Scrap Yard find...

blunosr · May 28, 2012

Hi, I was in a heavy industrial scrap yard yesterday, and look what I found...

I paid the guy $100 for it, and I think that's ok. I've been wanting a great old floor jack, for working on my tractors of course...
I've looked at the modern, probably Chinese, jacks, and I almost bought one a while back. But now I'm very happy I didn't. This is a Walker, Number 784, series C, 4 ton "Roll a car". I think it was made in the 1930's. Anybody know?

It weighs 180 pounds.

Can anyone enlighten me on what these screws are for? I'd like to put new fluid in it before I rebuild the pump (I'm planning to put a new rebuild kit in it). It seems to me, one of these screws, or the bolt, is the filler hole. There are at least two of the screws that are set at the factory, and you're not supposed to "screw" with them, or you'll regret it...

I just don't know which is which???

I also like the handle.

I'll strip it all down and repaint it, and fix up anything I can. I'll also remove the "fix" on the bottom of the handle and try to fix it better, so it's as close to original as I can get it.

Thanks for looking, and thanks for any advice,

Troy

DeltaRed · May 28, 2012

I believe the hex head plug is the filler hole...

Anonymous-0 · May 28, 2012

thats a good find!!

Anonymous-0 · May 28, 2012

was your other handle Troyboyd???

rufus80 · May 28, 2012

The oil fill is the hex plug in front of the slotted screw plugs.
The slotted plugs are your intake/discharge valves, overload/
relief valve. If the valving does not work right you need
special ball reamers to recut the seats. Also need to use
spanners to set the packing on the two pumps, release valve,
and the ram packing. To tight and you will prematurely wear
out, to loose and leaks. I might have a break down on this
jack at the shop, will look tomorrow and price of kit.

gtractorfan · May 28, 2012

why was it in the scrapyard if it works? It might raise without a load or with a light load, but what about a heavy load? Congratulations on a good buy if it's up to snuff.

blunosr · May 28, 2012

Hi Lyle, yes that's me, but I don't recall using that as a handle...

Hot and sunny up here in Fort St. John. I'll be whizzing through Valleyview at the end of June. How's your weather?

Bye for now,

Troy

rufus80 · May 28, 2012

At our shop we would get min$250 to rebuild. Problem is
parts these days. Kits not to hard to come by but if something
major is bad then it might be a big paper weight.

Anonymous-0 · May 28, 2012

(quoted from post at 02:57:01 05/29/12) Hi Lyle, yes that's me, but I don't recall using that as a handle...

Hot and sunny up here in Fort St. John. I'll be whizzing through Valleyview at the end of June. How's your weather?

Bye for now,

Troy

thought it was troyboyd but maybe not, it was troy sumtin...lol If you come through look me up, Im not far from town and I will buy you a coffee.

Billy Shafer · May 28, 2012

Nice find. I know a guy that has a jack made in 1947. Still in use and wouldn't part with it. For any amount of money.

Anonymous-0 · May 28, 2012

Rebuild Old Walker Floor Jack?? - The Garage Journal Boardwww.garagejournal.com › ... › The Tools › General Tool Discussion.

Use the search engine.
This should give you a start.

37chief · May 28, 2012

That is a good deal, even if it needs rebuilding. I have a walker about that size, maybe a little newer. I use it all the time. I would think kits are still available. as for lapping the ball seats I would think if you brazed a ball on a rod, and a little lapping compound you should be good to go. I traded a tractor radiator for mine. Stan

OldFarmTractor · May 28, 2012

I agree that the hex is the fill for the oil. If your packings are good that will be a plus.

The three screws are for check valves and relief valve. About 40 years ago, I had a fellow shop worker that rebuilt pallet jacks, about the same system. He would remove all the check balls and replace them as needed. Most are available at McMaster Carr. But the big trick, once it was cleaned, was to take a spare ball, drop it onto the seat, place a drift on it and give it a whack with a hammer. It cleaned and reformed the seat. You could get a dressing device but this might just do the trick.

Ray · May 29, 2012

I see them at sales for 50 to 75 bucks that work.
I doubt if the junk yard gave over 20 bucks for it.

RodinNS · May 29, 2012

How about that. Both you and John Ross are happy...
Hope it reseals OK for you.

Rod

greygoat · May 29, 2012

I saw an ad in "Popular Mechanics", in 1965
That Said: "Make money fixing Jacks" I wish you
lots of luck trying to fix a Walker, You're
going to need it! In my experiance the Walker
castings were "Too Soft" and the valves..spring
loaded ball bearings.. would pound the seats out
and they quit working.I finally refused to work on Walker floor jacks..too much investment in
time and they still wouldn't work. You've bought
yourself and expensive boat ancher. Worth only
scrap price around here.
Walker jacks were also sold by NAPA, and are
still made as "Lincoln" brand today.

Anonymous-0 · May 29, 2012

Test it on a load and if it works just paint it.Looks like a nice find. If it ain't broke...

GeneMO · May 29, 2012

Why rebuild it? If it works? Put some fluid in it and if it works, leave it along.

Put a load on it and let it set overnight. If no leakage, and it dont settle, leave it alone.

Gene

Mark - IN. · May 29, 2012

Just wait until the boss gets back from lunch and finds out that one of his guys sold you the jack that had been passed down to him from his father, grandfather, and great grandfather that had hocked his house to fulfill his dream of being the worlds best mechanic, and then lost when the stock market crashed, launching the great depression. So there sat his great grandfather, homeless under a tree with nothing to eat, and nothing to show for it but that jack that you purchased for $100. You should paint and shine that thing up, then take it back and apologize for it, and then buy the guy lunch at some place that charges about $100.

Actually, good find. You had a good day and no doubt deserved and earned it. Good luck, use it in great health.

Mark

shaun wallace · May 29, 2012

Did ya get the cover that goes over power unit? Them and the front cover is usually missing. I have a 782 walker that got saved from scrappers.

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