OT - Aluminum Floor Jacks

[1990notch]

Anyone use any of the $100 aluminum floor jacks they sell at HF or most parts stores? They look to be worth the money but maybe they aren't. I'm only lifting one end of a Mustang with it, so it shouldn't be over stressed.

I'm just a weekend mechanic, so I can't justify buying an expensive American made floor jack. I've been looking at the aluminum ones since I have to pick it up to store in the shed between uses and the steel ones are somewhat hard on my back. That's why my current steel one is outside rusting.

[Zrexxer]

My buddy has one for his Ferrari 308 because it's too low for a standard floor jack to get under without driving it up on some 2x4s first.

About the second time he used it he heard a loud *CRACK* and he about died because he thought he'd cracked the windshield (those cars are notorious for body flex breaking glass if they're jacked up unevenly)

But the saddle pad on the jack had just broken right in half. It was just die-cast aluminum and I guess it was loaded unevenly. Not enough to cause the car to shift or drop, but disconcerting nevertheless.

[1990notch]

Not a good sound to hear, especially when you're partly under the car to place jack stands :eek:

[whateg0]

We had one as a spare for the track. It was mainly used for a sprint car, but did see occasional use under a couple of modified. The only complaint I ever had about it was the speed. It was definitely not a 3-pump jack.

Dave

[awill4x4]

A couple of years ago we were selling them here in Australia and sold about 20-25 of them but we had 5 or 6 come back because of leaking seals. We took them to a local hydraulic guy and he said the seals they used were not the right type so he replaced them and modified the piston to suit then they worked properly. These were all Chinese imports and were cheap but after hassles getting them returned to the importer we just got them fixed properly and never dealt with them again.
Regards Andrew from Oz.

[gatkeper1]

I don't like the single front wheel models
The one I have is similar to this one
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92782
The difference is a round saddle with a no mar nylon cap and no padding on the handle. I lucked out and paid 69.99 on a year end closeout sale.
BTW I only use it for my Mustangs

[1990notch]

Greg,

You picked up a nice jack for that price. They're pricing it at $200 now.

I guess I can highjack the thread I started...

Was it you that mentioned something about pics of my Mustang coupe?
I don't have pictures of the car itself right now. My teenage son has the camera lost some where in his room. The only pictures I have of it are of the engine compartment from when I had a Vortech T-trim on it and pics of the turbo that I'm now putting on it. Here's those if you're interested:

http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o83/1990notch/Mustang/

[slagownzme]

for what it is worth, my u.s. general from HF lasted a year great. my race car is fairly light and now it wont lift it, the pump seems to be bypassing the lift cyl. i havent taken it for warranty, i have been trying to find the time to pull it apart.

when they work they work well, but when they dont, you get the idea.

[1990notch]

I bought one at Costco for $140. Sold by Arcan, made in china, of coarse. It's a supposed 3 ton model. It's actually on the heavy side for an aluminum one at about 55 lbs. Looks well made though.

[whateg0]

I bought one at Costco for $140. Sold by Arcan, made in china, of coarse. It's a supposed 3 ton model. It's actually on the heavy side for an aluminum one at about 55 lbs. Looks well made though.

If it's aluminum and rated at 3 tons, I'd hope it was heavy. ;)

Dave

[1990notch]

Yeah, and I agree. It's just that I realized that the reason I wanted an aluminum one was because my back hated lifting the steel one that was not that much heavier. I could have used a 2 ton model but couldn't find one I liked. So my excuse to buy one really didn't work out.

[whateg0]

...So my excuse to buy one really didn't work out.

Hate it when that happens... :rolleyes:

Dave

[lucky3]

Buy a hein werner its a american jack and good quality american made seals, it used to be the lincoln jacks. YOu can find one for around $270 shipped thats what i paid around x-mas. IF you want the best floor jack made buy a 2 ton usa made milwuakee jack, its about $415 but there the best i like my hein werner but i wish i would of got the milwuakee.