Harbor freight jack failed me

I have not tried it on the bike yet but have put some weight with my buddy standing on it and worked fine, However I did read some place that some had to bleed the system to get it to work, and then all was good. But since you just got it home THAT one should be going right back to the store, That's if you didn't mail order it. I'm lucky to have a store pretty local to me.

Dauntae

So you got a bad one. Take it back and get another one. You did tighten the valve.

same thing happaed to me, people here rave about the harbor freight jack, I went through 2 of them then finally bought one at sears

Must be the California model???? LOL

93gc40 said:

So you got a bad one. Take it back and get another one. You did tighten the valve.

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Thats the plan.

Don't know if there's a valve to tighten on it - it's a spring loaded foot pedal that bleeds it off. Who knows, maybe I missed something obvious.

Sounds like you either have air in the hydraulic or you need more hydraulic fluid.....

read the owner's manual. You may be stepping on it too much opening the valve. It may require "half pumps". Or a valve to be closed.
Hydraulics are simple, but they can fail.
Dan

my boss bought one, it was shipped without oil. maybe you need to fill the cylinder?

Harbor Freight is OK for some stuff. Not sure I would buy a jack there though. Too much to lose if it fails. Just my 2cents......

Never had a problem with mine. 4 years now.

are there different models of this jack from Harbor Freight, or is there only one? Also, a link to the actual item would help me in deciding whether to buy one too, or not.

mblosch said:

Never had a problem with mine. 4 years now.

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+1 on this - never had trouble with mine - 3 years now. I use it for my 1100 and a Shadow 500. I also have had 4-wheelers, dirt bikes on it, and have used it to raise the suspension/level out the rear of a sand rail. All have worked just fine.

orlenz said:

This is the model I bout and had problems with, the have a few different models

ATV / Motorcycle Lift - 1500 Lb. Capacity

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I have that same model and haven't had any issues with it. Used it a few times. Even used it to hold a bike up for two days straight when we replaced tires on a friend's bike and were waiting for the shop to finish mounting them. It never lost pressure.

I have the yellow HF, used it a few times with no issues so far. I do need to make a frame to lift the bike level and centered.

ive got the yellow one too---prob just need to add fluid and bleed it out--try that first--it may be fine

Of those two jacks listed above, which one fits the ACE better? I remember a discussion long ago that one worked well, the other needed modifications.

I think it's the fact our shadows have the engine hanging a little lower than the frame so even the big money jacks need the mod. It's basically just putting some blocks on the jack so it lifts it by the frame and does not contact the engine.

Dauntae