Who am I kidding?! Good luck repairing ANYTHING today!!

I have a 10 year old Craftsman floor jack that suddenly started hemorrhaging oil all over my garage floor. I bought this jack to replace the Craftsman jack that my grandfather bought sometime in the 80s. I’m guessing it’s probably not economical to attempt to repair, so it’s time to start shopping.

What's the best bang for the buck? I was determined to buy something domestic, so I looked at the Lincoln jacks sold at Napa. Apparently, Lincoln started outsourcing jack production years ago. Who would have imagined?! Craftsman is no more, I’m not really thrilled with Harbor Freight, opinions?

I also have a Craftsman fluorescent trouble lamp with a retractable reel cord that’s seen better days. Is there a LED bulb to replace the fluorescent? I’m not sure what the part number of the bulb is, since the old one shattered.

I guess I’m old school, for a trouble light I want something on a cord. I find the 120 volt power plug handy. I have a rechargeable light that’s only hood for an hour or 2 before going dim, I use it for under the dash work.

Anyone have recommendations for a trouble light?

 

As much as I hate offshoring in general, I got an LED bar with magnetic mounts and a hood clamp for $60 off Amazon, and it's great. You can get LED bulbs for just about anything these days. I even found white 90s for the interior of the 67- pack 10 for $15. They look awesome at night.

 

Still have Craftsman at Lowes, not sure where it is made , https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-C...ack/5001645957

 

I've got a Lowes Kobalt floor jack that had replaced my old 1980's Craftsman that sprung a leak years ago. Floor jack prices are all over the map. As far as a drop light, I use the old tried and true (under $20) incandescent cage type and put a screw in LED bulb in it.

 

I was in the same situation several years ago. my 1980s vintage Craftsman floor jack would lose pressure, so I started looking for a replacement. Someone in the Jeep club recommended a local hydraulic shop, and they were able to replace the piston, seals, etc. in my Craftsman jack for $40. They had an amazing collection of vintage (heavy duty) floor jacks in their shop for sale, but I didn't think that I needed more floor jacks at the time. I realize now I should have bought one of those. Oh well, live and learn.

So it is possible to resurrect your old jack! Look for a hydraulic shop and see what they have to say.

 

one of my old craftsmen hyd jacks leaked a little when the leak was more than a little, i gave it a good inspection and found two cylinders that screwed together were less than hand tight. I tightened those up and have put ~10 more years on it w no issues.

For a corded light i have a good flourescent that i rarely use much anymore, I mostly use the headlamp LEDS you find at walmart or amazon, prices vary form ~10 to ~100s i ususly get the inexpensive ones under $20. theyre bright and have different beam paterns, best part is the light is right where your looking. The ones ive junked have been due to leaking batteries

ive used the enegizer ones and have been happy there are different lumens availble

 

Just to get a feel for what’s available I went to look at the jacks at Harbor Freight. I liked the extended low profile jacks. The lift pad is 3.25 at the lowest, and 24-1/8 at its highest, and is rated for 3 tons. It seems the extended reach would be ideal for my Ram, the difference between lowest and highest lifting would work well for my daily driver neon (my old craftsman jack wouldn’t go under the engine cradle unless someone lifted up on the fender) and the other cars.

Im just hesitating trusting a 7500 pound truck to harbor freight crap. Granted, the entire truck weighs 7500, and I’d only lift one end at at a time. Keeping that in mind, I’m sure many in readerland are aware of the recall on the car stands. if EVERYTHING is China crap, I don’t see any benefit to paying a premium unless there is a better quality China crap.

 

I've been using those HF low profile long reach jacks for about 10 years. Still going strong. I use them on all the vehicles including my Cummins Dodge dually. I did have a problem with one holding awhile back. I changed the fluid and no problems since. You shouldn't be anywhere near your jacked vehicle without support jacks anyway.

 

I don’t go anywhere under a car supported by a jack unless it’s to position a car stand. And even then, I no further under the car than absolutely needed.

If you have 10 years of use from the harbor freight jack, that’s about the same life I got from my craftsman. That’s a pretty good endorsement

 

I have an Allied floor jack I probably bought in the 80's and it still works fine. I have no idea where I bought it but it was some discount place I am sure. I also have a low profile HF jack I bought about 5 years ago but haven't used it much.

 

I use an old Harbor Freight 3 ton "Power Zone" floor jack and even older Craftsman Jack Stands

 

The HF jacks really are quite good. It's surprising, but true. I've been using those low profile long reach jacks for ~15 years and love them. Only had to replace one because a car went sideways and bent the jack's frame (long story, not the jack's fault, involves a wrecked car, a tow truck, two winches and lots of cussing). I keep a few adapters within arm's reach - a plain hockey puck, a punch weld adapter, and a hockey puck with a short chunk of allen wrench in the middle. that one locks into the mounting screw on the pad, then hooks into the crossmember on the Cutlass. Did that after the third time the jack slid forwards under the crossmember (it's coated with por-15 - very slick) and crunched the oil pan.....
As said, the other option is trying to get your old jack's cylinder rebuilt.

You should be able to buy a new fluorescent element. They can be tough to find, but not entirely rare. Take the base with you and get one that's roughly the same size as the old one and it should work.

 

A few years ago, I need to replace my floor jack. Seeing the "1 1/2 ton" jack available, offshore made, I decided to go to a reputable tool seller here in NJ (Eppy's). The one they recommended, and was made in the USA, was Hein Warner. Just as big and heavy as my old 1 1/2 ton one, and has been working great ever since.

 

I have a 2 ton Harbor Freight. I've had it for about 5 years with no problems. It's not a low profile. I researched it and actually bought the extended warranty but never needed it (and I never buy them).

It doubles as a tranny jack too.....lol

 

Damn Mike, that’s a versatile jack!

——-

 

Hi Matt,
Not sure how much you're looking to spend, but this goes on sale once in a while, it is now.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NLE7...pressionRank=1
It's pretty beefy and has performed well for me for at least 8 years, but I'm not a heavy user.

 

I have a couple of ancient Hein-Werner bottle jacks that haven't worked since I got them at an auction 8 yrs ago. New fluid got them to pump up but the seals are apparently shot. Fluid seeps past the ram on one and the pump piston on both.

Thx for recommendation on hydraulic shop. There's one here, so I think I might take one of the H-Ws by there tomorrow and see if they can fix it. If they can, take them both. May not ever need a 12 or 20 ton but the things are just cool.

 

My Craftsman 1.5 ton floor jack purchased in 1985 started leaking so I found the Craftsman ID number and went shopping online for a rebuild kit. Found one for about 40 dollars and instructions online, took it apart and cleaned it up replacing the seals. Got it back together and with fresh fluid it is working fine. As noted in the rebuild instructions, there is one adjustment that is critical to the weight rating of the jack so it pays to read through the whole procedure prior to disassembly.

 

Allied was sold at harbor freight years ago.

 

You prompted me to do a search, and I found the site below that has a lot of seal kits for hydraulic jacks (and other miscellaneous parts as well). The site has a lookup for what looks to be every manufacturer, not just Craftsman. They also sell on Amazon, from what I saw.

https://www.hcrcnow.com/shop/seal-kits

 

I know I didn't buy it at HF because I have had it a lot longer than HF has been in our local market.

 

And to think I wasted good money on a transmission jack!

 

even more versatile cabinet

 

Craigslist or FB marketplace. There are tons TONS of USA-made stuff that the old guys, widows, and disgruntled wives/girlfriends are selling for pennies. USA!

We have been buying up USA chain saws, power, hand, and air tools that are like new some still in the original boxes. McCulloch, Husky etc... magnesium case, chrome cylinder, two-piston ring chain saws. You cant buy better saws today. Even the pro saws are junk. Rebuild kits are cheap and the kid does it for us. He flips them as he's saving up for a car. A great teaching moment for a 16-year-old. He is turning into a hell of a wrench.

Starrett metrology tools for 20 bucks for 3 micrometers and a digital vernier!
Wilton, Columbia, Craftsman bench vices.50,75 bucks for the big boys. USA made Vice Grips, SnapOn Mac etc....cheap!

My money stays on this side. I won't even purchase tarps or bungees from harborjunk anymore. They disintegrate in 6 months. I found USA tarps and bungees...
OK, I'm climbing off my soapbox...made with USA tools and wood. lol

 

Well, dangit... local shop doesn't repair small jacks anymore, citing unavailability of good rebuild parts. So I guess I'll have to regroup. Ought to be a hydraulic shop in Greensboro or Burlington NC. There are barbecue joints and Northern Tool in both places too, so 60 mile trip would be worthwhile.😎

The Lazzar's website Kenneth linked to shows a lot of H-W kits, just have to figure out which one is right. Apparently H-W put the model number on the jack's decal, which neither of mine has🙄.

Typical "smart" phone. I'm in southern VA, but when I google hydraulic jack repair, it thinks I'm in Connecticut? Even specifying NC in the search string, the first four results are in Connecticut. Won't let me update location either. "Stupidphone" is more accurate...

 

I saw on Lazzar’s web site to call if you have questions. That may be the thing to do as I’m sure they see a lot of jacks with no labels and know how to ID them.

 

I have been using a Daytona 3 Ton Professional Rapid Pump® Floor Jack from Harbor Freight for a short time now. Also use it for for my 14 Yukon and 13 Sierra works well for these.

 

Quite a few years ago I had an acquaintance that restored Rolls Royces and Bentleys. He had an old floor jack that was made by Scott Atwater. Many of you have never heard of Scott Atwater but for many years they manufactured outboard motors. I think they went out of business in 1967 several years after McCulloch acquired them. This thing was built out of iron and probably from the 30's. He used it all the time. I was able to find an image.

 

I have had 2 jacks repaired locally here, a 1 1/2 ton Blackhawk that my wife bought for me in 1978, cost me 20 bucks several years ago to have rebuilt. I also had my late 70s Craftsman jack rebuilt last year, cost 50 bucks but both of these jacks are really heavy duty. The shop in Nashville rebuilds jacks and also sells old jacks. Its Johnson and White hydraulics in Nashville.

 

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