Hi Lift jack rebuild and restoration

In this video you see a rusty old Hi-lift farm jack taken apart and restored to workable glory. With this treatment, this jack should last several more years.
I purchased the rebuilt "Fix it" kit here
amzn.to/3fr7omn
I was able to easily acquire replacement stickers from the great people from Hi-lift .
hi-lift.com.
If you comments or questions, please comment below.

[@markjazo807]

Was the recipient of 1/2 doz. Hi-Lift jacks, which have been abused and buried in the dirt for years. Incredible durability and all replacement parts are offered by Hi-Lift. Your video was just the ticket for the rebuild. Thank You.

[@FMJeeping]

Awesome. I would have loved to come into a bunch of these. Happy it helped. Thanks for sharing!

[@fredwest5396]

What great timing! I just broke out my vintage hi lift cast iron model about 40 years old to jack up and remove some fence posts. I noticed the bent pins and ordered a rebuild kit. A most professional, comprehensive rebuild video. The best I have seen. Thanks. Best of all - in your intro you did not say,"Hi You Tube".

[@FMJeeping]

Glad I can help

[@mdmackey]

Great video. Used it while rebuilding my jack with my son. Really appreciate it!

[@FMJeeping]

Thank you! Glad I could help

[@OutontheRanchwithDrLee-xb4lo]

Found a Hi Lift 484, just like yours in a field yesterday. All rusty and frozen. Soaking in penetrating oil now. Thanks for this very thorough video....now I have a plan, and confidence!!! PS: the music wasn't all that bad as some viewers here said....it's needed sometimes in a lengthy vid where there are some "dead-air" spots......(some people just like to complain)... Again, this is a great video, and I am very thankful you made it! Great job!

[@FMJeeping]

Thank you very much!

[@sagurgur]

Thank you great video, Well done 👍

[@FMJeeping]

Thank you

[@scotthanson7888]

you saved my grandfathers old jack from the scrap pile. thank you

[@FMJeeping]

you are welcome sir!

[@scotthanson7888]

@@FMJeeping The jack came to me mostly dissambled, in a 5 gal bucket. It had been sitting in a old barn , i am sure for over 50 years. It had a protective coating of bird poo. We have a couple of newer ones. The large runner was a heavy stamped unit, and it was bent and mangled. ( i wish i knew how that happened, and if it involved any broken bones or teeth. ) I come from a long line of farmers, truckers. I have a picture of my uncle as a kid, using it on a feed truck. He was in the Korean war , so it was at least as old as the 1940s. The new runner they sent was cast iron, so i have to pick up a longer bolt. Hi Lift is a great company. Great website also, i will be ordering accessories.The parts are affordable, avaliable and they ship fast. Without your help i never would have figured it out. thanks again

[@FMJeeping]

@@scotthanson7888 freaking awesome history behind your gear. I agree. Hi-lift is a great company and they stand behind their stuff. These tools are simple and effective and could easily outlast us. Great to hear you revived and gave new life to some old tools. Thanks again for the comments. This is what makes the videos worth making.

[@GDLutz]

Thanks for the video! Very helpful! I just picked up a Hi-Lift all cast 60" jack (I think its the patriot edition) for $50! It's not as rusty as yours was but rusty enough that it doesn't function smoothly. Will be following your directions to get it operating like new again!

[@FMJeeping]

Thank you. Glad to hear you got yours working. Happy to help. Thanks for watching.

[@cubehire3653]

Good video. One thing I gotta say, why dose everyone add distracting music to these videos? All of these video would be better without the music. Good job working the farm jack. Good idea clamping it to the bench.

[@FMJeeping]

This was one of my earlier videos. Full transparency. I hated my voice on camera. So I used the music to offset my voice slightly. I've come to terms with it now. Lol. Balancing music in the videos is something I have a better handle on in my newer videos.

[@stephenskwaryk9665]

@cube all comments will be better with the proper use of does.

[@richardvonstein5697]

Well done. Helped me immensely. Thanks.

[@FMJeeping]

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@joesinakandid528]

Just to clarify two things: "Implement Paint" is "different" from regular paint in only one way (besides a higher price, of course) --- it is meticulously made to EXACTLY match certain manufactures' standard color specs. "John Deere Green", "Ford Tractor Red", "IH Red" and such. Certainly important for show tractors but not so much for a Hi-Lift Jack. Next - WD-40. It was originally developed *specifically* to be a water displacing fluid (that's where the "WD" part comes from) and it was the 40th test formulation to solve a moisture problem ONLY on military circuit boards (which is where the "40" part comes from). It was never (never!) intended to be used as a "lubricant" or penetrating oil. That practice came directly from unknowing shade tree mechanics on limited budgets in their father's garages. If a lubricant is needed for something like this jack, then either oil or grease (only above freezing on using the grease) should be used. Another problem with WD-40 is that in moderate to warm temperature conditions it evaporates, leaving a sticky, gummy residue behind which is a really bad thing for Hi-Lifts.

[@FMJeeping]

Great info thanks. I ended up using a dry lubricant on the hi lift and it seems to be working pretty well.

[@bipedalbob]

I like motorcycle chain lube, I use that shit on every thing

[@Prairiedrifter1]

We just bought an old farm house and there’s a mini scrapyard out back. I was exploring yesterday and found a high lift jack. I cleaned out the mechanism with brake cleaner and greased it but when I try to make it go up it won’t move

[@FMJeeping]

Keep drenching it in penetration fluid. It might take a few days. The the fluid sink in and try disassembly. The hardware in current state is probably shot. A rebuild kit and some cleaning and lube should breathe some life into it.

[@sondob1151]

Perfect just what I was looking for. Thank you

[@FMJeeping]

Thank you !!

[@dogbreath203]

Awesome video! I'm doing one now, as we speak. Your video really helps. I could've done without the music though! :)

[@FMJeeping]

Thank you. Yeah the music definitely could have been better. At the time I was using free music and unfortunately I was limited on what I had. Thanks for watching!!

[@dogbreath203]

@@FMJeeping That's okay, it's just me. The video could not have been better! My bar was pained red at one time, so I think I'll paint the bar.

[@FMJeeping]

@@dogbreath203 Thank you! I held off on painting my bar. I use a dry lubricant on it every so often and it seems to hold up pretty well

[@13bravoredleg18]

Better put some anti seize thread dressing on them bolts. You might want to take it apart again in the future!

[@georgesanchez9971]

Thanks for the nice video.

[@FMJeeping]

You're welcome

[@bayoubiker7834]

Great job! Thank you for sharing!

[@lilmort2]

Very helpful!

[@FMJeeping]

Thank you!

[@eddailey6325]

Thanks for the video, please LOOSE THE MUSIC!!

[@FMJeeping]

Thanks for watching. The music was definitely not my first choice, but it helps break up my monotone voice. Then music on my newer videos is better.

[@西岡真男]

How much weight can lift up?

[@FMJeeping]

Rated weight capacity is about 4,660lbs

[@wizlawz]

i just got a rusty old farm jack , have no clue of manufacturer. no logos , numbers or etc. what kit or parts would you suggest ?

[@FMJeeping]

Hard to say. I believe HI Lifts are typically stamped with Hi Lift somewhere on the jack body. I would compare the internals /climbing pins to what you see online. Also reach out to Hi Lift via their website. They are great and very easy to work with. They should be able to help you identify of yours is a Hi Lift

[@markeholbrook]

I would never use WD-40 as a lubricant on a hi-lift jack that gets exposed to weather. The best lube IMHO is ATF, because it doesn't mix well with water. WD40 means water displacing, which means it mixes and gets diluted by water. Your jack turned out beautiful, it looks much better than that powder coat they use now.

[@FMJeeping]

I ended up using a dry lubrication. Seems to work pretty well.

[@mikhailzhidko2252]

Great video! I bought a new jack and it doesn’t go in reverse. When I move the reverse handle down, the jack drops, just like in the end of your video. It should not do that, it should stay in the same position and should allow for smooth lowering by using the handle. Have you figured out how to make it “work” in reverse?

[@FMJeeping]

My used to do that as well. I put weight on it( the jeep) and it will lower just fine. Have you tried putting weight on it ? Be safe and stay clear of the handle and fall zone of the jack .

[@mikhailzhidko2252]

FMJeeping I was testing without weight. Just tried with weight today it worked properly. Thanks for the advice!

[@FMJeeping]

@@mikhailzhidko2252 glad I could help . Also happy to hear everything worked out.

[@craigduplisea1420]

@xamot80 all mine have ratcheded down

[@bipedalbob]

@xamot80 yup they're dangerous when not working properly, but when working properly they do ratchet down.

[@Mr_Clean]

Thanks for the video! Got my ass off the couch on a boring Sunday!

[@FMJeeping]

you're welcome. Glad I can help motivate you. I have a bunch of other videos next time you get bored.

[@sondob1151]

Did the primer and paint you use causing any issues with the jack going up and and down? Also did you end up painting the long piece? Lastly did you have to wait 24hrs between coats.

[@FMJeeping]

The paint holds up pretty well . I did wait 24 hours between coats. I opted to not paint the long part. I just keep it lubed with wd40. Spray on a rag and wipe it down.

[@InfernoPhilM]

Did the big spring come in the rebuild kit? Or was it just the two little springs for the pins?

[@FMJeeping]

If you are referring to the spring that is located on the pump handle that holds the handle to the main shaft. The one that locks both pieces together. No that round "fish" shaped spring is not included with the rebuild kit. However, if you are looking for that piece. They sell it on the Hi-lift site. Hope this helps.

[@markjazo807]

The big spring is sold separately by hi-lift. Go to their site all components are available.

[@raisedin99]

I would suggest that if you spent as much time on the proper assembly of the jack rather than selecting the music your video would be more appealing. You have a nice voice loose the tunes. thanks none the less

[@FMJeeping]

Thank you . The music is a bit rough. I wanted to try a spruce it up with the limited music available for free. I appreciate the feedback.

[@caseyjensen1733]

Landscape filming goes a long way for ease of viewing. But overall, very detailed and informative video!

[@FMJeeping]

Thank you. A mistake on my part. I was very focused on the project that I neglected the position of the camera. Thank you for the feedback. I've made an honest effort in not doing the portrait filming again.

[@Luckystudio13]

How do you attach a handle to the handle socket at the bottom of the jack ? Looks like yours only have a hole on one side of the handle socket just like mine (I also scored a good deal in an old high-lift jack :) ). The new handle socket has a hole through it ? hi-lift.com/product/casting-handle-socket/

[@FMJeeping]

Mine is placed in. I believe you could drill/tap a bolt in. I leave mine so I can pull it out and use as a cheater bar if needed. That new cradle you posted looks different than mine. Less likely to be able to permanently attach the handle

[@Luckystudio13]

@@FMJeeping thanks for the quick response. So, you just take it on and off as needed then ? I don't see any harm from doing that vs permanently mounting it on with the new designed handle socket?

[@FMJeeping]

@@Luckystudio13 yup. I leave mine out unless I need it. Several times it has been beneficial to be able to pull the handle out. Like when I use it in my garage to lift my jeep. The handle was too long and hit the side of my garage. I had to use a smaller bar. . I could pull the normal handle out instantly.

[@jt9498]

I'm sorry, but...can you explain to me the purpose of music while you're refurbishing your Hi Lift jack? I really don't understand why music is necessary in this type of video. For instance, while you're talking, you're hard to make out at times because of the music. I'll never understand why some of you guys think that music is a necessary component of restoration videos. I find it annoying at the best of times.

[@FMJeeping]

It was my lack of confidence in my video making and hearing my voice on film. I've have since stopped using music while I'm talking.

[@biffbinford8767]

Well, that-was-stupid..... Now somebody is gonna steal it.

[@cfltitan]

Great video but $40 for that thing was a ripoff. The fix it kit (rebuild kit) is $16-20 so you're at almost $60 and that's before paint and a handle. For $68 you can find them brand new online. I would have gave $20 max for that thing in it's condition.

[@FMJeeping]

I tried to go lower, but the seller wouldn't budge. But at first glance everything seemed good. , It wasn't until I got home and really inspected it is when I found a bent pin. I had never really set my hands on a original Hi lift until that point and was unaware of the bent pin and how it would impact operation.

[@cfltitan]

Yeah that's understandable. Still a great video though with a lot of good info.

[@FMJeeping]

@@cfltitan Thank you !

[@biffbinford8767]

I disagree, for 8 bucks less than a new jack, he now has a jack that is HIS. Not just something be bought. Just learn how to use that thing and treat it with MASSIVE AMOUNTS of respect, never get your head above that handle, and never let go of that handle unless it's in the UP position, If these things catch you slipping, they will sucker punch you all the way to the ER, or the dentist. Pay attention to it, and keep it lubed, it will be one of your favorite tools, it's a jack, a winch, a clamp.. And who knows what else... I've seen them make log splitters out of them.

[@kevinyounger7854]

biff binford $8 assuming his time is worth nothing. But he did get to customize the look to his desire. And thankfully, for the rest of us, he provided a lot of good information.

[@robertclark4929]

You got taken. 40.00 brand new at Harbor Freight.

[@FMJeeping]

I bought one from Harbor freight. I returned it. I didn't like the quality of it. Hi lift is the brand that people know by name. Like band aid for bandage or rollerblade for online skates. Kleenex for tissues. They have that namesake for the quality they produce.

[@biffbinford8767]

No way, the harbor freight is a cheap knockoff... The HiLift factory in Bloomfield Indiana has been making this exact jack since 1905 (They designed the farm jack) the only major design change has been in the handle they went from wood to steel... If you bought a Pittsburg you wasted 40 bucks.

[@robertclark4929]

@@biffbinford8767 The basic jack frames are the same. If you buy a rebuild kit those are made in China so you basically get a HF jack in the end. I have an HF jack and no issues whatsoever.

[@biffbinford8767]

@@robertclark4929 I just went and started my truck, and opened my tool box, my HiLift fix it kits are both marked "Made in USA" right on the bag. You won't realize how bad you got took until that jack, pops, bends, or just collapses on you with 2 tons of weight on it.