Harbor Freight Hydraulic Jacks

[bigb]

Is anyone using the Harbor Freight air over hydraulic 22 ton floor jack? It has some good reviews. I am also looking at the Air/hydraulic 20 ton bottle jack and at the regular 20 and 30 ton bottle jacks. Just wondering if anyone has been using any of this stuff and how it's holding up.

[Jax]

You ask for opinions from those who have owned these jacks and I haven't but have an opinion non-the-less. Hydraulic jacks last for years if the seals are replaced as they leak. Ask HF if parts are available. If they are it's the first thing I've heard of that has parts available. You might pay a little more for jacks with parts support but it's cheaper than buying a new jack for lack of parts.

[wb4rt]

I’ve used their 20 ton air/hydraulic bottle jack in my press for 5-6 years with no problems. I’m not using it everyday, but it has been a very nice upgrade.

[Freebirdwelds]

I went with this when my 8000lb floor jack would no longer lift my truck. I've had it over a year now and it hold rock solid with no seeping. It's a 20 ton.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[John T]

I’ve used their 20 ton air/hydraulic bottle jack in my press for 5-6 years with no problems. I’m not using it everyday, but it has been a very nice upgrade.

Same here. works great.

I still have the pump bottle jack (HF) on the shelf.... that still works great also.

but for the press, nothing beats the air over hyd.


I've thought about getting one of those Daytona? HF jacks.... they look pretty nice... aluminum too, if I'm not mistaken...

[SlowBlues]

I've used their 20 ton air over hydraulic in my press as well for about 5 years, zero issues and I've been extremely satisfied but it doesn't see much use.

I own a few of their bottle jacks that see more use, and I've also been extremely satisfied with them.

The last few tire shops I've been to in the last couple years pretty much all used HF floor jacks, at least 85% I'd guesstimate.

The shop guy at a gypsum recycling yard I frequent has used the same HF 20t air over floor jack for about the 8 years I've been going there, as well as a number of HF bottle jacks in every size. They see a TON of use and abuse on heavy equipment and semi trucks/trailers, in an extremely unfriendly environment (they crush drywall so there is gypsum dust EVERYWHERE). This is really what sold me on HF's jacks.

[M J D]

I have had the best luck with hydraulic jacks from Napa but more $$. For the most part just maintain the fluid level. I generally just use #32 hydraulic oil rather than the prepacked " hydraulic jack oil". If I do notice seepage in one, I drain out the factory " oil" and replace it with 32 with about an ounce of brake fluid to a quart of 32 oil. At work we have a few of the 22 ton air over hydraulic bottle jacks with the tilting handle , carriage and changeable extensions and they have been fairly decent. These were bought off eBay and most likely the cheapest ones. The only issues I recall is the handle not wanting to fully lock in the middle position. I also have the 30 ton hf jack and it's been good. Another good bottle jack to have is either the 12 or 20 ton " shorty" jack.

[leightrepairs]

I have had the best luck with hydraulic jacks from Napa but more $$. For the most part just maintain the fluid level. I generally just use #32 hydraulic oil rather than the prepacked " hydraulic jack oil". If I do notice seepage in one, I drain out the factory " oil" and replace it with 32 with about an ounce of brake fluid to a quart of 32 oil. At work we have a few of the 22 ton air over hydraulic bottle jacks with the tilting handle , carriage and changeable extensions and they have been fairly decent. These were bought off eBay and most likely the cheapest ones. The only issues I recall is the handle not wanting to fully lock in the middle position. I also have the 30 ton hf jack and it's been good. Another good bottle jack to have is either the 12 or 20 ton " shorty" jack.

I would not add brake fluid as the seals in most hydraulic jacks are not compatible with brake fluid.

[M J D]

I would not add brake fluid as the seals in most hydraulic jacks are not compatible with brake fluid.

That little bit won't affect the seals in a negative way. Straight brake fluid, probably so.

[Brand X]

but for the press, nothing beats the air over hyd.

Except electric-hydraulic Low cost, then Air over Hyd. has a lot of value.

[bigb]

Santa brought the 20 ton Air/hydraulic by today

[whtbaron]

What's the verdict, or do you have to wait to unwrap it? I've been keeping quiet because I don't have the 20 ton and the others seemed to like them. I have a 10 ton (same Chinesium setup) and it's so slow I never use the air. Manual side has been working fine for a few years though, no leaks or anything...

[bigb]

What's the verdict, or do you have to wait to unwrap it? I've been keeping quiet because I don't have the 20 ton and the others seemed to like them. I have a 10 ton (same Chinesium setup) and it's so slow I never use the air. Manual side has been working fine for a few years though, no leaks or anything...

I'm going to test it in a little while...

[bigb]

Works great and came with a set of seals and even the male quick connect already installed on the air line. Bled the air and topped off per instructions then lifted the motorhome no problem. Sometimes it's a problem lifting and placing jack stands because you need to place the stands at the same place you are lifting. In this case I cut a piece of 1/4" plate to fit the bottom of the spring mount so I have room to place the stand once lifted, worked great.

[bigb]

Freebirdwelds that looks identical to the HF except the paint, I wonder if they came out of the same factory

[John T]

I put a small braided safety cable inside both of the springs.... just in case.

similar to the setup on a garage door spring.


Those springs are under a lot of pressure.... and right in yer face most times.
(especially on a press)

[psacustomcreations]

I have several of the 20ton air over hydraulic jacks.
One at home for the SWAG press.
One at work for the SWAG press.
Another at work I keep in my work truck when towing. I keep a scuba tank in the truck with other air tools. I changed a tire on this trailer in about 2-3 minutes using that air/hyd jack and air impact wrench.


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[G-ManBart]

I've been watching this with interest, for a couple of reasons. I have a Harbor Freight 2T cherry picker with the long ram 8 ton jack and that thing has leaked from day one. I tried heavier oil and it didn't help....leaves an oil stain wherever I leave it so I have to put something under it to catch the drips. I've been looking at the 8T air/hydraulic jack but worried about spending $100 to wind up with another leaking jack so I started looking for alternatives. I'd like to put a US Jack replacement on it, but that would wind up being $400...ouch.

I also have a 30 ton shop press with the standard 30 ton HF jack and that weeps just a little bit. The most recent time I looked on their website I noticed that the long ram jacks are all on clearance, but no change in price and many of the gray jacks are now red and look slightly different. Seems like they might be changing suppliers.

I also have the Daytona 4T professional jack and that's been great...really nice jack.

[bigb]

I have the Daytona 3.5 ton, a Pittsburg 3 ton low profile and now the 20 ton A/H bottle jack. None leak so far which is more than I can say for my US Made OTC 3.5 ton which I even had rebuilt and still leaks. I think HF China stuff has been getting better over the years.

[whtbaron]

It's hit and miss... and depends a lot on conditions. Any fine grit in around those seals is sure death, and I have at least one that nobody can find seals for. About once a year I pull it apart and wrap it with teflon tape and it works pretty good. My neighbors borrowed one of my good ones and left it out in the rain. Got rust pits in the ram, so now it leaks too.

[Sberry]

You ask for opinions from those who have owned these jacks and I haven't but have an opinion non-the-less. Hydraulic jacks last for years if the seals are replaced as they leak. Ask HF if parts are available. If they are it's the first thing I've heard of that has parts available. You might pay a little more for jacks with parts support but it's cheaper than buying a new jack for lack of parts.

Its cheaper to replace them.

[bigb]

As I get older I find that longevity of stuff I buy gets less important.

[Lis2323]

I have the HF equivalent purchased from Princess Auto in Canada

I added wheels and a long handle for getting under heavy equipment.

Here it is standing upright in storage position



in “operating” position



closeup of “patented” Craftsman u joint




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[CAVEMANN]

Several years ago I bought a new American made 5 ton hydraulic jack, there's not more than one or two companies making jacks in the good ole USA, cost was nearly 200 bucks at the time. I don't know if it's any better than chinese jack but hey, it's for the truck, so hopefully it works when I need it. Hasn't shown any leakage yet.

[farmersammm]

As I get older I find that longevity of stuff I buy gets less important.

Man, I hear ya on that!!