Hi Lift Jack Update

[John T]

UPDATE I found out what was wrong, fixed it, and "for now at least" it's working great yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

The problem wasn't lack of lubrication (too much too long maybe) it was crud/accumulation on the pins preventing them from sliding horizontal fully in and out properly.

I think it was my sparky friend Janicholson who mentioned cleaning and running it dry.

Using brake parts cleaner, carb cleaner, my air gun, small wire brush and pocket knife, I thoroughly cleaned and removed the crud
from the pins and spring area and dried everything, then I put a thin coat of dry lube on it. WORKS PERFECT WITH A LOUD SHARP CLIK CLAK
AS THE PINS MOVE FULLY IN AND OUT. One can both hear and see them working.

Here's one thing, sure lubricant makes the pins and other stuff move easy HOWEVER, if it remains versus evaporating or goes away, it also
collects dirt n dust and "crud" grrrrrrrrr

From now on I'm gonna keep the parts (especially pins and springs) clean and dry, maybe use a bit of dry lube. However, since I quit farming and have several other types of jacks I MAY NEVER USE IT AGAIN LOL. Regardless, having owned them 50 years I STILL DON'T LIKE THEM, big heavy bulky finger pinchers and widow makers !!!!!!!!!

John T Happy Camper again

 

[Dan in North Houston]

Despite all of their faults, there's just some jobs where nothing else works as well as they do.

 

[el6147]

that is the very reason the older tool boxes with the friction slide drawers such as Snap-on don't slide very well.

in the Snap-on owners manual that no one ever read and threw away, it states to use Paraffin wax for lubricate, every time they are lubricated with an oil base lubricant they attract dust and dirt.

 

[John T]

I sure agree with that. Ima thinking the "Dry Lube" stuff I tried will work better then oil based lube or I may just keep it straight DRY but like I said I hardly will ever need it anymore. A water or other based lubricant that evaporates (or however it goes away ??) is probably better then oil or grease hanging on attracting dirt, it prob hadnt been cleaned in yearssssssssssssss lol which is why crud was on the pins. Oh well it was a fun little job

John T

 

[rrlund]

I guess I'd better clean mine up and use it dry.

 

[DoubleO7]

After all that effort, a good heavy canvas bag/sleeve would be good to store it in.
Like the bag for a collapsible lawn chairs or ez up canopy, etc.

 

[DoubleO7]

Or a fancy neoprene zippered storage cover

 

[Southern Ray]

Many years ago a fellow down the road built a dune buggy. The steering shaft ran through a pipe nipple.
It squeaked like a 'noisy gong and clanging cymbal.' Everyone told him to put a grease fitting on the nipple and grease it.
He said grease attracts dust. He didn't mind listing to the squeaking.

 

[CenTex Farmall]

I use a chain lube that sprays on and then leaves a dry film. Seems to work fine. I've taught the kids that it is the single most dangerous tool we own and though indispensable in certain applications requires constant vigilance.

 

[Stephen Newell]

Jacks are as dangerous as the old bumper jacks. They lift too far too fast. A person really needs to put something under the vehicle as they go with that kind of jack.

I stopped using mine because I loaned it out and when it came back the bar was bent in two places. Tried to straighten it out but never got it right.

 

[MarkB_MI]

Sounds right, although I haven't used a Handyman or Hi-Lift jack for forty years. We never lubricated them, but they would get unpredictable when dirt and grime built up.

 

[Janicholson]

Thanks. They must be respected. Jim

 

[grizz02]

what size tire is on your jeep and what brand

 

[DoubleO7]

(quoted from post at 00:50:27 08/21/20) what size tire is on your jeep and what brand

No idea, internet pic.

 

[petertay]

When my Hi-Lift got borrowed by a neighbor who didnt return it, a friend said, You should thank him. He just saved your life.

 

[DR. EVIL]

Dad was a crane operator in the Army, I learned a lot about lifting and moving big heavy things by osmosis from Him. Dad had an original Handy-Man jack, most un-used piece of equipment on the farm. Trying to let something down always resulted in the lifted "thing" being dropped. We kept it hid in the dusty filthy side shed on the front barn. Most things the jack could do we did with the hyd loader on the M and a chain.
Got in a good argument with a guy about them on another forum. Guy said Dad bought a cheap foreign import jack, Really? In 1958? It wasn't rusty, we tried oiling it via dumping clean new oil, or used motor oil, or diesel fuel, and oiling as you jacked something up. If you went slow it would work O-K. When you let something down is when it would drop. I haven't seen a post from that guy since then. Wonder if his Handy-Man dropped his Jeep on his head? I bet he wouldn't believe the number of private messages I got agreeing with me.