New Jack on, Old jack is off!

Discussion in 'Wrenchin' Secrets' started by moleary, Apr 17, 2017.

  1. moleary

    moleary GOD Bless America

    What did you expect?

    It was time to replace the old floor jack. Old jack's off duty.

    I took advantage of some Summit Bucks and Pro Shop discount and less than two days after ordering, old jack is off and time for new jacking.

    3 ton, leight weight, under 60#lbs, aluminum. 5 strokes and Jack pumps up just over 19". Jack is going to service the work shop for a long time..

    [​IMG]
     
  2. SteeveeDee

    SteeveeDee Orange Acres

    5 strokes to 19"? Sheeze, I have a wheezy old Hazard Fraught jack that I picked up on the curb in my neighborhood that takes 5 MINUTES to get that high. How hard it it to pump that high? You weigh 300 pounds, or something?
     
  3. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    A good jack is not only nice to have in the garage it could be the difference between life n death or a serious injury. After several close calls and then getting my leg crushed due to a cheap chinese jack I broke down and bought one from NAPA. 3.5 tons and heavy as they come. The price tag was much less than the hospital bills.
     
  4. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    With the understanding that I hope your luck is better.
    That said, every single aluminum jack I sold had failed in a relatively short time. Even the personally bought one from snap-on, thinking it would be better product...not
    And the warranty sucks on them all. Unless Summit has a different warranty, its a one year R&R. Meaning if it fails within a year we have to send it out for repair. Your without that jack until it comes back, usually a couple weeks.
    Anyone else have a better story with aluminums jacks?

    Again, I truly hope yours last a life time.
     
    436'd Skylark likes this.
  5. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    Nice! I'm really jacked! 5 strokes, I can identify. 19", I can't.
     
    SteeveeDee likes this.
  6. moleary

    moleary GOD Bless America

    Thanks Guy, I did go into it knowing it likely wont last as long as a steel jack in the long haul. My hope it does not see too much duty for the next 10+ years and lasts at least that long.

    It's predecessor was a cheapo 1-1/2 ton aluminum that has lasted 8 years and has seen a lot of duty, and has scared me more than once.

    I like the light weight of this one especially for transport on the occasional track trip and general ergonomics in the work shop.

    If it lasts 10 yeas, at the price, I can buy another one if I need to.

    In reality, at my age, how much hard jacking can a man do to wear his unit out in 10 years?
     
  7. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    While I use my jack often, due to my advancing age I no longer want to lay under a car anymore than I absolutely have to. This is why I broke down and bought the 2 post lift and a 4 post in the near future.
     
  8. moleary

    moleary GOD Bless America

    Same here, lift and another workshop is in next years budget...
     
  9. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    I never lay under a car supported by just a hydraulic jack, and neither should anyone else. I have 4 heavy duty jack stands and I use them. takes an extra few minutes to set them up.
     
    dan zepnick, Smokey15 and SteeveeDee like this.
  10. moleary

    moleary GOD Bless America

    Never have and never would...the point is jack=jack stands=laying on floor
     
    Smokey15 likes this.
  11. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Jack + jack stands = staying alive:)
     
  12. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Bought a super low profile alum to fit under the Vette, have yet to use it. Been taking the easy way out, call my buddy, trip to the dealership he works at, 20170418_194008.jpg hand him a fifth of Bacardis, and my oil is changed!
    The old heavy Craftsman 3 ton works well under the GS with the 6 ton stands for safety.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2017
  13. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    I had the truck supported on stands. After the trans swap was buttoned up, lifted the rear by the diff with the chinese floor jack. Reached in, pulled out the stands then leaned in to twist the jack handle. As soon as the valve cracked it fell. not off the jack but went down so fast there was no getting out of the way. Step bumper hit my knee while in a crouched position just like my avatar to the left. ankle and foot crushed in an instant.
     
  14. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    You still have to be careful when removing the jack stands because once you do that, a jack failure puts you back at risk. Bet you remove those jack stands in a safer way now. It could have been worse. Glad it wasn't.
     
    Briz likes this.
  15. moleary

    moleary GOD Bless America

    Oh man, that's nasty! In all my years I never put myself in harms way when it comes to jack, jack stands and even the steel wheel ramps I always have stands under the frame as a redundant support.

    I probably will even be worried when I have a lift!
     
  16. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Yep, maybe pull or push stands out of the way quickly and carefully with a stick!:D
    Hard to believe there weren't more injuries years ago using the factory supplied bumper jacks!:eek: Now those are really scary!
     
  17. moleary

    moleary GOD Bless America

    Funny you mentioned that! One day a few years ago while driving the vert, all the lug nuts managed to come loose on the drivers side rear wheel while in stop and go traffic. Thank GOD I wasn't at a speed when they let loose. The car started to wobble..on the highway home with a young daughter in the car toboot. I pulled to the shoulder and observed the situation, popped the trunk and busted out the factory set up and got it all back up and on the road in no time.

    A passer by stopped and didn't ask if I needed help; he was intrigued with the device I was using to "change a tire"! Yes, this was a grown man! I didn't even think twice about it other than amazed it actually worked!
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2017
  18. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    Ya know, I think about stuff like that every time. Before and much more after the incident. Wasnt complacent, I knew the jack was setchey. Its all I had and did what I had to do. that time I got bit. The truck has a 6' bed. the jack was completely under the rear. I doubt there is any way to let it down without being somewhat under the rear end. Oh well live n learn.If it was the new jack it'd have come down nice n slow. The old one went to the scrap yard.
     
  19. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    My floor jack is a craftsmen 1.5 ton that's about 35 years old, never added oil, doesn't leak.
    Only battle scars are a chipped steel wheel, and a broken tooth where the handle gear engages the valve gear.
    I'd like to update, but with all the failure stories I've heard and seen, I'm leery.
    Mine still works, and I use jack stands EVERY time:D
     

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