o'Boy have I neglected my Hein Werner!

[EvilW]

I should be shot! I just went out to retrieve my dad's old Hein Werner 1-1/4 O'Boy floor jack only to find the casters/axles had sunk into the mud long enough to become completely corroded and frozen. One of the handle pins is missing the vertical lever and is stuck in place and the pump is completely corroded and doesn't even think about lifting.
I think that I already know the answer to this one, but do you think that this is savable or should I buy a better candidate? There is a very nice "one owner" for sale near me for a really high price of $150.00.
Mine is by no means a family heirloom as I have many things from my dad, I just feel bad ...

 

[OneDollarSaab]

That's unfortunate, I was lucky enough that my dad had stored grandpa's Hein Werner in the back of his shop for 20+ years, so the rebuild was quick and painless. It does look pretty salvageable in the photograph.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

$150 doesn't sound bad for a good used one.

I also think yours looks salvageable from the photo.

 

[Rickster]

$150 sounds kinda high ... but it is a HW. If it’s something you don’t need today you’ll probably be able to find a better deal once the garage sales start opening up.

 

[Cruzan80]

So far I have paid 45 & 10 for my two Oboys, and 25 for a walker lift-a-car (same specs). Walker needed a rebuild kit, the 45 didnt, amd just got the 10. Dont think it needs a kit, only low on oil.

The 25 and 10 were found in the last month.

Sent from my Phone 2 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[EvilW]

Thanks for the responses! To be fair, I didn't put up a picture of the bottom with the worst corrosion and rusted off springs. Stories of 10 and 45 dollar O'boys are what give me hesitation on the $150.00 one. I will try to be patient for a little while. (I have posted more pictures of the bottom of the jack).
Thanks,
-EW

 

[zkling]

Can you pull the ram out at all? If the surface is scored, I wouldn't bother, that looks pretty bad.

As far as the one for $150. If it is in good shape and needs nothing I guess it is fair. They are a pain to rebuild, BUT the HF jacks are a great working jack for not much more thus the market for old jacks is limited. Lower low and higher high heights on that HF as well.

 

[EvilW]

Can you pull the ram out at all? If the surface is scored, I wouldn't bother, that looks pretty bad.

As far as the one for $150. If it is in good shape and needs nothing I guess it is fair. They are a pain to rebuild, BUT the HF jacks are a great working jack for not much more thus the market for old jacks is limited. Lower low and higher high heights on that HF as well.

Thanks, the ram is rust welded in place at this point. Replacements seem to be popping up daily too.

 

[Bighead38]

I have 3 old hein werners and all three need to be rebuilt. 2 still work the third won’t lift a load.

 

[EvilW]

I've restored some beat up jacks, but that's been sitting in the mud for 5 years to cause that must rust and damage.

Sad, but true! It was under a tarp for years, but the water had seeped in from underneath. Lesson learned.

 

[Lassen Forge]

For a HW $150 seems fair if it's in good shape... Were it me, I'd get the replacement, then use the other one as a resto project (after all, this IS GJ, right? ) and show off your prowess.

Fortunately, parts for these are available, as are bottles of Kroil! But yeah, I'd drop the $150 and smile.

 

[EvilW]

Thanks for the comments!
A SOLUTION HAS BEEN FOUND!

In spending hours enjoying the several Hein Werner posts on GJ, I found myself really drawn to the earlier style Logo and placement of the nameplate (yes, aesthetics are everything. lol), but I still felt familial guilt for neglecting my dad's O'boy. In a conversation with my brother he suggested that the old one could be fixed and then," Eureka", it hit me, I give my brother the ailing O'boy so that it stays in the family and as he is retired, he can spend the time needed to save it and I can find a better candidate for immediate use.

Now, for the fun part! Having developed an unhealthy obsession with the earlier models, I stalked every avenue until an early Model WS showed up online yesterday. I made a deal over the phone and rushed over in my Lincoln sedan hoping that i could fit it in my car, or better yet, the handle pins were free. Boy was I happy when I gently squeezed the pins together and the handle slipped right off as they were intended to work. The jack raises very slowly and I havent even checked to oil yet. I mentioned aesthetics, and I love the way this one looks as is. I know that most on GJ love to make their tools look like new, but I love an old patina!

Sorry for the long winded story, but who else can I tell? I already had to sneak the WS past my wife. lol
Thanks again, I will have more questions for sure!
-EW