BEWARE! Warning about Harbor Freight/Pittsburgh racing jack.

[@RockinProfessor]

I have one of those jacks I bought 3 years ago,,,, I've used it without any problems- never found this prob. BUT I wasn't looking for it- but before I use it again I'll certainly inspect it closely.....

[@brentwilber3177]

you lifted full size trucks with a 1.5 ton jack? 1.5 tons equals 3000 pound. no wonder why those snap rings failed, too much weight.

[@DonziGT230]

Lifting one tire of a full size truck can take about half the jack's rated capacity. The jack has a pressure relief that's not supposed to allow it to be over-loaded to a point of failure, that's why they all have that valve. If you had taken a moment to read before writing you'd see that people who've never lifted heavy vehicles also had these clips fail or come close to failure like mine were. If the jack were properly designed there would never be pressure placed against those clips, they're not designed to handle it. The only way these clips can take pressure somewhat reliably is if the two pieces being held have a tight tolerance and there's no unequal forces around the circumference of the clip. With the jack neither of those applies so they're only reliable in keeping the arms from falling off without a load.

[@WizzRacing]

@@DonziGT230 You better go take a physics class. A GM 1500 Series Truck, Ford F-150 E-150 Van. load on one tire on the front is 2 tons...As you are not just lifting the front tire. You are changing the weight distribution...And the Vehicle is fighting back to correct it.. Go buy a jack designed to handle the weight... As that 1.5 ton is for Small compact cars...

[@DonziGT230]

@@WizzRacing LMAO, your physics class failed you. "Load on one tire on the front is 2 tons". Tell me how you decided that each front tire has 4,000 lbs on it when the whole vehicle weighs barely more than that? It can't "fight back" with more mass than it has, that is some sadly funny stuff. Those vehicles weigh around 4,000-5,000lbs depending on options meaning that lifting the whole front end is close to the maximum capacity for this jack, lifting one tire only is well below its rated capacity.

[@WizzRacing]

@@DonziGT230 Because the damn factory manual tells you Short Bus Rider... As the Frame, Engine, Body Panels, Suspension etc.. Are being lifted as well..So go take a physics class. As the frame is fighting your ass to correct it. Not too mention gravity... And that piss ass little jack is not designed to handle them loads. Why it's max height is limited to 13 inch.. So stop being cheap. Go buy the right tool for the job.. Good Day

[@DonziGT230]

​@@WizzRacing So sad that you think any of that is factual.

[@lrberg1206]

Thanks for the advice. I just bought the 2T version. First thing I did was check all the bolts and snap rings. Reasonably good quality parts, but I question the labor and quality inspections.

[@DonziGT230]

I worked at place that imported Chinese stuff for auto parts stores and from that experience it appears that there is zero quality control or inspections of stuff before it goes out the door. We had entire shipments of stuff that had to be thrown away, but some stuff is actually pretty good for the price. I took home a couple truckloads of power tools that were destined for the dumpster that I fixed and sold.

[@juliosdiy3206]

If built in china the inspection time is 2 seconds.

[@Jodyrides]

thanks for the heads up I have this exact Jack. For some reason, it wouldn’t go up very high anymore, even though I added oil. I bled it according to different do it yourself videos on KZbin. It goes up all the way now, but it only goes up to 13 inches. I have a ram 1500. And it’s not enough to lift my ram from a solid location to get the front wheels high enough to remove the wheel to inspect the brake pads, so I bought a new harbor freight, Pittsburgh jack that goes up 19 7/8 inches. it listed for $239, they had a Fourth of July sale here in 2023, and I got that Jack for $119. But the new jacket is heavy, 78 pounds. now I have three floor jacks. A small one I got for $29 at Walmart which I bought so that I could rotate tires. Do you need two jacks for that so you can get both tires off on the same side of the vehicle at the same time. Now I have two floor jacks that are larger than that $29 one which is actually fine, but small… I will inspect those linkage arms that are held on by the snap ring on my aluminum jack as the one in this video. If they are aluminum, and they show signs of wear and stress, I will make new arms out of steel to replace the aluminum ones.

[@bert1913]

For others that have this same problem, try pumping until the jack is all the way up and then keep pumping 10-15 times

[@DonziGT230]

WARNING: near the end of the video I talked about using safety wire to help secure the clips and I later realized that's a bad idea. The wire will give the arms a place to push on the opening of the clips which will try to them outward, once they start to bend they'll probably come out of the groove more easily even with the tension of the wire trying to hold them in. This video was longer and more rambly than I'd like, but I was in a rush to get it done so please bear with it. I'm not good at this kind of stuff and don't know how to edit videos. I was throwing things out as I thought of them.

[@jayryan7473]

Actually it made total sense. Thanks for the insight. I'll be checking my jack this weekend.

[@shortydancer]

Jay Ryan how was your jack? I was thinking of buying the 3 ton for myself. I’m an apartment dweller so I’d like the lighter model. But know this video has me concerned.

[@DonziGT230]

@@shortydancer You weren't asking me, but, they sell a couple other aluminum jacks that don't have this flaw, but they're pretty spendy and bigger/heavier. The smallest cheapest option is one they call a trolley jack. It's basically just a small floor jack, no clue why it's called a trolley. I haven't used the one from HF, but I've used a few others that looked just like it. They don't have as much lifting range because the lift arm is pretty short, but they work fine. If you buy the 1.5 and just check the clips before use I think you should have no concern about it. If I didn't have a welder I'd probably run a bead of JB Weld around the outside edge of each clip, and work it into the groove to really secure them. I can't remember if it towards the front or rear of the jack, but you want the openings of the clips to be at whichever side where the arms will first press against the solid side of the clips instead of at the open side. That alone will probably make it not be able to ever push the clips out. Well after uploading the video I realized that my idea of safety wiring the clips is a bad idea, that'll give the arms a place to press on the openings and bend the clips outward. I'm going to edit my pinned comment to alert to that.

[@shortydancer]

DonziGT230 thanks for responding. I’m going to go check out the higher rated aluminum jacks.

[@edsiler3260]

It looks like placing spacers/ washers between arm & snap ring would help. Take up the space & prevent side movement. This would likely cause pressure on the ring during use, but it would be constant all the way around rather than the arm cocked at an angle putting stress in one small portion of the ring. Basically equalize the pressure.

[@Grey_Beard72]

Don't cheap out and get the right jack for your needs.

[@blipco5]

So to be on the safe side I'll also buy the defective Harbor Freight jack stands. 😳😂😂😂

[@makeintoschu]

I am considering buying this jack with another brand sticker in Poland but now I am a bit concerned. Maybe drilling two holes in the sides, threading, and adding a screw with a washer would help to solve the issue?

[@DonziGT230]

I considered doing that and it would work. Other than this problem the jack is great, I've used it a lot.

[@jmc88480]

Good to know, but lifting a full-sized truck with such a small jack is going to cause stuff like that to happen.

[@DonziGT230]

Heavier loads will increase the chances of a failure, but others have had the same failure using it on cars.

[@juliosdiy3206]

Yrs ago that thing was on sale fo 59 bucks i was goin buy it to lift my lil nissan sentra but had second thoughts about it failing n killing me! I bought the 3 ton steel n its doing ok.

[@James-zy8vk]

I bought one of these on sale about a year ago for $59.00, works good on my Can Am Trail, no complaints. Use it for what it's intended for and you should have no problems. I do have one complaint albeit minor, it doesn't jack that high but blocks make up for that shortcoming, just make sure they are solid, not cement.

[@DonziGT230]

There's a company that replaces the little metal wheels with bigger rubber tires. I saw them at the Sand Sports Super Show, I don't remember the company or price because the price was so outrageous and the quality was so low that I put them out of mind. There's a few others that make "off road" kits for them with tires and extensions for the lift pad that might work well for you. It would probably be safer and easier to carry on board than the jack and blocks. I've considered putting mine on my Talon when I go out, but have decided that a scissor jack is a better option.

[@thurm101]

$59 bucks!!!! Great buy.

[@ShaunPaget]

thanks for the heads up.

[@nvmcrider8475]

Great info, you may have prevented me from getting injured.

[@Toolboss0826]

Honestly had mine for many years and never had an issue. I’ve lifted many cars and have not run into this problem

[@dntlss]

There really isn't a problem but its there, if that makes any sense, i have one 2 and they do have the issue,even if the arms push the snap ring out they wont pop off but they will come mighty close, i think what people dont understand about this video is that they think there is something visibly wrong 'and mine doesn't have that" they all have it, if they are identical to this jack they have it, just the way they are built. I like mine a lot but ill be a lot more careful around it now that i know this,when i bought mine people at work were ooh and ahhh around me , heck i though they might steal it before the day was over,lol but thats marketing and bright colors for ya, if i had known about these arms spreading like that i would have spent 300 more bucks and got me something better.

[@blipco5]

I just went out and checked mine. So I took the jack apart and removed the arm with those offset pieces attached. I placed it in my vice and squeezed the pivot point of the opposite end off the offset pieces. I got it 1/4 inch closer so that the angle of those two arms is less. It improved the situation but didn't fix it. Had I been able, I would cave removed those two arms and put more offset in them. And also, those retainer clips are made of butter. And every single pivot point in this jack is dry as a bone. No grease anywhere so I had to grease it. This jack is yet another piece of Chineseum shit. It could possibly kill you if you were not to use quality jack stands.

[@DonziGT230]

Bending the arms in might help, but might make it worse. Lift a car and see if the arms move out towards the clips or if they stay in towards the center. If they're pushing outward and the new bend makes them contact the clips at an angle it could give it more leverage against the clips. If the arms are staying inward on their own you may have solved the problem.

[@blipco5]

DonziGT230 - Nah, even with the weight of my foot on the stand the arms move out. I'm going to try and locate higher quality snap rings and maybe see if I can't drill holes and use cotter pins and washers instead of the snap rings. The problem is for a lightweight lift to use on my Accord there's no other option but low quality jacks and if you want a high quality stand then you're looking at minimum 100 pounds and $5-600 or more dollars. Anyways I do have high quality jack stands, which is more important.

[@DonziGT230]

@@blipco5 On a good note, I have loaded mine way above its rating and it has held up. I use it more often than the average DIY guy, the rest of the jack seems to be good. One of my other go-to jacks is also Chinese, I got it in the early 90's and other than a slow fluid leak it has no issues.

[@blipco5]

DonziGT230 - That's good to know. I don't own a pick up truck any more so this jack will probably do the trick. I bought it with that in mind. If that piece is mild steel I'm still going to drill and cotter pin it though.

[@Ken-yp1dg]

I had something similar happen to me with a dump bed ram...I welded a plate connecting the 2 arms together so they can't spread.

[@dntlss]

Great idea!!!

[@andym1223]

Harbor freight jacks do their job. They lift the car. You are supposed to support the car with high quality NOT harbor freight jack stands.

[@DonziGT230]

This model jack has failed while lifting cars, stands wouldn't help in that scenario. Also consider that sometimes you come in with a jack stand and find that you need a little more lift to get the stand where you want it, if it failed at that point it could drop the car onto the stand that hasn't been put in the proper position causing damage to the car on top of possible injury. It can also fail while lowering, or while placing the stands.

[@peterlaskiewicz8252]

@@DonziGT230 this exact thing almost happened to me today, with this jack. Luckily I had a jackstand enough under the frame rail to catch the car. If it had been a 1/2 inch over it would of destroyed a very expensive vehicle.

[@DonziGT230]

@@peterlaskiewicz8252 Damn. I'm glad you and your car weren't harmed.

[@atlred]

Thanks for the video, very good information, actually it's an excellent video.

[@DonziGT230]

Thanks. It was longer and more rambly than I'd like, but I didn't prepare at all. I found that problem and just wanted to get it posted quickly so I kinda rushed into it.

[@rotfan77]

I wonder if this same thing happens on their steel floor jack or if it’s designed differently?

[@DonziGT230]

I haven't looked at one so I don't know. I suspect that it could have the same or similar flaw, any jack could, but I wouldn't expect it to have the same flaw just because it's from HF.

[@wdtony]

I have the 3 ton steel floor jack for about 2 years. It’s not like this video. All spring clips are solid and not under any stress during lifting.

[@mab123080]

Great video !! I have the same jack. Except it won’t lift more than halfway with a load on it now. Even after bleeding air/ adding fluid. However- I did just notice the right side ( standing behind jack) the piston & spring are stuck in & do not push out when pumping like the left side H Any thoughts or suggestions..? I manually got it to pop out one time, but the first pump it stayed in again. Can’t figure out if this is worth fixing or what caused it for that matter.

[@DonziGT230]

If it doesn't free up after pulling it out a few times it's probably not worth going any further in trying to repair it.

[@mab123080]

@@DonziGT230 I saw another video of similar model the guy just swapped pistons out. Similar issue as mine I believe..? Looked fairly simple. Not sure if it’s cost effective. Or if that particular model jack is poor & I need to upgrade ? Personally I like it. Had it four years now. Super light.

[@RogerPack]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJvFdGRuac95eLs

[@JohnMiller-]

Had this same jack completely collapse lifting the front end of my Subaru.Had only been used a few times, mainly on my riding mower. It was a good thing I was clear of the falling car..Don't trust this jack !

[@germanmg42]

Best thing to do is pull the pin out an cut the groove deeper. A lathe would be ideal. But you could put the pin in a vice an deepen the groove with a thin cut off wheel like a dremel. Just saying there lol

[@DonziGT230]

I don't think it's the "best thing to do", especially free-hand with a cutting wheel. It would be pretty difficult to not cut a little angle on the edge which would greatly reduce the clip's retention.

[@dntlss]

I think a machinist could make this piece in good steel (thats another thing about this jack,a lot of cast stuff)and make the pin longer,as it is right now the arms wont pop off without the cotter but it comes mighty close, make the piece a bit longer and they will NEVER come off.

[@WizzRacing]

It's not a fault..You are side loading it. Stop jacking up vehicles above the stated load capacity,..Go buy a 2.5-3 ton if you need one....

[@DonziGT230]

Not side loading it, and others have reported the same issue without having lifted heavy vehicles.

[@WizzRacing]

@@DonziGT230 Its side loading moron..As that floor jack max height is 13"...And them side plates don't like having 2+tons on them. They start to flex..NVM the piston is screaming from over pressure... Go buy the right floor jack.. Unless you want to see if Jesus really does exist...As that thing explodes under load. It will make your day...

[@bobbylong5349]

I bought one of these Jack's two years ago and one of the back Pistons that pump it up messed up so I put lube in there and it works a little bit and did it again these jacks are junk I should have bought a steel one in the first place

[@zacklynch1984]

Yep it almost killed me my whole jack twisted and fell over like a sizzer jack

[@DonziGT230]

Damn, I'm glad you weren't hurt. The hazard would not exist if they'd just made a tiny change in how these are made, a change that would probably cost nothing. All they had to do was change the bend in those arms that are being retained by the clips and the clips would no longer take any of the load. The problem is that most Chinese manufacturers copy stuff in the cheapest way possible while having absolutely no understanding about how things work. If anyone on the design team had half a clue they would see that just a few degrees of bend in those arms would make a huge difference and they could have made that change before going into production.

[@DonziGT230]

@Chris Farley No jack should be trusted on an incline, or on soft or unlevel ground. That said, I've used this one and the smaller one ton all aluminum jack in positions that they shouldn't be used without a problem. Your car probably rolled and the result could have happened with any jack. Many people forget that with a car in Park as soon as the car is raised enough for one drive wheel to loose traction the car will roll, you need to set the parking brake. Wheel chocks are also a good idea.

[@andym1223]

Why werent you using jack stands?

[@nbpt1000]

Donzi, when did you buy your jack. It has been some time since you made the video and I am wondering if Harbor Frieght had a recall or at a minimum has improved these design flaws.

[@DonziGT230]

Guessing about 2 years ago. I've seen a few others of that model and all have the same design.

[@MrFat.]

I just so happen to have a Snap Ring kit, so I just replaced the originals. No problem. 😎🤘

[@DonziGT230]

The rings themselves aren't the problem, tho if you install stronger ones they'll help. The problem is two fold; the arms are being pushed against them at an angle which bends them outward, plus the grooves are pretty shallow. And if your snap ring kit is Chinese they're probably no better than the originals.

[@mediaguy4037]

jacking up car on aluminum = NO NO. Maybe a go kart.......

[@DonziGT230]

The parts that failed are steel and have nothing to do with the aluminum portions of the jack. You apparently don't know how many aluminum jacks are out there in use every day, and there are many racing teams using them for trucks.

[@mediaguy4037]

@@DonziGT230 I gotcha. I was just in the store looking at this one but passed on it. I needed a 3 ton so I went with the heavy duty 3 ton. It's steel but whatever.

[@deseremere]

Looks like a reason for a recall

[@Joalse]

What about the 2.5 ton jack?

[@DonziGT230]

I looked at one and it's made totally differently.

[@newlion7013]

Great info thanx!

[@ghostassassin5552]

You probably were lifting big ass trucks with it huh 🤔

[@Grey_Beard72]

There's your problem. You are lifting trucks that are way over the limit of what the jack was designed for.

[@DonziGT230]

No, others have had the same problem with only lifting small cars. Also, the jack has a pressure relief valve that's supposed to protect it from being over loaded.

[@ds0sa751]

Noticed my pin on a duralast jack 2.5 ton popped out too

[@DonziGT230]

Interesting. Does it use clips like this HF jack or something different?

[@ds0sa751]

@@DonziGT230 yes same types of pins. Had to go to autozone for a pack of the pins.

[@mrhamburger6936]

The first one of these Jack's that I bought I jacked the car up it bent like butter junk

[@dntlss]

Here's my take on this and i really appreciate you bringing this up and noticing it,i have one of these and as soon as i saw your video i went out to my garage to check it and you are right on point ,the arms are fighting the snap rings because they area at a weird angle. I took my snap rings out and try as a might i couldn't get the arms to "pop off" the bar however there is no telling when they are under a heavy load what they might do, i work in a machine shop although I'm not a a machinist perse, i run a side business for the owner, i might take my jack apart and have one of the guys make me this part where the pins are longer that way there wont be any doubt it could cause a issue EVER however till then a temporary solution could be if you have your prized car raised up put a small C clamp between the arms and keep it there until you are done with the job as a back up safety. I edited my comment causeI wanted to ask, when you modified it could you have found a heavy duty grade 8 thick washer and tacked it to the pin instead of just some welding? or plain welding was all you had at the moment? typical of us humans i hadnt seen the whole video when i comented and i think i am going to do what you did (i was under the impression that i was gonna have to take the whole jack apart to work on it but after seeing your video i realize i dont) thank you for also showing the disassembly process, great video man.

[@DonziGT230]

The arms are more likely to fall off when the jack is being moved around without a load, once there's a load on them it's less likely. If they both fall off it's no biggie, the jack just won't raise. The biggest danger is having one fall off and go un-noticed, then as you raise the car all the load goes onto one arm which will also cant the pin making it more likely to have that arm pop off under load.

[@dntlss]

@@DonziGT230 Yeah i see that,thank you for the quick reply.

[@dntlss]

Hello there,just wanted to follow up,I brought my jack to our shop and me and the welder fabricated a solid piece of steel between the bars and welded it, looks great and problem solved, thank you much for making me aware of this!!

[@QUAN.BALDWIN]

great video

[@Bolshevik337]

Thanks I have one… 👍🏿

[@quantumfixits7574]

Thanks for the vid...going to check mine out tomorrow...

[@martydmb]

Remember people this guy is lifting a truck with a 1.5ton jack 🤦

[@DonziGT230]

Yes, but many others have found this same problem without having ever lifted a truck. One had his actually fail and drop while lifting a car well within the jack's rating.

[@chuckcarmin5299]

Guaranteed you lifted more the. 3k lbs 1.5 ton is not that much

[@DonziGT230]

Very likely, along with other abuse. A few other people have had theirs fail without overloading or abuse.

[@donstewart368]

OCD

[@14paste14]

Could you tac weld it

[@DonziGT230]

If you mean weld the ends of the clips so they can't open; that might work, but you're still relying on the clips so I wouldn't bother. If you mean weld the arms to the post; no, because they have to be able to move.

[@sonofsteve566]

its a racing jack, where are people racing these things? 🤣😂🤣😂

[@DonziGT230]

All the way to the scene of the crash.....if the clips come off 🙃

[@thurm101]

Will check

[@hightowerone]

Damn people! No big deal. Always use jack stands or blocks after you jack it up. If it breaks hell...... It was $50 ish 🙄

[@DonziGT230]

If it breaks while raising or lowering the car, which is probably when it will, the car could be damaged and you could be injured.

[@hightowerone]

@@DonziGT230 if your ride can't handle a small fall like that, you don't want to ride in it. I normally don't put my foot under the tire while jacking. Don't over think it.

[@DonziGT230]

@@hightowerone If one of the lift arms comes off the other could make the jack twist letting the car fall on the side of the jack which could damage it, especially a low car. As for injury, it the jack drops suddenly and doesn't get pinned under the car it's going to launch outward so if you're in front of the handle it could be violently pushed into whatever part of your body is in front of it; gut, chest, nuts, face ... If the jack drops while you're in the process of placing the stands the possibility of damage/injury is much higher. While I know that the chances are somewhat small, assuming that nothing bad can happen is way under-thinking it.

[@hightowerone]

@@DonziGT230 fair enough

[@DJ_Riggs]

I don't take advice from anyone that complains about buying a cheap product. You buy cheap, you get cheap! Saying that I also want to add, the is a faulty product in all brand!

[@DonziGT230]

I don't think I stated any complaints about it, and I have two of these now so clearly I'm not complaining about the quality of them. Except for this potential flaw, I think it's a great jack for the money.

[@DeeplyConcerned68]

User error Come on bruh 😂 Cya noob