF). I'm not impressed by it.

I bought one of the tall ones from HF to replace the POS I bought from Greg (the customer is NOT always right) Smith Equipment. The HF trans jack is STILL going strong! I've used it a dozen times and it's saved my ***.

 

[kythri]

Considering that HF jacks are more than likely made in the same factory as NAPA's, OTC's, and others?

They're cheaper because HF doesn't have BS brand-name premiums. They're not any less safe than a number of brands.

It's personal preference, and that's cool. There's a lot of testimony here of the quality of a lot of these jacks.

If you safeguard yourself, and buy a higher-rated model than your application needs, you're pretty much golden.

If HF lift equipment (jacks, stands, etc.) failed at any kind of rate higher than any other brand, you can sure as heck bet that the FTC and other federal agencies would be all over that. Oddly enough, there's not been any recall of HF equipment such as this that one can find.

It's not "cheaping out" to buy an orange-painted HF-sold version of something sold by another brand in another color for 2-3 times the price. It's frugal and eminently sensible.

 

[ptschram]

My thought has always been that the Chi-Coms have to have as much liability insurance as the rest of us, in the age of litigation.

If folks were gettin' squashed beneath their lifts, we wouldn't be able to afford to buy one.

When's the last time we heard of a lift failing?

 

[Jeeper]

I have used the HF scissor ****** jack and it works well. Used it to pull a jeep transmission so it's been used on a midsize transmission. Worked fine. If i had any gripe, it's actually not the sturdyness of it, but rather the pad where the transmission sits does not have a whole lot of adjustability. Using it sure beats trying to balance a transmission on a floor jack.

 

[Gearhead559]

http://www.harborfreight.com/450-lb-capacity-transmission-jack-39178.html

What is the feedback on this thing? I need to pull the auto trans from my truck. It is going to be rare that I'll need to use again after this job.

i have used the piss out of mine. once the lift goes in, i'll more then likely never use it again.

but its does its job i will say that.
i suggest a long 1/2 ratchet for a heavy trans tho

 

[kythri]

That's just it.

Any story of a failure is going to be an isolated incident, and not indicative of a flaw across the entire brand/line.

Too many of these are sold by HF (and all of the other rebadging retailers) that if there was some issue consistent across the line, it would have been heard of.

 

[lennoxlennox]

That's just it.

Any story of a failure is going to be an isolated incident, and not indicative of a flaw across the entire brand/line.

Too many of these are sold by HF (and all of the other rebadging retailers) that if there was some issue consistent across the line, it would have been heard of.

ummmm "isolated incident".... beg to differ... i work with some techs who buy their ****.... every see what flying projectiles from broken sockets look like? they fail so many times it's not funny... it's dangerous... so you can talk your theory.... and go for it.... hope it works out for you... probably will but my safety and assurance isn't worth it.

like i said... cheap head.... cheap helmet.... it's all fine until you go down

 

[DodgeZ]

I have used the HF scissor ****** jack and it works well. Used it to pull a jeep transmission so it's been used on a midsize transmission. Worked fine. If i had any gripe, it's actually not the sturdyness of it, but rather the pad where the transmission sits does not have a whole lot of adjustability. Using it sure beats trying to balance a transmission on a floor jack.

You are right up the road from me. You want to sell yours?

 

[kythri]

ummmm "isolated incident".... beg to differ... i work with some techs who buy their ****.... every see what flying projectiles from broken sockets look like? they fail so many times it's not funny... it's dangerous... so you can talk your theory.... and go for it.... hope it works out for you... probably will but my safety and assurance isn't worth it.

like i said... cheap head.... cheap helmet.... it's all fine until you go down

Sockets aren't jacks, and you can't logically associate the two.

If you've got consistent issue with their impact sockets (something else from HF it seems few other people do, as is also consistently reported here), then buy something else.

If your techs are using chrome sockets on an impact gun (I'm assuming an impact gun since you say "flying") then your techs aren't using the right tool for the right job.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I have the scissor one and used to to remove several transmission and it worked fine until the day one of the pins on the hinges broke and a 727 fell to the ground and almost killed me. I then went and bought the biggest one they have and have done probably 10+ transmission swaps with it and haven't had a single problem. I have had it for 6 year and it is really a well built jack and does a great job.

 

[T56 Impala]

I have that jack. Had it for many years. Pulled many T56's and 4L60E's with it with no issues. It fits in tight places and if you have a car transmission the is more than 450 lbs, then you should go with something else. It is well rated within its capacity.

If you are going to use this at home, for a few units, then you can't beat it for the price. If your working on something larger and use it a LOT then step up and buy something better. There is nothing wrong with this unit.

 

[Goldhawg]

I bought it a few weeks ago to put the T56 in my Cutlass. Since the T56 only goes 120lbs dry, it is more than adequate. What I like is that it is small, so I don't have to take a lot of room to store when I'll only use this once every two or three years. For a manual ****** its for sure a good deal. Autos are a bit bigger, but I'd still go for it.

 

[lennoxlennox]

Considering that HF jacks are more than likely made in the same factory as NAPA's, OTC's, and others?

They're cheaper because HF doesn't have BS brand-name premiums. They're not any less safe than a number of brands.

It's personal preference, and that's cool. There's a lot of testimony here of the quality of a lot of these jacks.

If you safeguard yourself, and buy a higher-rated model than your application needs, you're pretty much golden.

If HF lift equipment (jacks, stands, etc.) failed at any kind of rate higher than any other brand, you can sure as heck bet that the FTC and other federal agencies would be all over that. Oddly enough, there's not been any recall of HF equipment such as this that one can find.

It's not "cheaping out" to buy an orange-painted HF-sold version of something sold by another brand in another color for 2-3 times the price. It's frugal and eminently sensible.

Sockets aren't jacks, and you can't logically associate the two.

If you've got consistent issue with their impact sockets (something else from HF it seems few other people do, as is also consistently reported here), then buy something else.

If your techs are using chrome sockets on an impact gun (I'm assuming an impact gun since you say "flying") then your techs aren't using the right tool for the right job.

Hey .... i'm not here to get in a ******* match with you... use their stuff... knock yourself out (but not literally), their stuff is ****.... and there are threads on here by forum members.

I do this as my profession, I am an ASE Master Tech, with an SP/1 (i.e. safety)certs as well, among others... I don't deal well with personal opinions on the product, I work with fact, it's my livelihood and my health.

Fact is, HF breaks, all the time, and I see it first hand, be it sockets, air tools exploding, welds on equipment failing, hydraulics failing.... you know the old saying don't you.... you get what you pay for... or if it's too good to be true... it's too good to be true.

Is something going to fail on a backyard hobbyist, probably not and I hope not, but then again if it's going to fail it is more likely there due to lack of due care and knowledge... if it fails at our shop and others because the product can't stand up to the commercial realities.

Do I use HF... absolutely... but not for anything critical

will this lift work... i wouldn't use it... will their best lift work better... sure... will it work 99 out of 100 times... probably... maybe... i don't want to be the there on the 100th time

just my opinion

 

[lennoxlennox]

just a final thought on this...

if your mechanics tool box is filled with HF... take your car somewhere else

that says more about the quality of your mechanic than anything else, and the type of job you will get

still don't believe me? would you like your surgeon to be using HF tools if they were available???

Their tools says a lot about how they view their profession (I can hear the howls now)

 

[ptschram]

Hey .... i'm not here to get in a ******* match with you... use their stuff... knock yourself out (but not literally), their stuff is ****.... and there are threads on here by forum members.

I do this as my profession, I am an ASE Master Tech, with an SP/1 (i.e. safety)certs as well, among others... I don't deal well with personal opinions on the product, I work with fact, it's my livelihood and my health.

Fact is, HF breaks, all the time, and I see it first hand, be it sockets, air tools exploding, welds on equipment failing, hydraulics failing.... you know the old saying don't you.... you get what you pay for... or if it's too good to be true... it's too good to be true.




just my opinion

I have been certified since back when it was called NIASE.

I spent 19 years an an EH&S engineer working for Fortune 500 companies. I held every certification you can imagine but a PE license.

My opinion is opposite of yours.

My H-F trans jack has been a great tool. My H-F engine hoist sits outside when not in use and when I need it, it's been a workhorse.

That said, I also have a few hundred thousand in Snap-On and Matco stuff as well, but when I need something like a lift, air compressor, or trans jack, I do NOT buy from Snap-On or Matco.

 

[kythri]

their stuff is ****.... and there are threads on here by forum members.

Yup, there are. Plenty of them. Detailing how the HF jacks are quality items.

I do this as my profession

Whoopie!

I don't deal well with personal opinions on the product, I work with fact, it's my livelihood and my health.

Yet we should accept your personal opinion, rather than the fact that there are no consistent reports of failures of these jacks, no recalls, and no safety investigations regarding them, or the fact that many members of this forum report how well these jacks are built and work?

Fact is, HF breaks, all the time, and I see it first hand, be it sockets, air tools exploding, welds on equipment failing, hydraulics failing.... you know the old saying don't you.... you get what you pay for... or if it's too good to be true... it's too good to be true.

You say this.

Then you say this:

if your mechanics tool box is filled with HF... take your car somewhere else

Can you let us know which shop you work at, so we can avoid it, because, by your own claims that you see this all the time at your shop, apparently your co-workers boxes are filled with HF tools, so we all need to know which shop to avoid.

 

[ptschram]

just a final thought on this...

if your mechanics tool box is filled with HF... take your car somewhere else

that says more about the quality of your mechanic than anything else, and the type of job you will get

still don't believe me? would you like your surgeon to be using HF tools if they were available???

Their tools says a lot about how they view their profession (I can hear the howls now)

I used Craftsman stuff when I opened my shop. I didn't have a decent tool box until I'd been in business five years.

Tools do not make the craftsman. The skill of the used does.

 

[lennoxlennox]

I have been certified since back when it was called NIASE.

I spent 19 years an an EH&S engineer working for Fortune 500 companies. I held every certification you can imagine but a PE license.

My opinion is opposite of yours.

My H-F trans jack has been a great tool. My H-F engine hoist sits outside when not in use and when I need it, it's been a workhorse.

That said, I also have a few hundred thousand in Snap-On and Matco stuff as well, but when I need something like a lift, air compressor, or trans jack, I do NOT buy from Snap-On or Matco.

hey that's great... glad it's worked for you... like I said go ahead and use it...

but I'm not trusting my head to "who knows what kind of backwoods chinese design and engineering" went into it.... i have seen their hydraulics fail, several times... once is all i need to see

 

[lennoxlennox]

Whoopie!

whatever dude... like i said... not into having a ******* contest... just my opinion

 

[kythri]

whatever dude... like i said... not into having a ******* contest... just my opinion

I'm not looking for a ******* contest either, but appeals to authority mean very little.

 

[lennoxlennox]

I'm not looking for a ******* contest either, but appeals to authority mean very little.

well clearly when the OP poster asked for opinions, opinions are only valid if it agrees with yours and gives glowing recommendations of HF

I missed the part that only cheerleading opinions are the only ones that need to be heard

Silly me, seeing I'm in disagreement with your opinion... I realize I deserve your cynicism

 

[trboxman]

well clearly when the OP poster asked for opinions, opinions are only valid if it agrees with yours and gives glowing recommendations of HF

I missed the part that only cheerleading opinions are the only ones that need to be heard

Silly me, seeing I'm in disagreement with your opinion... I realize I deserve your cynicism

Reading this as a third party; it's not your opinion that's not valued, it the hyperbole that you used in giving your opinion that's not valued. You have no direct experience with the tool in question and your description of sockets failing all of the time is not borne out by the experience that others have had.

 

[lennoxlennox]

Reading this as a third party; it's not your opinion that's not valued, it the hyperbole that you used in giving your opinion that's not valued. You have no direct experience with the tool in question and your description of sockets failing all of the time is not borne out by the experience that others have had.

well if you read my post, it's not just sockets

as for the hyperbole, yes it is valid, if a, b, c and d fail, consistently (IN MY EXPERINCE), then it's logical to conclude that e may be suspect.

but since my opinion isn't valued, no worries, it's only my opinion

here's someone else's on the this genre of jack

http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50098

 

[ptschram]

That thread paints a pretty good picture of these jacks.

If you're trying to convince us not to use them, a better example is called for.

Nothing's perfect, there will be failures, but in this case, it doesn't' seem to be endemic.

 

[TexasSpartan]

You are right up the road from me. You want to sell yours?

Hey man, it wasn't Jeepers jack, it was mine (and it was my Jeep. I'm in the area too. You're more than welcome to borrow it if you just need it temporarily. If you need it more than temporarily, buy a better one.

I'll help another GJ'er out.

PM me if you need it.

 

[lennoxlennox]

That thread paints a pretty good picture of these jacks.

If you're trying to convince us not to use them, a better example is called for.

Nothing's perfect, there will be failures, but in this case, it doesn't' seem to be endemic.

lol - ok, so first it's stated here that there's no example of it failing, anywhere

so here clearly it shows it has

and while someone might be happy to make this jack work and save a few bucks and that's viewed as being positive... "i saved a few bucks"

This jack failed, twice, damaged a driveway (lucky that's all)


ONE FAILURE IS TOO MANY.

But hey, if the important thing to you is to save a few bucks, like I said, go for it. I just hold my safety to a higher level and it's not worth saving a few bucks over. Safety first.


So if the standard is to save a few bucks, eat off the dollar menu at McD's all the time - in the long run, you don't save a few bucks

 

[kythri]

well clearly when the OP poster asked for opinions, opinions are only valid if it agrees with yours and gives glowing recommendations of HF

I missed the part that only cheerleading opinions are the only ones that need to be heard

Silly me, seeing I'm in disagreement with your opinion... I realize I deserve your cynicism

That's not how it is at all.

Your negative opinion, when first stated, was not backed up by any description of experience with the item. Then, you attempted to qualify that opinion based on experience with sockets, or your general negative opinion of HF overall.

Only later did you attempt to qualify your opinion based on you being a "professional" and then only after that did you finally claim to have "seen" several hydraulic units fail.

A negative opinion is fine. Attempting to use your "profession" as proof that your opinion is in any way related to factual experience is bogus.

Do you see why some may question your so-called experience, or perhaps even your motives?

 

[kythri]

ONE FAILURE IS TOO MANY.

Then you better not buy anything at all, because I guarantee you there's an example of EVERY item sold that's failed at one time or another.

But hey, if the important thing to you is to save a few bucks, like I said, go for it. I just hold my safety to a higher level and it's not worth saving a few bucks over. Safety first.

So if the standard is to save a few bucks, eat off the dollar menu at McD's all the time - in the long run, you don't save a few bucks

And once again, you resort to emotional arguments that have no bearing on this situation.

 

[lennoxlennox]

That's not how it is at all.

Your negative opinion, when first stated, was not backed up by any description of experience with the item. Then, you attempted to qualify that opinion based on experience with sockets, or your general negative opinion of HF overall.

Only later did you attempt to qualify your opinion based on you being a "professional" and then only after that did you finally claim to have "seen" several hydraulic units fail.

A negative opinion is fine. Attempting to use your "profession" as proof that your opinion is in any way related to factual experience is bogus.

Do you see why some may question your so-called experience, or perhaps even your motives?

dude your original statements are so full of motherhood statements of opinion and assumption and not based on fact - i didn't even bother to go through line by line what you said and say give me hard examples - it's just not worth my time. (like you did with my comments)

this is only an opinion thread so i don't care about getting into a thesis disortation with you.... however you said it's my opinion only based on no facts... so i site my work experience examples and another independent thread.

but i get it... it's about point scoring.... i don't really care

I can accept your opinion... i just disagree with it.

return the courtesy - without the barbs

 

[twincam00]

I was at harbor freight today, the scissor ****** jack seemed decently built. I would say for the price it cant be beat if youre just gonna use it a couple times. Wish I woulda know about this cheap jack when I swapped my ******, I made the mistake of thinking I could balance it on the regular floor jack and this is the result:

View media item 16389

 

[kythri]

dude your original statements are so full of motherhood statements of opinion and assumption and not based on fact - i didn't even bother to go through line by line what you said and say give me hard examples - it's just not worth my time. (like you did with my comments)

See, I'm not trying to insinuate (or outright declare) that the jack is dangerous without anything to back that up.

this is only an opinion thread so i don't care about getting into a thesis disortation with you.... however you said it's my opinion only based on no facts... so i site my work experience examples and another independent thread.

but i get it... it's about point scoring.... i don't really care

I can accept your opinion... i just disagree with it.

return the courtesy - without the barbs

Actually, what I was insinuating was that your claims are suspect due to the fact that you only made them when multiple people challenged your earlier claims that the jacks were inherently unsafe, and stated to you that failures were isolated, not endemic.

So, no barbs: I don't believe you, and it seems that others don't either. Have a great day, and I'll not respond to you again.

To the original poster:

I have no experience with the scissor-lift style jack, but I will re-iterate my earlier preference: I find it more comforting to know that my jacks are rated significantly higher than what my load will be. My transmission jack is a 1200lb model. I personally would not feel comfortable with the style of jack you were posting about, regardless of brand, country of origin or Honest Abe Lincoln's personal guarantee of quality.

It's not much more money to buy a higher-rated jack, and quite commonly, you can find a great price on used versions of those higher-rated jacks on CL or such places because many folks buy them for a job or two, then decide they don't need them.

 

[lennoxlennox]

So, no barbs: I don't believe you, and it seems that others don't either.

This too is my last response to you, it's really quite silly this whole thing.

but seeing you don't think there are any barbs, I'll just accept your compliments you gave me in this thread (listed below) - my point is if you disagree with someone, keep the attacks out of it and state what you have to say.

here are your non-barbs

Whoopie!
I don't believe you
your claims are suspect
you resort to emotional arguments
no bearing on this situation
Your negative opinion
Only later did you attempt
claim to have "seen" several hydraulic units fail (note your quotes on seen)
is bogus
your so-called experience (really???)
perhaps even your motives (for serious??? that's it you got me, it's my lifes mission to attack HF)