Posted 4/2/2009 07:41 (#665869) Subject: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Central Kansas
I am sooooo frustrated with my "HandyMan" jack! Stored inside and everytime I go to use it, the mechanisim hangs up and either, it won't go up or release to go down. (a real safty issue for the person in the way of the jaw breaking handle)Spray some "WD-40" on it and it will work for that one time, but next time, it's the same old thing. Can't they build a jack that will work more than once or do they need to build a holder for that can of WD-40 that I need everytime I use it?
Short of cutting it up for scrap iron.....any suggestions?
Posted 4/2/2009 07:59 (#665889 - in reply to #665880) Subject: RE: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Saronville NE
I have the same promblem with the mechanism sticking. But if you keep it lubed up and working smoothly, and use a little common sense since they can be dangerous, they are the handiest jack on the farm IMO.
Posted 4/2/2009 22:49 (#666890 - in reply to #665889) Subject: I've got 2 fake teeth because of a handyman jack,,
SW Missouri
but we still have one we use all the time. When I was a kid we had a bumper hitch cattle trailer that had the jack broke off so every time we used it out came the Handyman. Well one time I didn't stay back good enough and WHACK right under the chin. Now my 2 bottom front teeth are not original equipment.
Posted 4/2/2009 08:09 (#665897 - in reply to #665869) Subject: RE: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Try some really good roller chain lube. Seems to leave a film that last longer and doesn't collect as much dirt. But yea they can be frustrating to get to work. One guy I know calls them "man killer jacks". I can agree with that.
Posted 4/2/2009 08:41 (#665934 - in reply to #665901) Subject: RE: My wonderful HandyMan jack
I didn't know these things were disliked so much. We use ours all the time. Can use it sideways. Don't have to always round up a bunch of blocks when you need to jack something thats up a several feet. Ours are generations old but still work pretty well. Don't have to lube them every time.
Posted 4/2/2009 11:00 (#666133 - in reply to #665934) Subject: RE: Paul you've "hit" on the real problem..
Kittitas Co. Wa. State
You have an "old" jack (probably several years old) and they were built with quality in mind !!
Then like everything else,, some bean counter figure out how to save 2 cents per unit,,"If we just make this part a little cheaper.." mindset,, and now,,, WALA....
Posted 4/2/2009 15:21 (#666374 - in reply to #665934) Subject: RE: My wonderful HandyMan jack
northwest tennessee
I have a very old one that was my dads and he bought it about 60 years ago off of a guy going through the country selling them. I am thinking the lube might be some of the problem because of it attracting dust. A good cleaning might be as good as anything.
Posted 4/2/2009 21:45 (#666763 - in reply to #666374) Subject: RE: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Pittsburg, Kansas
My ex father-in-law always strictly said use nothing but Diesel fuel. Just a touch of lubrication to make them work but not collect dust and stick them up. Works pretty good and the nozzel on the pickup tank is always pretty close.
Posted 4/2/2009 08:36 (#665926 - in reply to #665869) Subject: RE: My wonderful HandyMan jack
NE S.Dakota
The handyman jack, certainly has it's limitations, and dangers, however I would not want to be without one or more on my farm.
Get yourself some spray carb cleaner,and really spray clean the mechanism, blow it clean with compressed air.
Take a good look at the pins, make sure they are smooth. There is a kit for rebuilding,including pins,springs,etc.
Lubricate with Justice Brothers JB 80, as their label says, "twice as good", WD 40 just does not seem to keep any lube there.
Keep the jack out of the back end of your pickup, and it will reward you by working when you need it. The knockoff versions have all these problems, plus you have to wonder about the quality of the steel.
Sure, the handyman can be frustrating, but what is the alternative?
Posted 4/2/2009 08:37 (#665928 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
They separate the "handy" from the "unhandy" men! My vocabulary has been expanded with four letter words as I "work" that mechanism. Does it improve if the springs and stop pins are replaced, or is that a corporate trick to get you to contribute more dollars to a device that really should be committed to the scrap yard, sent to the orient, and returned as a hydraulic version with even greater flaws, but now torments some other unhandy man?
Posted 4/2/2009 08:49 (#665945 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Jewell County KS
I always figured that they must be sold new with a can of lube so that they will work. Kinda like a "Jack Service Kit"
With that said they are handy and I keep 1 in the service truck, but......I've also have the scars and a few stitches from one of my earlier experiences with a "HandyMan" .
Posted 4/2/2009 08:58 (#665958 - in reply to #665945) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Central Minnesota
Ah, the old handyman. (AKA the finger smasher) Still have the one Dad had that is probably close to 50 years old. Got my first farm injury that I remember from that SOB. Had something jacked up and pushed down on the lever that is to let it back down. Only wasn't smart enough to know that you should have the handle up when you do this. You can guess whre my fingers were. Must have been lubed up too much. That handle came a flyin up. I still remember the pain. But on a good note I have never forgot to have the handle up when I pushed that lever ever again. They still take some lube to make them work.
Posted 4/2/2009 09:10 (#665973 - in reply to #665945) Subject: SLIP PLATE
Hazelton, Kansas
Fellas:
Assuming its a real Hi Lift and the pins and holes (in the upright) are still crisp, clean it up with solvent and PAINT THE WHOLE SOB WITH SLIP PLATE. Apply slip plate liberally to the action and work it in while the paint is wet. Be sure to paint the upright, as well.
Dry graphite paint is by far the best solution I've found. Paint them and you will understand how they are SUPPOSED to work. Graphite paint doesn't collect dust and lasts about a year, even when exposed to the weather.
I carry mine in pickups all the time, but I do have a bracket to keep them up out of the worst of the crud.
Posted 4/2/2009 12:57 (#666245 - in reply to #666115) Subject: RE: SLIP PLATE
Hazelton, Kansas
Tim:
Yeah, I think slip plate (or equivalent) is a huge improvement for HiLifts.
Before I started using slip plate, I always wondered why no one offered chromed pins for these things (or even a chromed upright, for that matter). Or Parkerized, teflon, or ???
Posted 4/2/2009 09:14 (#665977 - in reply to #665869) Subject: RE: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Lac qui Parle County Minnesota
You might have a build up of too much grit and lube. It helped ours to take it to the parts washer and thoroughly clean all the parts. A lot of time its that old oil mixed with dirt that makes things bind. Anyway, clean it up and then use a chain lube or Jb oil instead of WD 40.
Posted 4/2/2009 09:21 (#665987 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
SCMN
Ours is older than the hills and it works like a charm every time. I maybe spray WD-40 in it a few times a year. Not sure what brand it is because there's no identifying marks left on it. Old but built to last.
Posted 4/2/2009 09:25 (#666001 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Devils Lake, ND
Like other posters said, you most likely have dirt and crap in the mechanism. Hose it down with brake cleaner. Or better yet, take it completely apart and let the parts sit in the parts washer. I like the idea of using slip plate after that. Never thought of that idea.
Posted 4/2/2009 09:42 (#666035 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
I will agree with you my Dad has one don't know how old it is has been around as long as I can remember and I am 30 so 20+ rairly do we have trouble with it maybe apply alittle lub 1 or twice a year and works good, (don't know if it is a better one or what maybe a brand name??) though that would suprise me as Dad was always trying to save money buying the cheaper tools maybe lucked out and got a "good" one, only difference I know it that stays inside almost all the time unless it is being used very rairly does it even go for a ride in the pickup unless it has to. Dennis SEND
Posted 4/2/2009 09:58 (#666059 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Lapel, In
I have one that is 66 years old. Wooden handle. Still works.
Joey_swtexas
Posted 4/2/2009 10:25 (#666095 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
I wouldn't know what to do with out my hi-lift. I keep one in the back of my pickup. Like ya'll say there dangerous and never do work to good with out a shot of lube. Spray it every time you use it.
We do have one thats 40 plus years old with a wooden handle that works every time with out lube, guess they were built better back then.
Posted 4/2/2009 10:27 (#666102 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Moweaqua, IL
Ah, my old friend, the handyman jack. The tool responsible for my last trip to the emergency room. 6 stiches, 4 inside my mouth and 2 outside, one X-ray, and a nice bill. I didn't even have much of a load on it and it smacked me pretty good.
Posted 4/2/2009 10:43 (#666122 - in reply to #665869) Subject: a yes the wonderful "cuss jack"
southern Alberta
I am sure that Satan himself invented that thing. Around here it is knows as a "cuss jack" because every time you use it you end up cussing at it, or because of it.
Posted 4/2/2009 11:16 (#666153 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Soutwest Ks.
My father, (bless his heart) refused to own one while I was growing up, but since that time I have had numerous Hi-lifts and I agree they are wicked little contraptions, but sometimes they are the only things that will work for the situation.
Posted 4/2/2009 11:19 (#666157 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Kansas
We have one that's been around since probably the 70's, works every time and it does stay mostly in the back of the pickup. In the early 90's dad got another one and it don't work at all without lubbing it up. This a don't make them like they used to deal?
Posted 4/2/2009 12:20 (#666220 - in reply to #665869) Subject: RE: Definitely a killer
Especially when well lubricated the jack can get to swinging the handle and go down by itself and that swinging handle can beat the life out of someone too close to it. Its a pain when its stiff but it may be safer then.
Posted 4/2/2009 14:18 (#666320 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Remsen, Iowa
If the jack does not say Handy Man [made by Harrah MFG, Bloomfield Ill.] on it then it"s not a Handy Man jack. It' a knock off (this includes the High Lift jack) and will more likely not work as advertised.
Posted 4/2/2009 19:38 (#666567 - in reply to #666320) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Sucker brook, NY
rambo - 4/2/2009 14:18
If the jack does not say Handy Man [made by Harrah MFG, Bloomfield Ill.] on it then it"s not a Handy Man jack. It' a knock off (this includes the High Lift jack) and will more likely not work as advertised.
Posted 4/2/2009 23:15 (#666937 - in reply to #666567) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
Remsen, Iowa
I'll be dammed, just when I thought I knew the answer. That's what I get for thinking. I also have a high lift jack, it's not nearly as reliable as my old Handy Man jack.
Posted 4/2/2009 15:06 (#666358 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Re: My wonderful HandyMan jack
West Texas
We've had two of them. One is gathering dust somewhere in the barn. The other got cut up for "repairs". I use the telehandler for everything that I can't get a bottle jack under. So far, so good. Knock on blockhead.
Posted 4/2/2009 15:12 (#666365 - in reply to #665869) Subject: RE: My wonderful HandyMan jack
just a tish NE of central ND
Lube it before you use it, Not after. That way it loosens the dust up, If you lube it after, it just has that much more dust stuck on it again when you need it and is already sticky when you use it.. I just use diesel fuel to wash ours and lube.
Posted 4/2/2009 21:41 (#666756 - in reply to #665869) Subject: Diesel fuel or wd40
Pittsburg, Kansas
That is just part of the operation of a handyman jack. That and stay out of the way of the handle. Ex father-in-law used to gripe anyone out that used wd40 on them. Said Diesel fuel was the only thing that had just enough lubrication to make them work but not too much and also the Diesle didn't collect dust like other oil or WD40.
My wonderful HandyMan jack
