Topic: Zinko Racing Jack -- ZSJ-13A -- Review

[Ben L]

As we all know, the market is flooded with cheap Chinese aluminum racing jacks.  After two racing seasons of abusive street-to-Rs-back-to-street wheel changes nearly every weekend, plus service and mod use at home, my Torin "Big Red" is leaking, creaking and groaning more than me after shoveling out my driveway this weekend.  Also, various bits have started falling off.  Of the jack.  Not me (yet).

I guess I could have popped for less than $100 bucks to get another disposable jack.  But I like nice tools and believe that, with racing equipment, you have a better chance of it working when you really need it if you do not go the absolute cheapest route possible. I have been blessed this year with work, so my budget permitted consideration of sources other than the usual "Red Menace" COSCO, Harbor Freight and Northern Tools inventory.

So this time around, I went looking for a more durable, better engineered and built racing jack, that can stand up to very frequent and heavy use on my FFR coupe, and my ultra-low GXP.  My research led me to professional pit equipment vendors, Winston Cup, NASCAR, etc.  I learned that, while they may superfically look similar, there are big differences in aluminum racing jacks.  As always, you get what you pay for.  While the price point of the cheap Chinese junk is nice, often the quality and engineering is, well, not so much. 

On the other hand, a top of the line three-pump Brunnhoezel or Pace jack can run well over $1,000.  I do not need that kind of speed, and that price point is too high for a service jack, even for me.

I settled on a mid-price professional quality racing jack.  a Zinko ZSJ-13A 1.3 ton.  Its made by a Japanese company but manufactured in Taiwan to their specs.  Thus, while still not US made, it was designed and made somewhere that at least resembles a democracy (per CIA Factbook).  Its retail list is $611, but was about $518, shipping included, on sale from Automotive Service Equipment, out of California.  It has many great features.

One of them is an incredibly low 2.4" saddle height, and a slim, contoured saddle: low enough to fit under my slammed Sol without blocking the front wheels.  Another is that it meets ANSI specs, and is made of very nice billet aluminum.  It weighs in at 38 pounds, and with a trim 24x12x6" sillouhette, it will easily fit in the cargo box of my tire trailer, along with the two piece breakdown aluminum handle.

But I did not really appreciate how nice it is until it arrived yesterday.  It is very low and sleek. It uses a single hydraulic cylinder that is freaking huge.  Fit and finish is wonderful;  nice semi-gloss black powder coating on the frame, with the arm finished in bead blasted satin silver.  On the jacking arm, there are cross pieces between the two sides, drilled to save weight, that stabilize the arm against lateral movement (distressing amounts of which I have seen on the Torin).  These are place at angles so that they are level when the jack is extended.  The front one pivots.  Just one of many very well thought out and executed details.   Another:  It comes with a pin that locks the handle yoke in the down position so that it lies flat for travel.

I took some pictures:










Zinko Aluminim Racing Jack ZSJ-13A

http://www.asedeals.com/zinko_aluminum_racing_jacks.html

Specifications:

Capacity (Tons):  1.3
G) Handle Length (in): 42
B) Hydr. Lift (in): 15 1/4
A) Min. Height (in):  2 1/4 (!)
C) Overall Lift Height (in): 17 3/8
D) Chassis Length (in): 24
E) Chassis Width (in): 11 3/4
F) Height of Frame (in): 6
Shipping Weight (lbs): 40
Country of origin:  Taiwan

[BeachParty]

Wow, Ben. That looks very nice. I bet it's going to work smooth at silk. Great review.

[Critterman]

So does one pump through your Sol in to the air to land back on the cradle?

[Ben L]

Uhh.  Translator?  Even without Rosetta Stone, I think I know what you are asking. . .

It takes about 4 pumps to get the GXP tire off the ground and 10 to get to max lift. 

[lil goat]

Very nice indeed, I know who I will ask should the need arise at an event. I gave up on aluminum jacks for the reasons you sited. It makes no sense to me that a $29 steel jack from Pep Boys will work for years and years, and all of the inexpensive aluminum ones suck until you spend some serious money. I spent $300 on a Sears aluminum and even it sucked (leaked just like all the others). It would seem logical that the aluminum jack would use the same pump as a steel one and just a lighter frame, that does not seem to be the case. I have an aluminum Torin that only leaks a little, has since it was new it does work but I do not trust it without jack stands. My new jack weighs 105 pounds! and is not as low as the sweet one you have, but it will lift my truck with the Solstice in the back.

[Ben L]

Different purposes.  Your heavy steel jack is probably better, for an all around service unit, as it has less tendency to walk around and twist. 

But I need this to be portable and light enough to horse around the paddocks and load and unload when dead tired after a weekend in the sun at Cumberland.  And no question its as low as anything on the market can go. 

Hopefully, this will be an aluminum jack that doesn't break.  The cheap Chinese ones actually can be fine.  Some of my buddies have ones that are years old and still don't leak.  My Torin held up pretty well until recently.  Others were ready for the trash on the third day. Its the inconsistency that makes them a dicy value.

[Treeman]

OK, let's all go to Ben's for under car work from now on!!!   

Seriously, nice jack dude!

[Frank I]

Very nice indeed, I know who I will ask should the need arise at an event. I gave up on aluminum jacks for the reasons you sited. It makes no sense to me that a $29 steel jack from Pep Boys will work for years and years, and all of the inexpensive aluminum ones suck until you spend some serious money. I spent $300 on a Sears aluminum and even it sucked (leaked just like all the others). It would seem logical that the aluminum jack would use the same pump as a steel one and just a lighter frame, that does not seem to be the case. I have an aluminum Torin that only leaks a little, has since it was new it does work but I do not trust it without jack stands. My new jack weighs 105 pounds! and is not as low as the sweet one you have, but it will lift my truck with the Solstice in the back.

Comedian: 

Never, never, never get under any car that is only being held up with a jack, no matter what the quality of the jack.  Use jack stands always!!!!! 

Frank I

[Ben L]

   Words of wisdom indeed. 

I confess I do not use them for tire changes at events (I should), but if any part of my anatomy is going to be under the car, damned straight. 

[lil goat]

Comedian: 

Never, never, never get under any car that is only being held up with a jack, no matter what the quality of the jack.  Use jack stands always!!!!! 

Frank I

Get under the car are you kidding me, I won't trust it to change a tire. With my old Arcan big jack I can lift the front or back with the jack, pop the tires off put the summer or winter on and drop the car. Not with the aluminum Torin, mostly I just use it to get the car high enough to use the big jack. Now I am hoping I can do it with just one jack.

I know exactly what you bought that for Ben, been a witness. If I ever get to the point I run auto x tires, I would most likely do the same. For now I just want to stay on course, and better tires won't help  This would be exactly the jack my son needs his car is even lower than yours because of the ground effects.

[Critterman]

comie -  The best mod we can get for autocross (you and I) is a    driver who can actually drive 

[lil goat]

comie -  The best mod we can get for autocross (you and I) is a    driver who can actually drive 

The concept of Team Owner has come to mind, I am a better builder than driver. maybe the boy can be the driver.