Floor jack caster bracket quality of welding concern

[lk77]

Hi all,

I am not a welder and posting my question here because I need an advice from pros.
Just purchased a new floor jack, have not used it yet. Here are some pictures of that caster bracket in question.
My concern is that it looks dangerous to use (heard some bad stories of broken caster brackets/jack legs).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[MinnesotaDave]

Welcome to the website

My view is that castor welding is fine. Most of the weight during jacking is on the front wheels.

[acourtjester]

Another way to look at it is the weld is on the bottom of the bracket and wheel will be pushing up against the weld. The bracket is also gusseted and welded on the gusset. If it was the other way around that may be not as good. You could clean the paint powder coating off and weld the top then repaint.

[shovelon]

[lk77]

This is how the second caster looks:



Is this bracket has been welded from both sides. or is it just paint?

Looks like different people did this job.

[shovelon]

Just paint IMO.

[SweetMK]

They want you to lift the car with the jack,, then support the car with a couple of those,,

"Pittsburgh" brand jackstands,,

OOPS, I forgot,, those Pittsburgh brand jackstands have all been recalled due to defective welds,,

You are right to question the welds,, but, like it has been stated earlier, the other wheels are the "business" end,, doing all of the lifting.

Get a GREAT set of jackstands before you climb under the car/truck,, or get a rigger to give you a quick lesson in cribbing,,

[lk77]

but, like it has been stated earlier, the other wheels are the "business" end,, doing all of the lifting.

I think that the load distribution on the floor jack front wheels and back casters depends on the lifting arm angle.

Of course, I am using jack stands but now we are talking about how quickly we need to put them under a car to avoid a floor jack collapse.

I see that gap between the bracket and the jack frame and it drives me nuts.

[12V71]

I think that the load distribution on the floor jack front wheels and back casters depends on the lifting arm angle.

Of course, I am using jack stands but now we are talking about how quickly we need to put them under a car to avoid a floor jack collapse.

I see that gap between the bracket and the jack frame and it drives me nuts.

Then just take it back, explain your concerns and have them search one out that you approve of and be done. If you modify it and it still collapses... who is at fault?

[CAVEMANN]

I think that the load distribution on the floor jack front wheels and back casters depends on the lifting arm angle.

Of course, I am using jack stands but now we are talking about how quickly we need to put them under a car to avoid a floor jack collapse.

I see that gap between the bracket and the jack frame and it drives me nuts.

The wheel loading will depend on the height of the lifting arm, loading will shift rearward on the jack frame and at full height the weighrt will be getting close to equal on both ends.

[lk77]

That is right. The angle changes with the height of the lifting arm. Approximately 90 deg at the highest point.

[shortfuse]

I personally would not trust those casters. If possible, I would return that floor jack and find another brand, checking the all the caster welds beforehand. Paint can cover up a myriad of bad welds/construction. If you can't return those, and if you can weld, I'd grind off the paint, lay a good bead down where there aren't already good(?) welds and repaint. One can't be too careful.

[jamscal]

It's fine and even in the event of catastrophic failure...the ***-end of the jack falls what: 1/2" to the floor?

You're also placing trust in chinese hydraulic oil, a couple seals and a check valve. ��

[SweetMK]

It's fine and even in the event of catastrophic failure...the ***-end of the jack falls what: 1/2" to the floor?

You're also placing trust in chinese hydraulic oil, a couple seals and a check valve. ��

I agree with that,, you are placing your trust in a LOT of cheap components beside the decent looking weld.

On the side that looks good, poke at it with a sharp nail,, you will find that is only paint on the outside,, not weld.
I doubt they can weld with an 0.005" radius weld,, and make it look that nice,,

[farmersammm]

If this were a critical structural member, it wouldn't be made of stamped 3/16(or less) material If it were loaded to any meaningful degree, given the length of the cantilever, it would collapse..........no matter how well it's welded

So...........................no, it's not a problem

[lk77]

I can't argue with welders but it is not just a piece of 3/16" sheet metal. This is how other companies weld caster brackets (3 ton jack also)



And this is how my jack's manufacturer cheap out on a caster itself (not my jack but the same model):



Thank you all who posted, most likely I am returning this jack.

[farmersammm]

You're probably right...................it probably isn't just a cheap piece of 3/16................it's most likely 10ga 3/16 is considered plate, not sheet metal. And, you'll probably find that other "brands" come from the same plant somewhere along the Yangtze River.

I love those little floor jacks. They make good jacks, when wheels removed, for other lifting tools. I've made a hub dolly for Daytons, and a tranny jack, out of those little guys. Handy,, and cheap.

[VaughnT]

Honestly, if you're questioning the weld and aren't even a welder..... that'd be like a sign from god. Get another brand of jack.

It's rather curious that they put a nice bead on the inside where it's hard to reach even with a robot, but didn't want to bother welding the outside where they had plenty of room to maneuver. I don't much care for that idea because they've basically half-assed the job and created a place where moister can gather to cause rusting down the road.

Jacks, like stands, are a place where you don't want to skimp, but it seems like it's getting harder and harder to find quality.

I'd definitely take it back. Maybe search for a vintage floor jack on FB Marketplace or Ebay. It'd be a nice project to restore, too.

[Denis G]

You should worry about the things you cannot see. The hydraulics will fail long before anything ever fails with that part.

[JJN]

fwiw - Those welds look just as good, some even better, then H Freight trailers towing 2,000 lbs down the freeway at 70mph.

[farmersammm]

I'm gonna get weird here (actually not REALLY weird)

If a terrorist had a gun to your head, and said you could place a weld on only one side of that piece, and it had to pass the hammer test without breaking............fail, and you're dead........pass, and ya can go home.

Let's further state that the hammer test had to replicate the stress that jack's gonna see in its lifetime. The jack will be loaded so that the force is towards the floor..........and forcing the bracket upwards. So.......the blow will come from the underside of the jack.

Experience will tell you that it's easier to break a single weld on the opposite side of a hammer blow. Conversely, it's harder to break it when the weld is on the same side as the hammer blow because the weld is in tension.

Ideally, the weld shouldn't break at all, if it's done properly. The metal should fold over the weld. But it's hard to do a good job with a gun to your head Ya need to do the best under the circumstances.

So................if I could only put one weld on that thing........I'd plonk it right where it is.

Fist thing I'm gonna do when I get home, and out of the ariport............................is find the nearest Carl's Junior, and order me the Jr.