When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:

Don't look in the manual or search for any how-to information. We are guys who just inherently know how to do these things. Jump right in. How hard can it be?

Take out the two screws in the body.

Turn jack upside down to drain the oil. At the same time an unknown number of balls, springs, and other bits will fall onto the floor.

Spend at least an hour trying to determine where and how all the balls, springs, and other bits go back into the jack body.

Look up jack repair on internet and read that only "idiots" take out the two screws, and this is a great way to screw up your jack.

Still uncertain, take a guess at where everything goes.

Dismantle most of the jack frame so as to reach the oil filler plug.

Remove the plug and refill the oil reservoir with fresh oil (this in fact is OK).

Crack open a beer.

Test the jack and find that it does lift!

Enjoy a short feeling of success (because it won't last long).

Find a tiny steel ball smaller than a BB on the garage floor.

Re-test the jack and find out that it won't support any downforce. Assume the new found steel ball belongs inside the jack.

Take all the screws, balls, springs, etc. back out (for the 20th time) to see if the tiny ball fits anywhere.

Take a guess at it.

Reassemble

Test

Find out it still doesn't work.

Look for more parts overlooked on the floor and find nothing.

Say **** it.

Time to get a new jack and learn something (about reading user manuals perhaps).

Mark
aka
The Fixer
(now isn't that ironic!)

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

:lol:

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

Thanks for posting that I'm sure somebody will be saved some grief by your experience.
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Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

:lol: awsome post sounds just like something I would do.

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

The story of my life. While I aspire to be like Bob Villa, my wife suggests I'm really more like Tim "The Toolman" Taylor.

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

last jack i got was from Cornwell and if the pump ever goes bad they just give you a new pump so hopefully I never have to go through what you did except for the drinking beer part.

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

Thanks Mark! I think we all feel your pain!!!

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

You're a better man than me. I would have used to the jack handle to beat the rest of the jack into submission.

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

I bought an aluminum jacl from Oreillys for the sand rail. It was cheap and did not weigh anything. I never thought that it would still be working. I have had it buried in the sand, and never took care of it. I needed it to swap the tires when I loaded or un load the rail from the toy hauler. Well 5 years later the jack still works like a charm. The handle breaks down , has the single wide roller in the front. I think I paid 80 bucks for it?? The ac delco jack looks just like mine... dunno maybe re lable. But cheap and works great and does not weigh a ton. maybe 25 lbs??

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

Not to long ago I found out my jack wasn't workin to well. I had bought some Original steelies off a board memeber. I has jackked the first side up and was takin off first wheel to put new one on and I noticed it was lowering. Being I didn't want to fix it I had to do a "Pit crew tire change". Man I was sweating it literally. haha Still havent fixed the jack.

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

this is where i like snap on tool dude

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

rats, i thought no one was watching.

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

Handy links for the would-be floor jack surgeon.
noidontknowwhyihavetheselinks...youdidntseemedoit.ididntseemedoiteither.waddayameanyouseeaballbearin g

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...1105&showall=1
http://www.thegaragegazette.com/index.php?topic=3822.0
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...8055&showall=1
http://www.hyjacks.com/H7.HTM

Alex.

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

haha story of every mans life

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

Great thread. Cool of Axle for the links too...very good info!

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

Last floor jack I bought was from Harbor Freight, when I went to checkout the kid running the register asked me if I wanted to buy the extended warranty for when it breaks. I laughed and declined his offer.

Re: When your floor jack stops working, here's what not to do:
 

30 years ago I paid 49 $ for a jack that looked just like the 350$ jacks I learned...I just paid 100$ to get my 350$ jack rebuilt it's about 15 years old made in USA worth every dime....Thank you for the tips........