Should I even be surprised

[Jsf721]

I needed a jack at work to lift a 700 lb piece of equipment. I went to harbor freight and purchased a 1.5 ton Daytona Jack with a flat runner coated lift pad. Looked nice. Plenty of margin for safety.

Also purchased 2 jack stands.

Lifted the equipment installed jack stands and cribbing. Removed jack, Got the motor and gear box pulled.

Went to put the jack back and lower equipment and the handle was jammed. Took a look and the jack pins that push the hydraulic fluid are anchored by 2 washers and a spring. The washer popped through the spring.

Do not trust a jack to hold anything while you work. Please. And this is going back tomorrow and no I’m not buying another.

Any suggestions on where to buy a jack of decent quality. For non automotive work. Mostly under 1000 lb equipment.

 

[mike93lx]

There is no jack on this planet that should be trusted to hold a load while you work on it. That's what the stands are for

It doesn't matter how expensive or high quality, it's a 10 cent seal holding it up, or in your case, a 10 cent spring

For lifting equipment, toe jacks are often used due to low clearance. They are also far more compact

Toe Jacks

Mechanical and hydraulic. Capacity: 2 - 25 tons

www.rigging.com

 

[firebirdparts]

For industrial work a bottle jack is far superior in power to weight (and cheap), but of course they're hard to get under anything.

Mechanical jacks (click-click style) are easy to under things and plenty adequate for modest weight like you are talking. They're out there. They've become really pretty popular for Jeep people. That is the modern-day replacement for what we used to call a railroad jack.

 

[mike93lx]

For industrial work a bottle jack is far superior in power to weight (and cheap), but of course they're hard to get under anything.

Mechanical jacks (click-click style) are easy to under things and plenty adequate for modest weight like you are talking. They're out there. They've become really pretty popular for Jeep people. That is the modern-day replacement for what we used to call a railroad jack.

Like this style?

Mechanical Machinery Jacks

Machinery jacks for the lifting and holding of loads

www.rigging.com

 

[Renegade1LI]

We do a lot of rigging and these are the best, but not cheap.

Railroad Jacks Ratchet Lowering Lever - Elkay Products Co., Inc.

Capacity choices of 5, 10, or 15 Lift height varies based on model Vertical, Multi-Toothed Pawls Drop-Forged, Alloy Steel Parts Plated Springs, Adjustable Links Arched Inner-Ribbed Base Full Capacity on Head or Toe Handle included

elkayprod.com

 

[Jsf721]

There is no jack on this planet that should be trusted to hold a load while you work on it. That's what the stands are for

It doesn't matter how expensive or high quality, it's a 10 cent seal holding it up, or in your case, a 10 cent spring

For lifting equipment, toe jacks are often used due to low clearance. They are also far more compact

Toe Jacks

Mechanical and hydraulic. Capacity: 2 - 25 tons

www.rigging.com

agreed, and you saw I purchased jjack stands and used cribbing but I posted that bc I see that every day in my neighborhood.

 

[Zeke]

Lots of YT's on HF jacks pushing the c-clips off. You can buy AC Hydraulic jacks made in Denmark. They are 4x the cost but buy once....

 

[Norcal]

I spent some serious dough on a Norco jack, when first heard about them they were made in Japan, now the ChiComs make them.

 

[nadogail]

The decision to work on something supported only by a jack is on a par with jumping out of a perfectly good Airplane.

 

[BillK]

j,
I guess nobody wants to answer your actual question ? I would personally get a good name brand jack like OTC. It wont be cheap but it will probably last three lifetimes. Here is one on Grainger which is probably the most expensive place to buy it:

https://www.grainger.com/product/OTC-Trolley-Floor-Jacks-Floor-56MD09

Only other choice would be to keep an eye on yard and estate sales for an old Walker or Sears. I have a 2 1/2 ton Sears floor jack that is probably 45 years old and it has never let me down.

 

[mike93lx]

j,
I guess nobody wants to answer your actual question ? I would personally get a good name brand jack like OTC. It wont be cheap but it will probably last three lifetimes. Here is one on Grainger which is probably the most expensive place to buy it:

https://www.grainger.com/product/OTC-Trolley-Floor-Jacks-Floor-56MD09

Only other choice would be to keep an eye on yard and estate sales for an old Walker or Sears. I have a 2 1/2 ton Sears floor jack that is probably 45 years old and it has never let me down.

Multiple suggestions were made

 

[Jsf721]

I went to return the jack at HF and its just purchased Friday. Manager got called and asked what I lifted and how much more than the 1.5 ton capacity was it? I said it was 700 lbs. how many tons are in 700 lbs - LOL

I said last I checked 2000 lbs = one ton and this 1.5 should handle 3000 lbs and we lifted 700 lbs 1x

I could tell she did not believe me. wanted me to take an exchange and i said no way, don't trust these at all. got a credit back to my card begrudgingly.

 

[mike93lx]

I went to return the jack at HF and its just purchased Friday. Manager got called and asked what I lifted and how much more than the 1.5 ton capacity was it? I said it was 700 lbs. how many tons are in 700 lbs - LOL

I said last I checked 2000 lbs = one ton and this 1.5 should handle 3000 lbs and we lifted 700 lbs 1x

I could tell she did not believe me. wanted me to take an exchange and i said no way, don't trust these at all. got a credit back to my card begrudgingly.

But what about Harbor freight tons? They missed the memo on safety factor...instead of x2, they divided by 2

 

[reader2580]

j,
I guess nobody wants to answer your actual question ? I would personally get a good name brand jack like OTC. It wont be cheap but it will probably last three lifetimes. Here is one on Grainger which is probably the most expensive place to buy it:

https://www.grainger.com/product/OTC-Trolley-Floor-Jacks-Floor-56MD09

What makes this OTC jack better than similar Chinese floor jacks sold by HF and others?

 

[CraigStu]

Good Q. I see it is made in China. I will say that in general OTC has a good rep and their stuff is used by a lot of professional auto shops.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

The decision to work on something supported only by a jack is on a par with jumping out of a perfectly good Airplane.

agreed, and you saw I purchased jjack stands and used cribbing but I posted that bc I see that every day in my neighborhood.

Saw a guy just a couple of days ago working on trailer brakes. Single axle trailer was on the road shoulder, not level and the shoulder wasn’t concrete. Trailer was lifted by a bottle jack on the flat frame. Wheel off as he worked with both legs under the trailer. My legs hurt just thinking about it.

 

[mikeyr]

good timing on this subject for me. I have a 20 year old AC floor jack and a even older Sears floor jack at home. Son-in-law is finally moving his car out of my shop to his place and wants to "borrow" one of my jacks. My wife said we would buy him one for his birthday in 2 weeks, went to Harbor Freight and looked at them and she agreed that was ok to buy for him one of their jacks. Now, after reading this thread I question it, they sell a lot of these, are they really that bad ? I don't want to permanently lose one of my jacks to him "borrowing" it especially since he really likes my AC floor jack and that is the one he would try and take.

 

[juddspaintballs]

Years ago, I purchased an engine leveling bar for an engine hoist from Harbor Freight (no, the hoist was not from HF). While I had my Volvo's engine and transmission up in the air, estimated at around 700#, both links of chain from the center of the leveling bar up to the hoist popped their welds and the links started coming open. I sat the engine back down real fast on the motor mounts and wound up buying good chains and screw links from the hardware store. I posted a picture on their website and was contacted the same day by someone at corporate who then refunded me the cost of the leveling bar and paid for the stuff I bought from the hardware store.

There are some good things from HF, but I don't trust things meant to lift any weight from there.

 

[BillK]

What makes this OTC jack better than similar Chinese floor jacks sold by HF and others?

The fact that OTC will put their name on it.

There is a lot of very high quality items manufactured in China. If the manufacturer gives them specifications they will manufacture it. I bet 90% of the things we buy now days are made there. I am not a big fan of it but it is what it is.

This is an interesting read on the subject. It has to do with engine parts but it is true for almost anything. Read the entire thing. Lots of interesting comments on our own manufacturing too.

A Look Into Manufacturing in China - Engine Builder Magazine

The state of manufacturing in general, and engine component production these days domestically, is forcing manufacturers overseas due to many factors. We decided to take a look behind the curtain to see how some of these components are really made.

www.enginebuildermag.com

 

[dcg9381]

There is a lot of very high quality items manufactured in China. If the manufacturer gives them specifications they will manufacture it. I bet 90% of the things we buy now days are made there. I am not a big fan of it but it is what it is.

100% true. China can build some great stuff. It's just getting that manufacturing process narrowed down and making darn sure that they don't alter it in some minor way (which seems to happen) often enough, like altering a sub-part or changing the composition of rubber.

Generic products from China seem to be designed for "market penetration" (IE lowest cost). Seems that us consumers will put up with that in many perhaps most cases.

 

[no704]

Worked at a place, we were outsourcing a mechenism to a plant in China. Had to preform for x number of cycles, say 1mm. Got one set up to cycle. Guy says let me go get a counter. Comes back with a chalkboard and an employee.

 

[SweetD]

good timing on this subject for me. I have a 20 year old AC floor jack and a even older Sears floor jack at home. Son-in-law is finally moving his car out of my shop to his place and wants to "borrow" one of my jacks. My wife said we would buy him one for his birthday in 2 weeks, went to Harbor Freight and looked at them and she agreed that was ok to buy for him one of their jacks. Now, after reading this thread I question it, they sell a lot of these, are they really that bad ? I don't want to permanently lose one of my jacks to him "borrowing" it especially since he really likes my AC floor jack and that is the one he would try and take.

They do sell a lot of jacks. The important thing is to have and use appropriately-rated jack stands once you jack the vehicle up. You can leave the jack in place as "extra security" if it's not in the way of your work, but correctly-positioned and rated stands are critical.

 

[CraigStu]

The problem w/ china is when they fudge stuff that we have no way to check at our level. 10-12 yrs ago my brother was going to do a black iron pipe run for heating water. He got the china pipe because it was 60% cost of US pipe. He rented a thread cutter for a weekend. By Monday has was so pi$$ed. He couldn't make good threads. Tried every oil product he had on hand etc. Went back to the supply store and traded the china **** for the US pipe. Next weekend he had no trouble cutting nice threads. Manufacturers may have ways to check if china products meet specs before they sell them. The consumer usually doesn't. This is what I always think of when looking at something like a jack stand. Who knows what alloy the steel is? Too many threads over the years about a stand that the teeth simply sheared off of.

 

[jayemm]

I went to return the jack at HF and its just purchased Friday. Manager got called and asked what I lifted and how much more than the 1.5 ton capacity was it? I said it was 700 lbs. how many tons are in 700 lbs - LOL

I said last I checked 2000 lbs = one ton and this 1.5 should handle 3000 lbs and we lifted 700 lbs 1x

I could tell she did not believe me. wanted me to take an exchange and i said no way, don't trust these at all. got a credit back to my card begrudgingly.

I can't see the weight of the load having an influence on the washer anyway like Harbor Freight assumed. However the roller could push a weak or improper sized washer into the spring opening when the spring is fully compressed if there are no stops to limit that.

 

[backupbeeper]

100% true. China can build some great stuff. It's just getting that manufacturing process narrowed down and making darn sure that they don't alter it in some minor way (which seems to happen) often enough, like altering a sub-part or changing the composition of rubber.

Generic products from China seem to be designed for "market penetration" (IE lowest cost). Seems that us consumers will put up with that in many perhaps most cases.

Everything from communist china is garbage but every factory moved there

 

[mike93lx]

Everything from communist china is garbage but every factory moved there

Not sure if you are being sarcastic or making a statement. Hopefully the former as that is objectively false

 

[nadogail]

Not sure if you are being sarcastic or making a statement. Hopefully the former as that is objectively false

Just because a Country of Origin makes some absolutely crappy stuff doesn’t guarantee that everything from that place is bad.

The Swiss made very fine watches, but they also made some crappy watches. Swiss Made doesn’t guarantee you will not get a low priced Genuine Piece of ****.

We made some good cars in the USA, but we also made our share of crappy ones.

 

[Kuma601]

Agree with ^

If HF wanted a high spec well made floor jack they can find a factory to produce them. HF specs those and or takes the off the shelf to be slapped with a sticker and painted to their color. The consumer market for cheap perpetuates the low end unfortunately.

There are some talented machinists there and when they set to make a top end product they can.

 

[RivennHewn]

Harbor freight jack stands, ya say?

 

[niget2002]

I don't think all HF jacks are bad. I've had mine for 15 years and it still works great. It is one of their larger ones, though.

 

[nadogail]

Back in the day Simplex jacks were very highly regarded. I recall both mechanical and hydraulic jacks with that name.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

My import jack shot the cheap clip into space. I got a decent e clip and washer at the hardware store, and it's been trouble free for years

 

[Metal-Marc]

The decision to work on something supported only by a jack is on a par with jumping out of a perfectly good Airplane.

It's called skydiving.