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Which way? ****** jack or adapter on floor jack?

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olytdi

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Figuring on swapping out the ****** in my old Trooper and wondering which way to go:

Arcan floor jack from Costco: (http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200345429_200345429)

mated to this adapter: (http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...a=Google&cm_ite=transmission%20jack%20adapter),

or,

dedicated transmission jack: (http://www.harborfreight.com/800-lb-capacity-transmission-jack-3185.html).

Pros/cons as I see it are:

going with the adapter gets me a new Arcan jack :D but costs half again as much.

Going with the dedicated transmission jack is cheaper (25% off at HF tomorrow with coupon) and probably is a more stable and an easier way to do this (the trans is pretty beefy and heavy with transfer case attached).

The dedicated transmission jack has really good reviews, better than the adapter reviews.

Don't really know if the Arcan jack will mate with this adapter (would be a deal breaker if it didnt').

What are your thoughts?

I have a lift so clearance to use either method shouldn't be an issue. I don't do this often -- just trying to make the job safe to handle solo and perhaps more enjoyable.

Thansk all!
 
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bigbarf48

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Nov 22, 2011
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Id go with the real trans jack. I assume you already have a normal jack and going the jack/adapter route will cost more

Youre looking at a pretty low price with the 25% off tomorrow and you get a nifty ew toy:D
 
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fourjeepin

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Jack plus adapter is a pita. I do not recommend it unless the adapter is securely attached to the jack. Most just slip into the opening. Seems fine until you have an awkward and heavy transmission on it. The last time I tried this, I seriously considered welding the adapter to the floor jack. The only thing that stopped me was the adapter was borrowed.
 
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olytdi

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Thanks Greasemonkey. While that is a VERY nice jack, it's over $600!

This is only the second time in the last 20 years that I've had to drop a trans. I'm hoping not to have to do it at a frequency that would make such a jack worthwhile!
 
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olytdi

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Lenox, have you used the one I linked to? I'm surprised to hear this. In the research I did, the sissor version (400 lb) was very poorly rated by users and the 800 lb was very highly rated by users.

Tell me what your experience was.

Thanks
 
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olytdi

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lennoxlennox said:
i think places like united rental has them for $40/day
Click to expand...

You know, I did look into simply renting one. I figured that since I don't know for certain what the condition is of the trans I'm putting in, I had better have one around in case I have to put the old one back in for a while. Long story short: I have one in the vehicle that's starting to go and one in the corner I pulled from a part-out reportedly in good shape.
 
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scott37300

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I have the HF 800lbs ****** jack you linked to and it is worth every penny. I used it on a lincoln aviator 5r55 trans and it worked great. Installation was very easy with the ability of the jack to adjust the trans to align everything. The plastic knobs are junk and the safety chain leaves a little to be desired but those are easy fixes. The jack itself and the ability to rotate the trans and move the front up and down are very nice.

Buy the HF jack and be done with it, I would not take a chance with a trans adaptor for a regular jack.
 
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MN Falcon

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I have used a regular jack with rear wheel drive transmissions before. It worked OK but I still had to man handle the trans a ton. As I have gotten older and the front wheel drive cars makes it a little harder, even the manual transmissions are a lot heavier and bigger. I have thought about the HF trans jack myself, I like the wide base and if I remember correctly all 4 of the casters rotate allowing you to easily make a slight side to side adjustment as well. Just my thoughts.
 
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rsanter

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visalia ca
Go with the trans jack or just make your own flat plate to go on your jack...the adapters are too tall and a pain

Bob
 
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Danglerb

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If you need a trans jack and the usual ability to tweak the adjustments for angle etc, its going to **** using any kind of flat plate and trying to muscle a transmission on to something that maybe doesn't like muscling vs breaking.
 
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olytdi

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Sounds like just gettting the 800 lb jack is the way to go.

Shall splurge tomorrow.

I'll have to come-up with another rationalization to get the Arcan Jack! One false move by my old Larin two ton and it's right on over to Costco...

Thanks all!
 
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GreyOwl

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olytdi said:
Sounds like just gettting the 800 lb jack is the way to go.

Shall splurge tomorrow.

I'll have to come-up with another rationalization to get the Arcan Jack! One false move by my old Larin two ton and it's right on over to Costco...

Thanks all!
Click to expand...

Good idea. Another thing not mention ed about using the adapter is you still have the narrow jack underneath compared to the wide, more stable base of the trans jack. You don't want to dump your trans over sideways on a narrow jack.
 
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Bobf

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Poway, CA
Well, when I was a kid we grabbed a shopping cart, torched off the upper part and bought 3 cheap ($3.00) scissors jacks and some angle iron and proceeded to pull super heavy 4sp Olds Hydro's, remember the 32 bolts in the torus cover?

Now, as an antique American I bought the cheap HF ($39) screw model a couple years ago, have used it 3 times, two Ford C4's and a TH350 and it worked OK. Keeping in mind it IS HF so it required repairing the bearing holder on the main screw, I recall had to do something with the strap to hold the ****** also. The four swivel casters worked great, and the ability to tilt going back in worked OK also.

Used occasionally as I have I think I got my $39 worth. If I was going to do this stuff more often I would spring for the HD (800#) HF model. Guess it comes down to your individual threshold of pain with typical HF stuff.
 
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olytdi

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BJ42LX said:
That would be the day to do it. See if you can use the 25% off Easter coupon.
Click to expand...

Yeah, HF is about 2 miles from my house so I swung by to ask about the coupon and getting the jack. They said "no problem" and handed me a couple of 25% off coupons for tomorrow and for the neighbors.
 
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plinker

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I bought one (tran's jack) from Grizzly, it's a decent jack. I've used it about 3-4 times so far. H8089 is the part #, I think. it was about 180$ shipped
 
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Moose-LandTran

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http://www.harborfreight.com/2000-lb-low-profile-transmission-jack-4075.html

I have that one and it kicks ***, i love it.

Image0676.jpg
 
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shurik06_83

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Apr 1, 2012
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i donno i am old school i get under the car and grab the tail with my hands and push on the pan with my knees and wiggle or shimmy and pull it out of the pegs and let it down or just roll over laying it down

if not high enoghf to get under the trans i use a few junk tires with no rims just pry it off the pegs and let it fall on the tiers

****** jacks are good if ur doing this work a few times a week but if ur doing it a few times a yr borow or just go old school
 
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langss

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I don't have the model in your link, but did get the one I have from HF. In my case the Transfer Case weighs in at around 700# and I'm hear to tell you that what ever model you get you won't be sorry. When its no longer a part of the car and its a couple of feet off the floor, it a nice feeling to be able to move it around without worrying about it falling off on the floor. Also shortly after changing the Transmission the "New" Torque Converter went south and I had to pull it all out again. I was glad I "Owned It". Just my .02.
 
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olytdi

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Really helpful information all -- very much appreciated!

I thought of "old shooling" it but after messing around yesterday with the ****** that is going in, the utility of a dedicated jack made itself apparent. I lifted the trans with straps on my lift's arms then onto a small portable work bench. Man, that thing has no center of gravity or balance point! It's like balancing a boulder with no top or bottom!

I think I'll be glad I have something to keep it tamed while putting it in and out.
 
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BJ42LX

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Well, I took my own advice and used a 25% coupon to pick up the 2000 lb transmission jack this afternoon. $224.99 plus sales tax.

I was able to compare the 2000 lb and 800 lb units on the floor. The 2000 lb unit was slightly smoother and clearly much more sturdy than the 800 unit. The size of the hydraulic rams is similar, but the geometry and construction of the jacks gets you from 800 to 2000 lbs.

The 800 lb jack had a higher "down" height and a lower "up" height; meaning the range of the 2000 is better. The handle on the 2000 had less slop.

Both jacks have a little play in the head, which isn't confidence inspiring.

I have a 4x4 transmission and transfer to swap out this summer. That sucker is in the 4-500 lb range. I think the 800 unit would have worked, but the extra capacity of the 2000 sold me.

Last time I did a transmission I rended a jack that was similar to the 2000 unit. It had about a million miles on it. The new HF piece is going to be much better than that tired unit.

BTW, this thing is heavy. The box says 66kg and I believe it.

homesale said:
2000 Lb. Low-Profile Transmission Jack Central Hydraulics - Item#4075 was the best at HF

http://www.harborfreight.com/2000-lb-low-profile-transmission-jack-4075.html


800 Lb. Low Lift Transmission Jack at HF had a great deal of play in the area where the handle meets the jack.

http://www.harborfreight.com/800-lb-capacity-transmission-jack-3185.html
Click to expand...
 
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NUTTSGT

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I bought a 6" square pad with rubber top that replaces the regular jack pad.I think I paid 5 or 6 bucks at a swap meet years ago. If I need something wider, I stick a piece of plywood on it aka old school.
 
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olytdi

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Picked up the 800 lb jack today ($104). On the way home I thought "what's that rattling sound? Turned-out to be one of the cast iron casters in the box had come apart -- that was the sound of ball bearings rolling around. Took the offending caster off and they swapped one out for me.

Definitely not as nice as the 2000 lb jack but less than half the price and clearly adequate for my needs. Everything works and I've got a heavy box of unistrut fittings sitting on it to see if it leaks-down or anything before the warranty period ends. I like that you can jack from any angle.

Anyway, operates fine and seems like the sweet spot in terms of value.
 
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