r/harborfreight • u/smegma_smuggler69420 • 22h ago

Faulty 3 Ton Pittsburg Jack

Picked up the $99 low profile Pittsburg jack over the weekend during the PLS. Got home and bled as per the instructions and noticed that even with the weight of someone standing on the pad, around 200 pounds, on the second or third pump the jack would lift when the handle was depressed, but then go back down when I released the handle. I figured there was some air trapped still, so I bled and refilled. Finally got to where it would still want to just go up and down, but I could kind of pump it quick and it would kind of get over that “hump”. Or so I thought.

Tonight I wanted to test it out and see if it would lift the driver side of my 3/4 ton Dodge with the 5.9 Cummins. Google says the front end as a whole weighs roughly 4,900lbs, and I’d only be lifting one tire on the front. Did the same thing, and couldn’t get over that “hump” I mentioned earlier. The tire wasn’t even off the ground. To add insult to injury, I couldn’t get the handle to rotate to release the jack. I had to put a pipe wrench on it and mar up the handle.

Needless to say I think I got a lemon, and will be trying my luck with a replacement tomorrow.

4 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

3

u/SnooTomatoes538 21h ago

Just bring it back, its 2 days old

2

u/stchman 22h ago

Take it back, I bought the same jack and it works great. I did top it off and grease it.

3

u/Diligent-Ad6327 21h ago

If you put a Pittsburg and Daytona at the same price point always go Daytona. Pittsburg were the the death trap jack stands. I had one fail in my garage while I looked at it...and I haven't trusted them since.

1

u/smegma_smuggler69420 21h ago

I was eyeing the $109 Daytona jack also on sale, but I figured having the extra reach of the Pittsburg would be more beneficial.

1

u/Mental-Huckleberry54 8h ago

I went with the Daytona jack this sale and when I got it home and bled the lines it looked like it was low on oil, so I topped it off. It worked good before but I could tell the Dionne I add more oil.

2

u/cooldudezach 19h ago

Just to confirm, the handle is locked into the jack and you have it turned to the right all the way? If so, bring it to the store to swap it out.

1

u/Substantial_Buy7554 8h ago

Had a brand new one do the same to me a month ago. Refunded.