Railroad Jack

[peteL]

My friend has obtained a Duff-Norton No. 517 15 ton railroad jack. We tried seeing if it works correctly. It will jack up but it slid down when we tried to lower it. My dad had a railroad jack that had to jacked down to lower it. Anybody have any cue if this is the correct operation.

 

[wore out]

My friend has obtained a Duff-Norton No. 517 15 ton railroad jack. We tried seeing if it works correctly. It will jack up but it slid down when we tried to lower it. My dad had a railroad jack that had to jacked down to lower it. Anybody have any cue if this is the correct operation.View attachment 67121View attachment 67122View attachment 67123

Some jacks will not "jack downward" unless there is weight on them, they will free-fall when set to the "lower position".

Have you tried yours with it actually supporting some weight?

 

[shaun wallace]

If that was a Simplex parts are still available. My Simplex's have to be jacked down with no weight on them unless use the over ride lever.

 

[WilBury]

My Simplexs were rescued from a scrap pile and they were there for a reason.
If the springs are buggered, the pawls rounded off, or the bases beat out of shape one needs to pay attention to the task at hand.

 

[JMOR]

Mine works either way, depending on how the operator chooses to operate it.

 

[buzzinduzzin]

I have a 117 & the mechanism can be jacked down or their is a quick drop feature

 

[peteL]

Some jacks will not "jack downward" unless there is weight on them, they will free-fall when set to the "lower position".

Have you tried yours with it actually supporting some weight?

Yes we have tried putting weight on it with the same results.

 

[Mule Meat]

Is the spring worn or missing?
Mine will lower one notch at a time or I can raise the handle all the way up hard and it will free fall.