What’s wrong with this jack?

[Ran58]

I have a craftsman floor jack. About 15 years ago it would lift and I took it somewhere and they replaced seals so that will lift now. Problem is the handle will only go about 45 degrees up and not 90 degrees like it used to. Pic below shows jack and as you can see this is as far up as the handle will go. It used to swivel up a full 90 degrees and be vertical. Any ideas whats wrong with it?

thanks

 

[5ubtle]

My guess is that it's a mechanical (not hydraulic) problem. Maybe it was reassembled incorrectly by the rebuilder? Start taking it apart, and go from there.

 

[The Cobbler]

yup. something put together wrong . agree with above it's mechanical not hydraulic, but it could still be internal to the pump

 

[RTM]

I would worry about the handle bracket, and the bits under it, being wrong. Make sure your spider gears are meshing and separating ok at all positions. Is there a stop for over travel down now preventing over travel up?

 

[rust in the eye]

I have a similar jack which I've looked at with your issue in mind.
Mine has a U shaped channel attached to the pump piston which the handle acts upon via a pin which rides in the "groove"(clevis) of the U. Yours is not visible in the photo but my suspicion is the problem is with this part.

 

[vssjim]

I agree with above post

 

[Old Man Roger]

Yup, probably just needs to spin it around 180*

 

[Ran58]

I have a similar jack which I've looked at with your issue in mind.
Mine has a U shaped channel attached to the pump piston which the handle acts upon via a pin which rides in the "groove"(clevis) of the U. Yours is not visible in the photo but my suspicion is the problem is with this part.

I’ll look at it again tomorrow and see if it looks like something is going on with that part. Thanks for your help

 

[Coach James]

I have a craftsman floor jack. About 15 years ago it would lift and I took it somewhere and they replaced seals so that will lift now. Problem is the handle will only go about 45 degrees up and not 90 degrees like it used to. Pic below shows jack and as you can see this is as far up as the handle will go. It used to swivel up a full 90 degrees and be vertical. Any ideas whats wrong with it?

thanks

That looks like the Made In Japan Craftsman jacks. I still have the one my dad bought ~50 years ago. Still works great.

No idea what's wrong with yours though.

Coach

 

[Ran58]

Rust in the eye
I took a pic of mine and it looks like what Old Man Roger said it looks like it’s may be on backwards. In Order to fix it looks like I need to take the handle off to get to that part, do you agree thats what I need to do to get to it.

thanks

 

[rust in the eye]

Yep, that part is back asswards. Remove the handle and my guess is that piece will just turn 180* without any more dismantling.

@ Coach James; I was gifted mine in '79. Shortly after I got it a very strong friend of mine thought that the valve needed to be turned TIGHT and did so damaging the valve's seat. It took about 10 years of use before it could be lowered with any predictability again. Aside that it remains a faithful servant.

 

[Ran58]

Thanks everyone. I took the handle mechanism off and reversed the U shaped part 180 degrees and put it all back together and now the handle works like it should. This will make it easier to store and free up some space in my shop.
I only wish I had asked you guys this question 15 years ago.

 

[The Cobbler]

good news! GJ to the rescue again

 

[Old Man Roger]

Once you get the ha

Thanks everyone. I took the handle mechanism off and reversed the U shaped part 180 degrees and put it all back together and now the handle works like it should. This will make it easier to store and free up some space in my shop.
I only wish I had asked you guys this question 15 years ago.

15 Years?

 

[David99]

Once you get the ha

15 Years?

Time heals all jacks??