HiLift Jack Problems

HiLift jack has problems going down... ANY IDEAS??

[nhickcox]

I had this problem after I laid a couple coats of paint on the used a round file to take all excess paint out of the holes on the beam now it works great

[jetmuchacho]

I like how everyone just told you to use lubricant, even though you can be seen spraying lube on the pins right there in the video lol.

It's working right, except the top pin isn't popping out when you push the handle all the way down. Just hold the handle all the way down and tap that top pin, or grab the cross pin and pull so that the climbing pin pops outward and then you can continue to jack it downward.

Once you get mad at it a few times and stop caring about it and leave it out covered in mud and crap for a year or so it'll get all rusty and the paint will wear off and it'll start working better.

I realize this video is like 7 years old but people falling on this video will probably be reading the comments.

[JeepJeep]

Don't spray the whole Jack like that. Just lube the pins so they can move back and forth. The jack going up after you pushed the down lever was from the starting position of the jack handle. You didn't click the handle all the way before reversing direction. And if you lube the jack standard (the climbing latter) then the pins can lose grip. I hope this info helped be safe with that jack.

[scod]

For anyone having similar issues with a HiLift or farm jack, this is caused by the climbing pins not sliding freely:

Disassemble the mechanism. Clean any loose paint/debris, and use a relatively fine sandpaper or emery cloth to smooth the holes the climbing pins slide in. Smooth any other areas where the paint is being chewed up. Replace the climbing pins and springs if they are corroded

Keep WD40 on hand. It will clean and lubricate while in use without leaving much of a coating like oil/grease that will attract dirt into the mechanism

Use the handle of the hammer to push the lever if you don't want your fingers near the mechanism, you can break the cast lever by hitting it with a steel tool. Don't use your foot as you want a firm footing at all times while operating the jack

[jeremyallen]

My brand new jack would not go down reliably, only up.

What I found was a HUGE burr/indentation on one of the Ramps of the lifting mechanism.

This caused the lifting pins to stick and not move.

They are the 2 angled portions. Once I filed it smooth…no issues whatsoever!!!

Hope this helps someone.

[Mahigeer]

It is going to be hard to describe it but, here we go.
There is a casting piece that has a hard to see spring attached to it. It sits on top of the up/down actuator lever.

It has a protrusion that locks the up/down lever in up position.

In the video, it seems that part does not move down enough, when the up/down lever is in down position. The same part has an inclined section. The upper pin’s cross pin rides on this incline surface.

When the up/down lever is in the down position, the incline surface drops down and it pushes the upper cross pin against its spring and out of the hole on the vertical bar.

[asaaqas]

im having the same damn problem...did you ever figure out what it was?

[G-jz]

This is a simple fix, The problem is caused by either paint or debris in the climbing pin holes, Being a new jack I would say it is Paint which is creating a tight spot on the pins, Remove the pins and clean out the holes and on the holes on the bar and clean and Re-Oil the Pins and it should work fine, hope that helps, good luck. EDIT, Another thing you "Never" want to do is hammer that reversing leaver because it is made of cast and it will Snap very easily, So don't Beat on It Ok.

[justind.laashley]

Might be the sleeve the pin slips into could be dirty causing a clearance issue my farm jack did that the first time I used it filed a very minuscule amount and put bearing grease in and haven't had an issue with it for 2 years

[garykolbo]

Just curious, Is this jack a Harbor Frieght Jack

[dlc]

is it a hi lift jack or a knock off farm jack?

[tibaal]

at the very bottom of the stroke the weight of the car is on the bottom pin and the top section moves up a little. the top pin is supposed to pop, allowing the top section to move down as you begin moving the jack handle up.

solution: at the very bottom of the stroke (you're actually lifting the vehicle up a little) give the upper pin a little tap with your hammer, it needs to pop.

[calebwillhelm]

Keep your hand on the handle when using the reversing pin If your going to stand behind it. I've seen those Jack's give out when switching from up to down. Its fucken nasty

[pablominola]

IT´s funny i have same issue with a first respoder jack, and is the only one video showing the issue. Now i know how to solve it. Thanks to all the YToube comunity.

[james]

I like the comments but a brand new one even trying new pin kit still does this crap and when you try to go down it drops completely like and old bumper jack messing up. Frigging dangerous waste of money!

[luiscamilogomez]

Hey man, did you fix it? what did you ended up doing?

[gilbro]

Lube up the pins, mine was doing the same

[mowermudderman]

Mine does the same thing. Ever find a solution??

[-old-Forthischet]

Bumping

I just bought a brand new Hi Lift and it arrived with a bent lower cross pin, I mean like 45 degree bent and it does the same thing. I got the repair kit and replaced both climbing pins and cross pins and it still doesn't lower. Yes, I did lube it. Why didn't I just return it you may ask? Because the shipping would cost twice as much as the cost of the jack!

I've watched a bunch of Ew Toob videos on this subject and followed all of their suggestions. Still mucked up. I have one more suggestion to try before this thing becomes a yard ornament.

[everettdurst]

A can of WD-40 does miracles with these. Water works in a pinch, but a hi lift jack without a can of lube is like a car with no gas.