hilift storage and rust

[marathonracer]

My employer requires us to carry hilift jacks in the beds of our work trucks and we do use them quite often but with them constantly being stored outside the vehicle rust is obviously an issue. I bought one of the covers for the climbing assembly and keep the pins coated w WD40 at least once a month is there anything else I should be doing. We aren't allowed to carry them inside per policy...

 

[pugslyyy]

Only thing I might suggest is that lithium grease is a better lube than WD40. WD40 is great for loosening up a crudded-up HiLift but for actual lubrication it's not the best answer.

 

[Yuman Desert Rat]

I believe that hi lift makes a hard case for the jack. Not sure how well it works but it has to be better than nothing.

 

[jCubed]

The hard case is the Jack Guard.

http://www.jackguard.com

I have one and it works great.

 

[marathonracer]

My only thought with the hard case is the issue of condensation. I was thinking that the neoprene cover would allow some air movement and would "hold" lubrication against the jack since the inside would eventually soak up some lubrication. I was using WD40 with the thought to drive the moisture out.

So maybe lithium grease for lube and keep the wd40 in the tool box to coat it before and after use?

 

[NMC_EXP]

Grease would certainly be a more effective and long lasting lubricant than would WD40 and the like. Seems like grease would attract and hold sand and grit. Don't know if that would interfere with operation of the jack.

Another option is to operate the jack weekly along with using a lightweight lube. Doing so is thought to prevent the formation of rust which is heavy enough to jam the moving parts. It would also shake out the sand and grit before enough accumulated so that potatoes could be planted in it.

Note: This opinion is worth precisely what you paid for it.

Jim

 

[marathonracer]

Weekly exercise sounds like a plan will help me keep an eye on it as well.

 

[CDMartin]

Hi-lifts rust, fact of life. The coating on the older ones was not a powder coat, paint similar to that of fire hydrants. The trick is to use lots of lithium grease on the mechanism, keep a rebuild kit on hand, and only use WD-40 for clearing out the grit and dirt, but remember, WD-40 is not a lubricant.

I have had my 48" for over 20 years, looks like ****, but works like a champ.

 

[eggman918]

When I service mine I coat all moving parts with moly/graphite dry lube it goes on like a heavy primer and that is good and attracts no debris,but when I do need it I will use the oil that clings to the dipstick to wet things as I hate to fight the damn thing and we all know that they bite.My jack has spent the last 20 years bolted to the front of my truck and has never not worked when needed.

 

[IdaSHO]

Just always carry a can of spray lube.

When you need the jack, lube it up and put it to work.


Its always worked for me. Mine has been riding on the back of my pickup for since 1998 :snorkel: