Harbor Freight floor jack

[Kelley W King]

I have the Harbor Freight blue aluminum floor jack like in cook-dw,s pictures of his 68 preservation. When pulling the jack with the handle the handle sometimes pulls out. The thumb screw that holds it does not look like anything you could pickup to replace it. Anyone had this problem and how did you fix it? Other than that the jack is a great tool for the price.

[David K]

Go to Lowes/Depot/Ace and match it up with a bolt.

[bcmiller]

I had one of those jacks. Worked ok for a while, then I had several different issues. A month or so back it went into the scrap pile. But I am pretty hard on stuff.

Replaced it with a DAYTONA 3 Ton Low-Profile Super-Duty Floor Jack with rapid pump - when it was on sale.

[Kelley W King]

The thumb screw retainer is not really a bolt. I guess I can drill and tap the housing for a bolt. I hate to replace it as it works really well so far except the handle part.

[cook_dw]

HFT Parts Replacement PDF

[maroman]

Horrible Freight. Not sure I have anything from there that works correctly. The heat gun lasted for one use.

[cook_dw]

I must be lucky.  Just about all my HF tools have been ok.  Only one I had die was a die grinder after about 40hrs of porting on a set of iron heads several years back.  As the old saying goes you get what you pay for but so far "knock on wood" I've been satisfied..  But I'm also a tightass.

[Kelley W King]

Good stuff for projects where the tool is not used 40 hours a week. Like you said you get what you pay for. It gives me access to specialty tools that I normally would not buy because of the cost.

[rocco376]

I'm sure most of you already know that Autozone has an extensive selection of tools they will loan you for free.  I did coil springs on my Vette with their tools.  I know it's not ideal to borrow a jack, but the specialty stuff that you will probably use once is worthwhile.

[crossboss]

Concerning the HF power tools, don't waste your time. Absolute junk. Made in China...you get what you pay for. The floor jacks, its hit or miss. 'I' would not trust them...just me.

[Arch Stanton]

China Freight has its plusses and minuses. For consumables, ya, no problem. For most tools, not really good for long term use but they are a bit better than they used to be. I'm guilty of owning a long breaker bar and some really long needle nose pliers..... you know, the tools rarely used but when you need them, they work ok.