Transmission jack - Harbor Freight?

[Philip]

I was wondering how good of quality the newer jack adapters were the cheap tool venders are selling. Mine is 25 years old and was sold by Mack Tools. It is rated for a 2 ton floor jack.



The biggest thing I have pulled with mine is a center section on a SQHD semi rear axle.

 

[SGibson]

I would think a rockwell centersection has a gutbag shaded

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I went to Harbor Freight in Madison the other night - they don't stock the 2000# model and the only one they do stock (800#) was sold out due to the sale. I got a rain check and walked out with a MIG cart...



Renting a jack isn't an option for me. I'm putting a drivetrain in a vehicle that was NEVER designed to fit in there... so I'd need to rent stuff for months on end and that isn't cost effective.



As for the quality of the Chinese-made stuff... you get what you pay for. I didn't buy this stuff thinking that my grandkids might get to use 'em. If it all lasts through 2 projects, it has paid for itself. Heck, my cheap MIG welder has gotten me out of more than one pinch and it is still going strong.



Matt

 

[WJune]

I have 2 W350's both up on 10-12 in blocks of wood ( safer than concrete blocks) under tires. My bottle jack is on blocks also to reach oil pan. Don't forget to block rear wheels as these big brutes seem to roll easy at the worst times. I also recomend cutting a hole the size of shift cover in the floor. It comes in handy to inspect getrag or working on shift forks with out pulling all the 4x4 stuff out. I did it in such a way that seat an carpet stayed in place. At over 6' tall I could sit under truck to install that HEAVY 13 in clutch. Have pics of all this if anyone is interested. Am using a borrowed Walker trans jack. Looking to buy my own, also a large bearing seperator.

 

[bgilbert]

These things can be a pain to stab when you have all new parts.

No kidding . Talk about a pain. I have the bellhousing bolted to the engine and I'm having a tough time lining up the input shaft into the clutch disc. I think someone told me to try bolting the bell to the trans then stabbing the clutch disc? I might try this tomorrow. Not sure if I can get to all the bell to engine bolts though this way ... This is definately a learning experience.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I've never had the bell housing attached to the engine and tried to put the transmission into the bellhousing. I've always left the bell housing bolted to the transmission. You can get to all the bellhousing bolts - you will need a swivel of some kind and long extensions. Put your trans in gear before you put it up there so that you can turn the output shaft to rotate the input - it needs to be lined up properly. Make sure to grease the nose of the input shaft. Use screwdrivers in a couple of the holes to help line it up and use the tilt mechanism in your jack so that it's going in straight. Just a few tips.

 

[swankmetal]

ya, what he said. much easier that way, but still kinda a pain.

 

[bgilbert]

Thanks a ton Steve, I got it bolted up now. Still a pain, but we got er. Now I gotta wait on Mother Dodge to order some new rubber trans mounts/whatever they are called. Anyone know if NAPA would sell them. Mine are gone/shot beyond use again.



On a side note, I don't know if its too early, but with the trans, bell and clutch slave cylinder bolted up, I tested out the clutch pedal feel. This SBC FE is no where near the stiffness of the stocker. Just hope it holds.



Also the old throw out bearing was TRASHED. It was sooo noisy when I rotated it. Hopefully I've quieted my truck a bit.

 

[MMiller]

I got my mounts from Rockauto.com Ain't lining up the transmission to the clutch fun? Try doing it with a tractor split in half, handling the whole half of a tractor.



Michael

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I (FINALLY!) picked up my transmission jack on Friday night.



After fighting traffic for over 30 minutes (only a ~2mi trip!) and making it to the local Harbor Freight store, the fun began. I went right to the checkout and handed them the makeshift raincheck I got last time. They rang me up and sent me 'round back to pick it up. The stock dude couldn't find either of 'em that the inventory showed... nice.



So, after another 1/2 hour of goofing around and looking for a fork in a pile of nothing but spoons... I talked the guy into letting me have the floor model. I believe he made an exception for me since I tried twice to get the jack... they really don't like to sell their floor models.



I tried it out last night and it is well worth the $99 (+tax) I paid for it. It seems to handle the 330+ pound Allison LCT-1000 with ease.



Matt