Scissor vs floor jack

CarGuy · May 1st, 2003, 12:31 PM

Ok – Please help,
This is not directly related to Nissan trucks, but your advice would keep me working on mine

The past day I took my case jack (small floor jack) out to jack up the truck – and hydraulic fluid was all over the place (It was acting up a couple weeks before – it wouldn’t depress all the way by itself). What is the deal with these things? I previously owned a craftsman 3 ½ ton floor jack – after 4 years it leaked like crazy. Next, I bought this 2 ½ ton case jack (don’t recall the name) bc it would fit in my bed box. Its been another 4 years and now this one is spitting up. I’ve never repaired one – so I don’t know if its worth it. But does anyone now a decent brand of floor jack that doesn’t leak or is easy to maintain? I was forced to use a scissor jack from my car, which I don’t mind using – but it takes forever to get it high enough to put a stand under the truck.

Thanks

jadcock · May 4th, 2003, 06:36 PM

I think that as long as the jack gets used regularly, they seem to stay leak-free. The best jack we ever had was a 3-4 ton jack labeled as a "NASCAR" jack. It was heavy as a brick, so it obviously wasn't a "real" NASCAR jack, but it was sold as such -- for about 100 bucks at Price Club/Costco. I'm sure they're not still around, but that jack never leaked on us.

I'm sure they're easily rebuildable -- with a replacement seal somewhere. I've never tore one open, though.

CarGuy · May 5th, 2003, 06:55 AM

Thanks for the reply Jadcock! I guess I could use less of my ramps, and use a jack more to keep it from leaking. My previous jacks did sit around quite a bit

May 5th, 2003, 07:04 AM

I have two Craftsman floor jacks for a total of 20 years and they are still working to this day...

May 5th, 2003, 07:07 AM

The scissors jacks I've seen are all inferior to the floor jacks. The scissors jacks are really "emergency" type jacks to be used maybe a few times in the life of the car. I have seen several scissors jacks fall over the years from beinging excessively worn. Thank god nobody was hurt. The floor jack on the other hand was made for routine use...

super22ll · May 24th, 2003, 09:28 PM

I would have to say that a good quality hydrolic jack is still the best. I have two of them. Much easier to use than scissor for me. I bought four jackstands when I bought the 66 Mustang. What a life saver. It's so easy to jack er up then slip the jackstand under it. No worries about leaning hydrolics this way. But for a quick job I just use the hydrolic.

I like the icon carguy. David Carr is my cousin. Go Texans!

CarGuy · May 26th, 2003, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by super22ll
I like the icon carguy. David Carr is my cousin. Go Texans!

Thanks

SO, would an autographed game ball and a day with the cheerleaders be too much to request??

Yeah - I don't think I'll ever stop using hydraulic jacks. I just recently picked up my new one. I hope this one lasts. Its another Sears brand and it seems to work real well.