Mechanical Walker floor jack restoration

[ed1966ss]

I picked up this old Walker 745 mechanical floor jack a couple months ago off Craigs List. It was rusted, had a bent handle, but otherwise was complete and working. I disassembled it, de-greased everything, blasted and powder coated it blue with yellow wheels and handle. All the bolts and main shaft were sent to Arrow Plating in Ft. Worth Texas for zinc plating. The decals were produced with a vinyl cutter based on photos I found on the internet. It's now reassembled and working properly, although used sparingly. Here are a few photo's:

 

[ed1966ss]

Here is another Walker I recently restored. It also was badly rusted when I found it. It was completely disassembled, cleaned, blasted and powder coated. The main shaft was zinc plated and the handle was missing. I fabricated a handle based on photo's I found from an old advertisement. These old jacks make great restoration projects and are very functional.

 

[Honkey84]

Nicely Done!

 

[supperfly17]

Amazing. Thanks for sharing.

 

[zkling]

BEAUTIFUL
How do you like the mechanical jack vs a more common hydraulic jack? I had the opportunity to purchase one of those a while back, but was persuaded not to. What is your opinion on the matter?

BTW, welcome to GJ

 

[CRTDI]

These old mechanical units are starting to become popular:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=215234

Nicely done.....

 

[1930artdeco]

I like mine-when it works. I finally got it working but I think I need to build up the directional cam some for it to work perfectly. I actually like it a little better than hydraulic jacks. but it does take some getting used to the operation of one. It is also great in that there are no seals to burst and watch the fluid leak out on the floor as the car comes down on top of you. When you stop lifting it STAYS put.

Mike

 

[ed1966ss]

BEAUTIFUL
How do you like the mechanical jack vs a more common hydraulic jack? I had the opportunity to purchase one of those a while back, but was persuaded not to. What is your opinion on the matter?

BTW, welcome to GJ

Thank you. As far as a restoration project I liked the idea of a purely mechanical jack versus a hydraulic. I was confident that I could disassemble, clean, coat and reassemble the mechanical version more easily than a hydraulic.

I actually have a very big and heavy new hydraulic jack so this one, while it works fine is mostly a conversation piece. and as mentioned there are no seals to leak.

 

[ed1966ss]

These old mechanical units are starting to become popular:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=215234

Nicely done.....

I did a little searching but missed that link. A very nice restoration of a similar Walker.

If anyone is in the process of restoring one, I have a vinyl cutter that makes either lettering or stencils. I'd be happy to help out.

In doing some searching I wasn't completely sure about the colors for restoration as finding original color photos was difficult. I based my choices mostly on this image I found and a few references to the wheels and handle being yellow.

 

[ADSR]

well done!!

 

[PETE14]

Wow, those turned out NICE.

What is the capacity and year of manufacture of them?

Also, I'm curious about how the first one lowers. It looks like some kind of rack and pinion mechanism - but do you have to "pump" the handle a bunch of times to lower it, or did they have another easier way?

Thanks for sharing.

Pete

 

[Knuckle Buster]

Very nice.

I have a Walker transmission jack that hasn't been restored, ( I'm still using it ). I love the old jack but hate my gravel floor though.

 

[ed1966ss]

Wow, those turned out NICE.

What is the capacity and year of manufacture of them?

Also, I'm curious about how the first one lowers. It looks like some kind of rack and pinion mechanism - but do you have to "pump" the handle a bunch of times to lower it, or did they have another easier way?

Thanks for sharing.

Pete

Both are 5000 lb models. As these are totally mechanical, yes you do need to lower the vehicle one 'click' at a time. The 745 floor model is what's called a 'roll a car'. From what I've read it was for use in smaller garages so you could lift one end of a vehicle and roll it to where ever you wanted it.

 

[ed1966ss]

Very nice.

I have a Walker transmission jack that hasn't been restored, ( I'm still using it ). I love the old jack but hate my gravel floor though.

That's another neat old Walker jack. I'm guessing it's a mechanical version also?

Jacking on a gravel floor is challenging!

 

[KCarGuy]

Fantastic Job!
Looks Great and should have a Long Life ahead of it again!

 

[Knuckle Buster]

That's another neat old Walker jack. I'm guessing it's a mechanical version also?

Jacking on a gravel floor is challenging!

Yes, the hand crank is gear driven, one of the gears turns a screw to lift/lower. The front/rear tilt is hand crank as is the left/right tilt. I like using it but at my age I'm thinking it's about time to mix some concrete at least 8'x8' where the jack is used. Rest of the shop would still be ok in gravel.

 

[Motorvation30]

I picked up an old Walker floor jack by chance and it seems that everything is in working order. It is a beast and quite heavy. I found the plate on the handle and can make out Walker but nothing else. The handle has a G5292 cast into it. Lower down by the main gear, there are 3 sets of numbers: G453; G1433; and G1763. As best as I can tell, it looks like a model 740 or 745. What is the difference and how to tell? I am not sure whether to keep it and restore it or? I was leaning toward selling it but after seeing the pics of the restored units, they are absolutely beautiful! Any assistance on my possible winter project is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[akacoke]

looks so nice, now i want one