Hydraulic Jacks 101: Everything You Need to Know
How Do Hydraulic Jacks Work & Why Are They So Useful?
If you spend any amount of time in the garage working on any equipment or vehicle you may have used a hydraulic jack before. Hydraulic Jacks are one of the most common and helpful tools full-time mechanics and mechanical hobbyists use. Many industries rely on the mechanism to help them get through their work day a bit easier. It doesn’t matter if you have barely picked up a wrench before or if you spend 8 hours a day under a vehicle or piece of equipment, everyone needs a hydraulic jack in their assortment of tools.
What is a Hydraulic Jack?
A hydraulic jack is a compact piece of equipment used to lift extreme weights through the use of hydraulic power. They take place in many forms, but by far the most common hydraulic jacks are the ones used for vehicles. Hydraulic jacks all have different capacities for the amount of weight they can lift so it is important to know what your goals are for using your jack before purchasing it.
To see the hydraulic jack products that we carry, click here – we have a version for everyone!
What are the Different Kinds of Hydraulic Jacks?
Bottle Jacks are nice and compact and can usually be found in your vehicle which comes in handy if you need to change a flat tire or if you need to do an oil change. It is perfect for emergency tasks since they are portable. Make sure that you only lift on areas that are specified by the manufacturer so you don’t damage the vehicle.
A scissor jack is often used to change flat tires as well, they are better to use on lightweight vehicles as they do not have the highest weight capacity. They may even be included in emergency tire changing kits.
Hydraulic floor jacks are customized for lifting vehicles, so they are most often used in repair shops. They are perfect for automotive use and moving/ lifting heavy objects. They can assist with changing the oil, repairing brakes and taking care of the suspension.
Transmission jacks can lift the transmission from the vehicle to work on removing or replacing parts. They are designed specifically for the needs of lifting a transmission so they don’t cause any damage. Anyone who is installing or removing a transmission would use this kind of jack.
How Do They Work?
A hydraulic jack functions by utilizing hydraulic fluid that is pumped through the mechanism by force exerted by the user. When the handle is pumped, the fluid that begins located in the reservoir of the jack is pushed through the valves and into the bottom of the load-bearing cylinder pushing up the load-bearing cylinder as well as whatever item is on top of it (car, equipment, etc.)
If you are looking for a great visualization of how a jack functions check out this video.
Why is this such a Useful Mechanism?
Hydraulic Jacks can be used in many different ways – whether it’s raising your vehicle while you are changing a flat tire, repairing large machinery on a job, or even as a function within the machine. Hydraulic jacks allow to possibility of exerting a large amount of force and power through a small, and simple movement making your next project a whole lot easier.
All Phase Hydraulics carries American Forge & Foundry hydraulic jacks for our customers, they are proven to be durable, reliable, and affordable, all while getting the job done well. Explore what kind options of American Forge & Foundry jacks we carry!
If you need help finding the right hydraulic jack for your project, contact us today! Our team will be happy to assist you with finding the right fit.