Help can't get my car down!!! - Craftsman Floorjack repair

[68rustang]

OK this may be a stupid question but does anyone know anything about fixing a craftsman 3-ton floor jack? I used it last night without any trouble. This evening, after work, I needed to look at the brakes on my wifes car. Put the floor jack underneath, pushed the handle down, car raised up a few inches, raised the handle back up, car drops a few inches. handle down, car up, handle up, car back down, back and forth. There must be a valve somewhere in the hydraulic cylinder that is sticking or broken. But before i tear it apart and realy screw something up I figured I would see what you guys might know?

Oh yeah this is mustang related because after I get done with the my wife's brakes I have to get my 68 off of the stands

Thanks for any help.

 

[none67]

i thought that all craftmens tools are on a life time warrenty, no questions asked policy. they should give you a new one no questions asked.

 

[Track Rat]

Not True All "Hand Tools" have the warrenty. You have to read the fine print. Any tool that has moving parts is not covered (although the ratchets are covered). Like my Torque wrench that I tried to take back. See, even Craftsmen uses deceptive advertising.

 

[68rustang]

i thought that all craftmens tools are on a life time warrenty, no questions asked policy. they should give you a new one no questions asked.

That would be nice, but I am pretty sure this is not covered by that warranty.

 

[Ares67Coupe]

I honestly believe it would be cheaper to head down to your local Sears or Harbor Freight and pick up a new jack than trying to repair it. Unfortunetely the "Lifetime" warrenty only applies to hand tools and ratchets, not jacks, not torque wrenchs, nothing else.

-Chris
Professional Carb Rebuilder

 

[sooners2win]

Not trying to be a jackass......but have you tried jack oil That is why 90% of them are brought back to my Sears

 

[GaPonyFarm]

Not trying to be a jackass......but have you tried jack oil That is why 90% of them are brought back to my Sears

The symptom might be loss of jack oil, the disease is the crappy chinese hydraulics.

Harbor Freight at least charges a decent price for their "not quite as crappy" floor jacks.

 

[pabear89]

When I had a same problem, It was the star wheel
on the shaft that was not engaging to turn the valve.
check to make sure it closes the release valve completely.

PB

 

[Swede958]

My problem with my 3-ton craftsmen jack was jack oil, filled 'er back up and she works like a dream.

They told me at sears the jacks only have a one-year warantee

The Swede

 

[2nd Mustang]

I asked about Craftsman replacement policy once when I bought some tap and dies. They said they would replace anything that doesn't normally wear out under "normal" use, therefore my tap and dies would not be covered. (BTW, they replaced a set bought at Harbor Freight, one tap broke on the second use). However, Sears did replace a couple of weed wackers when both motors burnt up, no questions asked.

 

[68rustang]

The first thing I checked was oil, it was fine.

I know they are both made in china but I'll buy the Sears over a Harbor Freight any day.

The gears were engaging just fine on the pressure relief valve.

All the obvious things were fine and I was just about to head out and buy the aluminum 2-ton jack they have now. When I was looking for anything that looked serviceable on my jack i noticed that I could pull up on jack arm by hand and move it. Thought that was strange so I yanked it all the way up. Close to the top of it travel i heard a small click and i couldn't pull up anymore. But magically the handle caused the jack to act the way it was supposed to now.

All I can figure is there was an internal check valve or something that was stuck not allowing it to build pressure. I will try to do the wife's brakes tonight and hold onto some dough for at least a little while longer

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[sooners2win]

I want that aluminum jack also rustang...............it is sweet!

 

[legomaniac32]

how old is the jack? sears will usually replace it if its defective if you have the reciept. i would try that first, take it back says its defective and see what they will do. ask to speak to the manager, if they give you trouble. i believe it should have between a 60 day and one year warranty on it.
my experience with sears has been pretty good for that kind of thing.

 

[68rustang]

I want that aluminum jack also rustang...............it is sweet!

I haven't looked at it in person yet but It has a decent lifting capacity and looks pretty good. My old roomate bought one of the Harbor freight aluminum jacks about a year ago. The one that is roughly $100, and has a lifting capacity of like 2000lbs. It was straight up garbage.

how old is the jack? sears will usually replace it if its defective if you have the reciept. i would try that first, take it back says its defective and see what they will do. ask to speak to the manager, if they give you trouble. i believe it should have between a 60 day and one year warranty on it.
my experience with sears has been pretty good for that kind of thing.

Ha, no my jack is AT LEAST 5 or 6 years old and has been a good one. Ithink I fixed it but will definitely be keeping my eye on it.

 

[Black Thunder]

I want that aluminum jack also rustang...............it is sweet!

I have that jack and it is very nice.