My Blackhawk floor jack spewed about a week or so ago, and I took it to the local shop for a rebuild. 2nd time in the last year.

I decided that I didn't want to be without at least one working jack at any time - and I don't count my aluminum race jack since I'd never use it to jack up an end of my lathe - so I weighed my options:

OTC is about all that's left of US manufacturers, and my local guy says he see's them come back for repair more often than they used to.

http://www.otctools.com/newcat...cat=7

The 1717 is about $420, and it's 3-3/4 collapsed height is nice.

But I ended up ordering an AC DK20 from Ultimategarage at $320 including freight.

http://www.ultimategarage.com/acjacks.html

My local guy also mentioned the Lincoln/Walker 93642 as the last of the good US jacks - now no longer available.

And my Blackhawk? Parts no longer available. NFG.

If you ever come across one of those blue Lincoln/Walkers, snap it up.

Scott, who notices that many shops have a small parking lot of jacks...I wonder how many of them actually work...you just can't trust hydraulics like you used to...

 

i will buy the harbor freight aluminum one....129.99 can't be beat....i've been beating on mine daily for last 2 years and no problems!!!!

sams club does have a new aluminum one i'll probably pick up for a new bling race jack to take on race trips....

 

The HF jack is a piece of ****.

I'm replacing it with the sears aluminum jack.

 

Bah, i've been using an el-cheapo $30 Canadian Tire jack for like 6-7 years now. I've been wishing for the thing to die already so I'd have an excuse to buy a pimpy new aluminum race jack, but the bastard just wont quit. And boy has it seen it's share of abuse over the years.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The HF jack is a piece of ****.

I'm replacing it with the sears aluminum jack.</TD></TR></TABLE>


what makes you think the sears is anybetter??

i'll be they are the same manufacutor!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The HF jack is a piece of ****.

I'm replacing it with the sears aluminum jack.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Really? Man, I've had great luck with it so far. No problems through 2 years of beating it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The HF jack is a piece of ****.

I'm replacing it with the sears aluminum jack.</TD></TR></TABLE>
even better that it's now on sale for $99.i've had one of the HF jacks for a long time now with no problems,although i'd be a lot more confident with a Craftsman product......or,maybe like Chad said,they're the same thing.
Chris

 

The $99 jack is not the same one that most of you are using, FWIW.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what makes you think the sears is anybetter??
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Because I've looked at both.

And the Sears product will have a lifetime warranty.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Racers can't survive without a good jack...and there's hardly such a thing any more</TD></TR></TABLE>

oh yes there is.
http://www.brunnhoelzl.com/

if you must do it... do it right.

 

You won't regret buying the DK20. It's very well built.

I hate to show you this since it's too late, but just in case anyone else is considering buying one...

http://www.asedeals.com/hydraulicjacks2.html - about $260 shipped.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Because I've looked at both.

And the Sears product will have a lifetime warranty.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Last time I checked, the Sears unit has a 1-year replacement warranty. My HF jack was replaced for free after 2.5 years of use, no questions asked.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Shaun K &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My HF jack was replaced for free after 2.5 years of use, no questions asked.</TD></TR></TABLE>

****, i'm bringing my POS back then!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Because I've looked at both.

And the Sears product will have a lifetime warranty.</TD></TR></TABLE>

And if it breaks, you know where to take it back, cuz you know where it come from. Just ask A.J. Foyt.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Because I've looked at both.

And the Sears product will have a lifetime warranty.</TD></TR></TABLE>
have you confirmed this?only the basic Craftsman handtools have a lifetime warranty.electronic/complex tools usually have a much shorter warranty with Sears....ask me how iknow
Chris

 

Unfortunately Sears does not offer a lifetime warranty on jacks.

 

Looks like someone needs a new plate frame

 

hmm i love my torin pepboys POS jack. supposed to be lightweight, but it's kinda heavy.

that said, it works well. much better than the HF **** that feels like it's about to break in 5 different ways when loaded.

a friend of mine has a torin regular steel jack and he loves that thing. prefers it to all of the craftsmans he's ever used.

but yeah, if economy isn't a priority then blinG on!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Because I've looked at both.

And the Sears product will have a lifetime warranty.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Are you sure the Sears will have lifetime warranty? Because I thought items that have moving mechanical parts, etc., even Craftsman, don't have lifetime warranty. Their torque wrenches don't for example--I know b/c bought one and asked at the time of purchase.

With the HF jack you can actually buy a long warranty for it... at least 2 years, maybe more. (and their Pitsburg brand torque wrench does have a lifetime warranty. I already went through 3 of them in the last 2 yrs)

 

Maybe it's just me, but I would personally rather pay more for something that won't break than have the "benefit" of getting a cheaper part replaced free on a regular basis.

The inconvenience of dealing with low-quality tools just isn't worth the initial savings.

 

JeffS, I agree. If I ever buy a jack over $100 it'll be the AC. With the torque wrench though, I rather take my cheapie to the track (just picked up another with up to 150 ft/lb for $10) where it could easily get dropped or even stolen in the worse case scenario.

 

I do the same thing. My cheap wrench is typically being used, and the snap-on is hiding in its case somewhere in the corner

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JeffS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Maybe it's just me, but I would personally rather pay more for something that won't break than have the "benefit" of getting a cheaper part replaced free on a regular basis.

The inconvenience of dealing with low-quality tools just isn't worth the initial savings.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's not just you.

Scott, who drives an ITR for for the same kind of reason...

 

nuthin' like a thread about floor jacks to bring a tear to my eye...

just jackin'

vic

 

I don't know about you guys, but I don't feel the same way about a screwdriver breaking and scratching my DVD screenz as I do about my jack breaking and bending up my chrome brake rotorz and Z3 fenderz.

No problems so far after one busy season's use of a HF jack + lots of home use of the jack. Except that damnable screw that holds the locking sleeve for the handle in place keeps going AWOL.