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Lincoln floor jack - rebuild or toss

Jaden

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
7
Location
Atlanta, GA
Hey guys, I'm new to the boards, but a long time gearhead and tool fanatic. Anyway, I have a Made in the USA Lincoln floor jack I bought in the late 90s (or maybe early 2000s) that started acting funny over the weekend. When ever I pump the lever, the jack only goes up as far as I pump the lever and then bleeds back down. It's been a great jack, so I hate to throw it away, especially since it's US made. Attached are some photos. What do you think? Thanks.
 

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EDGAR

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 21, 2010
Messages
437
Save the jack.

Most probable cause is that the main seal, which should be an u-cup, is broken. Take the pump apart by removing the big tank nut, then pull out the main ram and check the seal at the bottom. Measure the ram itself for the inside diameter of the u-cup and the outside diameter of the back up washer for the outside diameter of the u-cup. Also measure the height of the seal. Be absolutely sure you remove every particle from the broken seal as these can later jam the valve balls if allowed to flow freely inside the pump. It is also a good idea to change all the o-rings in the pump at the same time as the u-cup; o-rings do not last forever!

Drain the oil from the oil fill hole in the big, round, tank body. Do not open any valve plugs in the pump body to add or remove the oil. Do not mess with these valves unless it is necessary.

To remove the pump you will need a solidly mounted bench vise and a pipe wrench with a 4' or 5' cheater bar (pipe) to remove the nut as these are usually very tight. Do not apply heat to remove. Make a mark on the nut so you can tighten the nut back to the same position when reassembling.

There is a tutorial in GJ about repairing jacks made by HIBALL. Below is a link to it. It will give you an idea of what's involved even if the parts are not the same and in the same place. You can also send a Private Message to Hiball to get the parts.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51105


The jack in the link below is made by Shinn Fu and should be close to yours with respect to the parts it uses. This parts breakdown covers three different jacks and one of them was very similar to yours. I make reference to this parts breakdown because Shinn Fu bought what was the Lincoln company, or name, and some of the jacks it makes now are basically the same ones Lincoln built.

http://www.shinnfuamerica.com/Temp/832.pdf
 

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Packard V8

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Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
7,380
Location
Spokane, WA
That Lincoln is a quality piece of equipment and absolutely, definitely worth a rebuild.
Parts seem expensive, but an equivalent quality jack is several hundred dollars more.

jack vines
 

signcrafter

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
12,489
I'll second the other's advice to rebuild it. You should be able to rebuild it for less then the price of a new imported jack and get many more years out of it.
 
OP
J

Jaden

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
7
Location
Atlanta, GA
Thanks guys! I'm really worried about messing with the balls, springs, and what ever else is involved in the valving. But, I think I can handle replacing the u-cup. Thanks again.
 
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Jaden

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
7
Location
Atlanta, GA
Ok, I've got the tank unit separated from the jack, but I don't have a wrench or socket large enough for the tank nut. I'll have to go buy a pipe wrench to get this done, but honestly, I don't think my vice and workbench will be able to handle this. I may have to just find someone local in Atlanta to rebuild it for me.

On a completely different topic, I pulled out this old Heiner Werner bottle jack I received when my grandfather passed away. Any one know anything about it?
 

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DHS

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Feb 9, 2009
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1,054
Location
Central FL
I think it is a bad idea to monkey around with something that is lifting your pride and joys. Do you have an idea of the pressure inside the pump. To save you a headache and possible damage I will take it off your hands the next time I am in GA.

Seriously, Hiball is great. I did my Snap-On and it was not rocket science but I did not replace each and every piece.
 
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Jaden

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Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
7
Location
Atlanta, GA
Hey guys, I'm trying to answer your posts, but I'm having problems with my posts being held up by the moderators. I have the jack torn apart, but I'm stuck at trying to get the tank nut off. I'm thinking I may just send it off to Hiball.
 
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J

Jaden

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
7
Location
Atlanta, GA
Here are some photos. I don't think my vice or workbench are going to hold up to the leverage needed to get this thing loose.
 

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EDGAR

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 21, 2010
Messages
437
If you want to loosen it, I think the pump is mounted in the wrong direction. Usually, that nut is very tight. Sometimes, even using a 5' pipe over the pipe wrench, it is still hard to remove.

Remember top make a mark on the nut before removing it so that you can tighten it later, to about the same torque it came tightened from the factory, by returning the mark to its previous position.

On the other hand, now you have a good excuse to buy a bigger and better vise! But not from Harbor Freight! :lol_hitti
 
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