Jack or lift for installing 9" center section?


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By slumlord444 - 8 Years Ago

I have always just crawled  under the car and pulled the old one out manualy reinstalled the new one by lifting it up and sliding it in on my back. The new one I am installing has traction loc and is heavier than the open rear end. Plus I am 72 now and have a hernia that I am getting repaired in a month or so. Any suggestions for a jack or lift or maybe an accessory for my floor jack to remove and install these without damaging my body. Harbor Freight has a small transmission jack for around $100 that looks like it might work. This won't be my last gear change so I don't mind spending a few bucks to make this easier and safer.

By miker - 8 Years Ago
Slumlord, I hear you, and I'm only 67. Herniated disc in my case. Some time ago I watched an older appliance guy replace a built in oven/microwave. He used a motorcycle jack, said they were more lift and way cheaper that than any other kinds of small hydraulic platform hoist. I don't know if they'll go high enough for you, but you might take a look on line.
By paul2748 - 8 Years Ago
I have always used a regular floor jack and balanced the center section on it
By charliemccraney - 8 Years Ago
The harbor freight trans jack will not work too well on it's own.  It's pretty tall in the low position, and the center section will not sit well on it.  I built a cradle out of some wood which worked ok with the trans jack.  Take a look: http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/Topic71249-3.aspx

I think something similar for a standard floor jack will work better.
By slumlord444 - 8 Years Ago
I have thought of that.  I would need a helper to move the jack while I ballanced it on the jack. Looking for a way to do it without an assistant and without it falling off the jack and damaging me or the center section. I could probably make a bracket to bolt to the center section and to my floor jack but it would take a while. Going to a local swap meet Sunday and may come up with something there. The transmission jack is cheaper than the motorcycle jack and has tiedown straps to hold it to the jack. Come to think of it I might be able to use racheting tie down straps with my floor jack. Any other suggestions out there?
By 57RancheroJim - 8 Years Ago
I use to do just by hand but can't anymore at my age. I used my floor jack on the last one but it's a real balancing act. Don't be stupid and impatient  like me and wait until you can get some help.
By charliemccraney - 8 Years Ago
The tie  down that comes with the transmission jack is what you'd expect from a Chinese product, a joke.  You really need ratchet straps.  And, like I said, it just does not sit on the transmission jack in a favorable way without some kind of fixture to position it.  Something I forgot to mention is that the footprint of the jack is quite large, which makes it more difficult to position yourself if you do need to manhandle it and it's heavy and you need some place to store it.  All in all, not a good tool for this job but better than nothing.

The only place you can really bolt the center section is at the yoke.  The other holes need to be left open for the housing studs.