Measure the inner/outer diameters and height of your existing unit, or if torn as probable, check cylinder bore and rod diameter. Heights vary by 2mm, try to get it from previous and compare with spacing on rod. They are hard to source, but they are out there. That green is probably a 22x40x12 found often, but mine was 24mm and there are more.
I have one just like that also. I should have taken it back to the store the day I bought it. I didn't, though. I still use it sometimes but if it quits working it goes on the scrap pile. It's not worth fixing.
My Junior High shop teacher said, 'buy your tools now, they just get more expensive.' I loaded up on quality Craftsman stuff. The Chinese came and prices went down, but so did quality and now people accept 'disposable tools!'
@mikefrech1123 ? It's a early 1980s jack made in Japan when Japanese products became high quality so why if it's held up almost 50 years wouldn't you rebuild it you can get the kit from Lazzars for around $50 & yea I know it was $99.00 when new that's like &300. Nowadays, why because it's way better than auto store Jack's and harbor freight stuff of today
First big purchase tool I ever bought (1972), was a 2.5 ton Sears jack that looked just like that one, After 5 years it began leaking down, so I tore in apart. The piston was made out of about 4' of brown waxed meat-packing paper, sandwiched between 2 large flat washers, and squashed down to 1/4" thick. I was shocked - I was trusting that to lift a car. I took the parts down to an industrial hardware store, and the guy fixed me up with a real rubber piston end. Put it together, and it is still going to this day, (2024) my son still uses it.
I have 3 3 ton Craftsman jacks look just like that one. I bought them around 2000-2001 to lift a vehicle all at once and sold the vehicle before I ever used them. 12-15 years later I finally needed one of them and they were still unopened in the box. I opened one but it wouldn't pump up, so I opened a second one and it wouldn't pump up either. There was no evidence of any oil leaking inside the boxes. I don't remember what I did to get it working but I figured the seal had dried out. I may have opened the dump valve and pulled the mechinism up to extend the piston multiple times or maybe I turned the jack on it's end or upside down hoping to get the seal working again. I do know I didn't take it apart and It started working and has been fine every since. I did the same thing to the others with the same result. Thanks for posting this video, it was really nice to see how it comes apart. You know these things are just hydraulic jacks laying on their side which I think might be part of the problem and over time the seals dry out and quit working or they get stuck from lack of use. Thanks
I have the exact same jack. I bought it new at Sears back in 1985. I had to add hydraulic fluid a few years ago, but that is the only thing I have done to it besides, keeping it clean and lubricated.
I've had that exact same jack for almost fifty years and never had a problem with it. Drained and replaced the fluid about every two years and lubricated all the components in the lifting mechanism.
Very cool. I have the 4 ton and a 3 ton of the same vintage. Unfortunately they are out of service but after watching your video Ill be attempting to bring it back to life
I’ve got one of those myself! I used to pull my VW engines all the time back in the day. (mid-1970’s) I still have it and I’ve always thought it could work again. Thought about taking it to a forklift repair shop, but now, thank you for the video, I’ll give it a shot and see if I can fix it myself
Thank you for having good shop practices, for cleaning everything up before you work on it, for having a little impact driver to get that screw out, and for turning the crescent wrench around the right way so the movable jaw isn't loaded. So many fixit videos are made by blacksmiths who work in filth and grease, never clean their tools and use them the wrong way, pound on screwdrivers and use alignment punches as drifts. My Sears jack goes up about halfway and I've been reluctant to dive into it. Now that I'm 81 and don't work on things anymore, it'll probably stay at half mast,
@@MikefromMissouri When I was racing, part of the enjoyment was doing everything as right as we could do it, everything clean, everything tightened with a torque wrench, no reason for a race car to be dirty, good tools used properly. I had a young guy helping me, and I preached my philosophy. I found out long after we stopped that I was known among his friends as the guy who wouldn't allow a tool to go back in the toolbox until it had been blown off with brake cleaner.
Came here to fix my dad's old Sears jack...it gave up the ghost this morning after reliable service for 45 years...hope I can get a few more out of it...thanks...
My Brother, Father and I all bought cheapie jacks from Sears only to have them fail. Sears exchanged them for 3 versions of this fine jack. My Father's jack survived a garage fire and looks like hell but still works fine. Mine just recently failed and I suspect it need the cup seal replaced just like this one. My next Winter project :)
Thanks, I picked up a 'fixer' Craftsman for free and cleaned up and added oil, etc. and thought I got it, but first attempt wouldn't lift car. Rebuild kits are $60, but I didn't want to replace everything, just to find that it was probably one bad seal somewhere. I can get a new one for $100 or less, but I just despise Harbor Freight and others. I'll look at that cylinder seal first, thanks for your thoroughness.
Wow. My floor jack. Bought it at Sears in the late 70’s. Same color, too. Mine doesn’t hold pressure. Almost exactly like the one you have. I’d like get it going.
I gave up on hydraulic floor jacks...and switched to an air compressor bellows floor jack...The ease of use and super simple design makes this a no brainer. And it's quick!
Great lesson . One comment : If you pressure wash or steam , be sure to regrease all casters and any friction points . Once the old grease is washed or melted off it needs to be replaced .
Thanx for the VIDEO.... After 40 years my SEARS jack died, also. REBUILD kit was too expensive, so I bought an ALUMINUM JACK from Harbor Freight. After watching your Video, I'm glad I didn't rebuild it.
I have a 3 ton sears craftmen I got new 52 years ago. works great , only had to add oil once. I left my jeep jacked up for 6 weeks and it didnt drop at all.
i have the same sears jack. air gets into the hydraulic system causing a decrease in pump stroke so it takes a lot of pumping to get the jack to rise up to full height. yes you can bleed it at the top and the bottom of the stroke but the air gets back in. a second jack a prolift speedy jack from harborfreight i got works flawlessly. never had to bleed it
Most useful video ever.IMHO Thank you for showing the details. I think replacing cup seal and cleaning debris from cylinder, would be the extent of my effort.🤔
Mine just stopped holding the car up in the air after 50 years. This afternoon i put it out on the street for the scrap man, but as soon as i saw this video i went out to get it back. Luckily, it was still there.
I bought mine in 1970. It leaked afew years ago. So I fiddled with the caped off ports to top off and bleed it. Not 100% but better than after the leak. Yes a source for the rebuild kit would be appreciated. Good job.
I fixed my jack I bought back in the 70s. All it took was two O-rings. One for the pump valve and one for the jack post. I had neopreme o-rings that fit. Good as new. Not that difficult to fix.
During disassembly of the check valve (13:37) you say small then a big ball on reassembly (17:31) you say small then a big ball (opposite of how they came out) ??? Which order is correct ? Additional note, rewatching/listening to the video. Sounded based on pitch, the large came out first then the small (higher pitch).
I'm reviewing again, because I question that green u-cup you installed. Mine cylinder has a lip like that but there was no circlip. Mine also didn't 'snap' like yours did, but it was tight (not just slipped over). I guess I need to pull it apart to see if u-cup slipped off or something. It kinda works so it might just be an adjustment somewhere. I'll get it.
this is so frustrating and time consuming, but I hate to give up. I was convinced it was that internal u-cup, because the old one was torn up. I put in new fluid and it seemed to have the same lifting issue. I bled and refilled fluid a bunch of times, and air seems to keep getting in so it must be another seal. I've tried different setting of the check valve, and nothing works. This was a good idea, but so is a replacement jack, such a pisser.
u-cup looks good, and tight, replaced o-ring and shot off valve (star gear), does nothing. It looks like u-cup faces toward end of (outside) rod? I did same as in here. Maybe not enough fluid but it should only take up to 8oz.
Good job I have the basic same jack in my shop will lift but you come back in a couple of hrs and the load will be on the ground, I don’t trust it, I have checked fluid level, About all I know to do for it, I bought a harbor freight heavy duty 3 ton fast free lift option, Works great, except for one thing, the lift point pad will not come off, on certain jobs I need it off The pad will come of the old craftsman jack,
@@MikefromMissouriI did and found the exact cup seal i needed....And you were correct....Everything else was good except for the cup seal.....Totally decentegrated...Thank you so much for the video
May I ask the seal# and where you got it ? I have the same sears jack doing what yours did. I bought it new from sears in the mid 70's just after getting married . I had a hyd shop rebuild it once but it did not last very long. The new ones they sell are not made as good. I think I still have the paper work for it. Thanks, mine is a blue green color.
Vaseline is a petroleum based product and will cause swelling to the seals and O-rings. I would use Super Lube. It is a dielectric grease, a food grade grease, and a man made product.
@@MikefromMissouri I am looking for multiple items , a 35 yr old [ about ] Japan floor jack , a 10 yr old Craftsman aluminum floor jack & what appears to be Harbor Freight heavier than most cherry picker long ram . Thanks anyway
Would be a lot more helpful if we knew how to get the correct seal and where to buy them at a fair price. Tear down, clean up and rebuild is one thing, getting all the correct parts is another. I have two old jacks, one about 15 years old and one about 40 years old, no clue where to get seals, but I'd guess they are somewhat standard.
I am not trying to be rude but go for an airbag jack. Very affordable, SUPER low profile , gets the job done far better...time lost is considered as money as well..
Why not show part number for green seal?
www.ebay.com/itm/335096775703?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ajzqxsmbsay&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=B8IE_u5AQ3C&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Measure the inner/outer diameters and height of your existing unit, or if torn as probable, check cylinder bore and rod diameter. Heights vary by 2mm, try to get it from previous and compare with spacing on rod. They are hard to source, but they are out there. That green is probably a 22x40x12 found often, but mine was 24mm and there are more.
@@Bob-cd5pp found mine on eBay by searching sears jack seal
What model number is your power washer
It looks very nice and reliable.has it been a good one.whst would you recommend me to buy one
Had mine for 38 years plus i figure. rebuilt 1 time works perfectly, it was a bday gift.. from a long past ex girl friend
I have the same Jack bought it in the mid-80s still works great best hundred dollars I ever spent
One of the best investments I ever made. One heavy duty jack.
I have one just like that also. I should have taken it back to the store the day I bought it. I didn't, though. I still use it sometimes but if it quits working it goes on the scrap pile. It's not worth fixing.
I also have the same jack passed down from my grandfather. He bought it 45 years ago.
My Junior High shop teacher said, 'buy your tools now, they just get more expensive.' I loaded up on quality Craftsman stuff. The Chinese came and prices went down, but so did quality and now people accept 'disposable tools!'
@mikefrech1123 ? It's a early 1980s jack made in Japan when Japanese products became high quality so why if it's held up almost 50 years wouldn't you rebuild it you can get the kit from Lazzars for around $50 & yea I know it was $99.00 when new that's like &300. Nowadays, why because it's way better than auto store Jack's and harbor freight stuff of today
First big purchase tool I ever bought (1972), was a 2.5 ton Sears jack that looked just like that one, After 5 years it began leaking down, so I tore in apart.
The piston was made out of about 4' of brown waxed meat-packing paper, sandwiched between 2 large flat washers, and squashed down to 1/4" thick. I was shocked - I was trusting that to lift a car.
I took the parts down to an industrial hardware store, and the guy fixed me up with a real rubber piston end. Put it together, and it is still going to this day, (2024) my son still uses it.
@@miketrissel5494 cool story
I have 3 3 ton Craftsman jacks look just like that one. I bought them around 2000-2001 to lift a vehicle all at once and sold the vehicle before I ever used them. 12-15 years later I finally needed one of them and they were still unopened in the box. I opened one but it wouldn't pump up, so I opened a second one and it wouldn't pump up either. There was no evidence of any oil leaking inside the boxes. I don't remember what I did to get it working but I figured the seal had dried out. I may have opened the dump valve and pulled the mechinism up to extend the piston multiple times or maybe I turned the jack on it's end or upside down hoping to get the seal working again. I do know I didn't take it apart and It started working and has been fine every since. I did the same thing to the others with the same result. Thanks for posting this video, it was really nice to see how it comes apart. You know these things are just hydraulic jacks laying on their side which I think might be part of the problem and over time the seals dry out and quit working or they get stuck from lack of use. Thanks
I have the exact same jack. I bought it new at Sears back in 1985. I had to add hydraulic fluid a few years ago, but that is the only thing I have done to it besides, keeping it clean and lubricated.
Got mine in 75 😇
I've had that exact same jack for almost fifty years and never had a problem with it. Drained and replaced the fluid about every two years and lubricated all the components in the lifting mechanism.
Very cool. I have the 4 ton and a 3 ton of the same vintage. Unfortunately they are out of service but after watching your video Ill be attempting to bring it back to life
Agree, these jacks are great, and kits are readily available. I have this jack, 39 years old and still works. Mine was purchased with my dad in 1985.
I’ve got one of those myself!
I used to pull my VW engines all the time back in the day. (mid-1970’s)
I still have it and I’ve always thought it could work again. Thought about taking it to a forklift repair shop, but now, thank you for the video, I’ll give it a shot and see if I can fix it myself
Thank you for having good shop practices, for cleaning everything up before you work on it, for having a little impact driver to get that screw out, and for turning the crescent wrench around the right way so the movable jaw isn't loaded. So many fixit videos are made by blacksmiths who work in filth and grease, never clean their tools and use them the wrong way, pound on screwdrivers and use alignment punches as drifts. My Sears jack goes up about halfway and I've been reluctant to dive into it. Now that I'm 81 and don't work on things anymore, it'll probably stay at half mast,
@@Bobby-f7b3g It’s usually time and money ahead to slow down and don’t it right. Thanks for watching and the comment!
@@MikefromMissouri When I was racing, part of the enjoyment was doing everything as right as we could do it, everything clean, everything tightened with a torque wrench, no reason for a race car to be dirty, good tools used properly. I had a young guy helping me, and I preached my philosophy. I found out long after we stopped that I was known among his friends as the guy who wouldn't allow a tool to go back in the toolbox until it had been blown off with brake cleaner.
Came here to fix my dad's old Sears jack...it gave up the ghost this morning after reliable service for 45 years...hope I can get a few more out of it...thanks...
I have the same one, my dad bought it as a Christmas present 50 years ago. Just resealed the cylinder, works great..
@@rayk3-103 Good memories there
I used sears floor jacks back in the 70s and 80s. They worked great. Best part they were free hand me downs.
I have the same jack I bought new from Sears probably 40 years ago. Still works great and used it just a couple of weeks ago.
Fixing vintage stuff is always cool.
I bought one of these in the early 80s. Still worked last time I used it. Money well spent!
44 years for me great jack
If you watch it at 1.5 speed, it is an excellent video
I have the exact jack. It was my father's. It operates so much smoother and with more precision than the later made in China Sears jacks.
@@BlueHaze7024 They are worth fixing and keeping around.
Nice job Mike!! I learned something and have found the parts kit for my 2 ton jack that I bought from sears in the late 80's. 👍
Good luck fixing it!
My go to cleaner...simply awesome from the dollar store!!!! Great stuff.
Ok
My Brother, Father and I all bought cheapie jacks from Sears only to have them fail. Sears exchanged them for 3 versions of this fine jack. My Father's jack survived a garage fire and looks like hell but still works fine. Mine just recently failed and I suspect it need the cup seal replaced just like this one. My next Winter project :)
great repair my father has a jack like that from sears !
Thanks, I picked up a 'fixer' Craftsman for free and cleaned up and added oil, etc. and thought I got it, but first attempt wouldn't lift car. Rebuild kits are $60, but I didn't want to replace everything, just to find that it was probably one bad seal somewhere. I can get a new one for $100 or less, but I just despise Harbor Freight and others. I'll look at that cylinder seal first, thanks for your thoroughness.
That jack was $99.00 45 years ago that's $300. Or more today there's no comparison in quality stick $50 , 60 , even $100 into it your still ahead
I have one same era called astroline bought in 1983 made in Japan, still working strong.
I have the same HF floor jack . Now 20-25 yr old and still works fine . Always indoors, non-snow belt location .
Wow. My floor jack. Bought it at Sears in the late 70’s. Same color, too. Mine doesn’t hold pressure. Almost exactly like the one you have. I’d like get it going.
Lazzars has the kits
I gave up on hydraulic floor jacks...and switched to an air compressor bellows floor jack...The ease of use and super simple design makes this a no brainer. And it's quick!
@@ekummel I’ve heard about those but have never used one.
You have an electric car?
Great lesson . One comment : If you pressure wash or steam , be sure to regrease all casters and any friction points . Once the old grease is washed or melted off it needs to be replaced .
Great job getting it to working order.
Thanks!!
I just rebuilt my sears 2 ton floor jack looks just like that one got the seal kit from e-bay and it works just like new bought it new back in the 80s
Thanx for the VIDEO.... After 40 years my SEARS jack died, also. REBUILD kit was too expensive, so I bought an ALUMINUM JACK from Harbor Freight. After watching your Video, I'm glad I didn't rebuild it.
Excellent stuff..
I have a 3 ton sears craftmen I got new 52 years ago. works great , only had to add oil once. I left my jeep jacked up for 6 weeks and it didnt drop at all.
i have the same sears jack. air gets into the hydraulic system causing a decrease in pump stroke so it takes a lot of pumping to get the jack to rise up to full height. yes you can bleed it at the top and the bottom of the stroke but the air gets back in. a second jack a prolift speedy jack from harborfreight i got works flawlessly. never had to bleed it
I have the exact same jack. It's sort of sentimental. My late father gave it to me for Christmas many years ago. Nice to see how to rebuild it.
@@Larry-d1c awesome, they are good jacks should last a few life times
I have the same jack, same problem, mine is from the late 70's. Would like to get it working again.
Most useful video ever.IMHO Thank you for showing the details. I think replacing cup seal and cleaning debris from cylinder, would be the extent of my effort.🤔
Mine just stopped holding the car up in the air after 50 years. This afternoon i put it out on the street for the scrap man, but as soon as i saw this video i went out to get it back. Luckily, it was still there.
@@kenashcom7580 good save. Easy fix most likely
😅
Good job 👏
very thorow video thanks BILL
I bought mine in 1970. It leaked afew years ago. So I fiddled with the caped off ports to top off and bleed it. Not 100% but better than after the leak. Yes a source for the rebuild kit would be appreciated. Good job.
eBay has the main seal which is usually all you
U-Cup Seal for SEARS Floor Jack 328 Series 22 x40 x12mm 328.12001, 328.12002 etc
They are a beast! Hard to kill. I have 3 of long saddle 4 ton ones. Still work well
I fixed my jack I bought back in the 70s. All it took was two O-rings. One for the pump valve and one for the jack post. I had neopreme o-rings that fit. Good as new. Not that difficult to fix.
I saw your Jack and ran out to look at mine, blue 2 ton made in Japan just like yours.
During disassembly of the check valve (13:37) you say small then a big ball on reassembly (17:31) you say small then a big ball (opposite of how they came out) ??? Which order is correct ? Additional note, rewatching/listening to the video. Sounded based on pitch, the large came out first then the small (higher pitch).
The small one always goes in first.
Good post. Thanks
To hell with the emoji: thumbs up!
Thanks!
I'm reviewing again, because I question that green u-cup you installed. Mine cylinder has a lip like that but there was no circlip. Mine also didn't 'snap' like yours did, but it was tight (not just slipped over). I guess I need to pull it apart to see if u-cup slipped off or something. It kinda works so it might just be an adjustment somewhere. I'll get it.
this is so frustrating and time consuming, but I hate to give up. I was convinced it was that internal u-cup, because the old one was torn up. I put in new fluid and it seemed to have the same lifting issue. I bled and refilled fluid a bunch of times, and air seems to keep getting in so it must be another seal. I've tried different setting of the check valve, and nothing works. This was a good idea, but so is a replacement jack, such a pisser.
u-cup looks good, and tight, replaced o-ring and shot off valve (star gear), does nothing. It looks like u-cup faces toward end of (outside) rod? I did same as in here. Maybe not enough fluid but it should only take up to 8oz.
Great video thank you
Good job great video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
We’re did you purchase the damaged seal and how did you. Determine what to purchase?
Good job I have the basic same jack in my shop will lift but you come back in a couple of hrs and the load will be on the ground,
I don’t trust it, I have checked fluid level,
About all I know to do for it, I bought a harbor freight heavy duty 3 ton fast free lift option,
Works great, except for one thing, the lift point pad will not come off, on certain jobs I need it off
The pad will come of the old craftsman jack,
Thanks for the pn
Ok so we’re did you get the repair parts? As I have the same Jack with the the exact same issue!
A link to where you got your seal?
@@cayankeelord3730 www.ebay.com/itm/335096775703?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ajzqxsmbsay&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=B8IE_u5AQ3C&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
How did you find the correct seal? Did you measure it and then search the web?
Lazzars
@@MikefromMissouri Thanks a million!
Where the heck did you get the replacement part? 😢
Great job. Where do you find the replacement seal? I have the same jack.
Search Amazon for sears jack cup seal
@@MikefromMissouriI did and found the exact cup seal i needed....And you were correct....Everything else was good except for the cup seal.....Totally decentegrated...Thank you so much for the video
I still have the one I bought in the mid 70's. It also needs a rebuild.
May I ask the seal# and where you got it ? I have the same sears jack doing what yours did. I bought it new from sears in the mid 70's just after getting married . I had a hyd shop rebuild it once but it did not last very long. The new ones they sell are not made as good. I think I still have the paper work for it. Thanks, mine is a blue green color.
Vaseline is a petroleum based product and will cause swelling to the seals and O-rings. I would use Super Lube. It is a dielectric grease, a food grade grease, and a man made product.
where do you source jack seals?
Source for hydraulic parts , would be a good ?
Thanks
Bought just the seal on eBay. Just type in the serial number and parts are easy to locate
@@MikefromMissouri I am looking for multiple items , a 35 yr old [ about ] Japan floor jack , a 10 yr old Craftsman aluminum floor jack & what appears to be Harbor Freight heavier than most cherry picker long ram .
Thanks anyway
i have the same jack i have had it over 40 years
Just like other commenters I have that same exact jack and use it often. Very heavy duty.
So where and how did you get the repair part???????????????
@@mixster56 search ebay
U-Cup Seal for SEARS Floor Jack 328 Series 22 x40 x12mm 328.12001, 328.12002 etc
Dad was an engineer ...he loved tools because they make work easier...he sent a guy to the moon with a roll of duct tape...
Need order kit pum harbor freight do you have link thanks
Were to get seal and kits?
You want to know what also works for jack oil, jack oil.
Would be a lot more helpful if we knew how to get the correct seal and where to buy them at a fair price. Tear down, clean up and rebuild is one thing, getting all the correct parts is another. I have two old jacks, one about 15 years old and one about 40 years old, no clue where to get seals, but I'd guess they are somewhat standard.
I have that exact jack that's doing the same thing, what's the seal number?
@@holiday1 eBay
U-Cup Seal for SEARS Floor Jack 328 Series 22 x40 x12mm 328.12001, 328.12002 etc
@(5:17) It happens...
I have the same jack, it was my Dads
The harbor freight an exact copy. Like all Chinese made crap. the only thing missing is the quality of the Japanese one.
I am not trying to be rude but go for an airbag jack. Very affordable, SUPER low profile , gets the job done far better...time lost is considered as money as well..
Never use ATF for jack oil.
Next week we will see a video of a tragic news report of how a guy named Mike from Missouri wad killed when his jack failed
LOL, hope not
Extremely negative comment on here. Apparently you’re not a DIY kind of guy or a troll.😞
Step 1. Take pictures before disassembly.