Tweet
I just got my old friend back home, my Blackhawk 4-ton floor jack. It is an assembly of castings, and it has a headlight [no longer working] and a key lock to prevent it from being lowered. It was made in the late 1940's, and is its own kind of art.
It had been away to the repair company. Parts are extremely hard to find for it, but the repair guy found a seal kit for it in another part of the country. He said he may not be able to find another one, but he felt the jack would last as long as I ever wanted it.
During the time when I was not sure if it would be repairable, I found myself once again looking at options. I am not comfortable with a lot of the stuff sold new today, though I admit that I may not know of all the possibilities.
I learn that an old Weaver is still great, as the Weaver jacks have not really changed, and all parts are available. They are a quality device, even if they are single speed pumps.
I have a 1-1/4 jack for light automotive work, but my favorite size for four decades has been the 4-ton, long chassis jack. I recently acquired a 10-ton Snap-On, air assist, which was made by Lincoln.
The hydraulics field has been changed by a number of bigger fish eating smaller fish, and then most ultimately buying off shore. The high end OTC stuff is good, parts are available, and it is spendy. Weaver is still made here, and if you like Power Wagons, you would like Weaver jacks. If you like Power Wagons, you would like a 10-ton jack, other than the gross dimension and weight of the thing.
So.... what are you using now, what would you buy now, what do you see as the solution? Don't forget jack stands, as we need them, too.
I am still using four that I made in high school welding class, and no, I won't post a picture of them. :-) I do consider designing some more, having the steel fabbed, and welding them together.
I have mixed feelings about the ratcheting stands. They have lots of increments, they are fast, and......... if you are not paying attention, they can unlock and fall. Maybe just one notch, maybe all the way. Ratcheting stands must be used in a certain, careful way, and rapped soundly with a pipe or hammer to verify that they are set. I like pins. More positive.
Discuss jacks and stands at length. We all need this stuff and it all needs high capacity and safety.
It had been away to the repair company. Parts are extremely hard to find for it, but the repair guy found a seal kit for it in another part of the country. He said he may not be able to find another one, but he felt the jack would last as long as I ever wanted it.
During the time when I was not sure if it would be repairable, I found myself once again looking at options. I am not comfortable with a lot of the stuff sold new today, though I admit that I may not know of all the possibilities.
I learn that an old Weaver is still great, as the Weaver jacks have not really changed, and all parts are available. They are a quality device, even if they are single speed pumps.
I have a 1-1/4 jack for light automotive work, but my favorite size for four decades has been the 4-ton, long chassis jack. I recently acquired a 10-ton Snap-On, air assist, which was made by Lincoln.
The hydraulics field has been changed by a number of bigger fish eating smaller fish, and then most ultimately buying off shore. The high end OTC stuff is good, parts are available, and it is spendy. Weaver is still made here, and if you like Power Wagons, you would like Weaver jacks. If you like Power Wagons, you would like a 10-ton jack, other than the gross dimension and weight of the thing.
So.... what are you using now, what would you buy now, what do you see as the solution? Don't forget jack stands, as we need them, too.
I am still using four that I made in high school welding class, and no, I won't post a picture of them. :-) I do consider designing some more, having the steel fabbed, and welding them together.
I have mixed feelings about the ratcheting stands. They have lots of increments, they are fast, and......... if you are not paying attention, they can unlock and fall. Maybe just one notch, maybe all the way. Ratcheting stands must be used in a certain, careful way, and rapped soundly with a pipe or hammer to verify that they are set. I like pins. More positive.
Discuss jacks and stands at length. We all need this stuff and it all needs high capacity and safety.
Comment