I have the exact same jack, and it’s done well for me for 20+ yrs. DONT THROW IT OUT. It’s fixable. These old American made jacks last forever. Very heavy, but a great jack. Anyway, the 2sets of teeth that engage each other, the one attached to the handle is adjustable. Take the handle off, and take the one connected to the body( lower one) and remove the nut, pull it off. Look underneath the one connected to where the handle goes, it has a nut underneath that you can’t see we’ll when put together, but when you take that apart, you ‘lil see the nut and washer underneath that adjusts the height of the tooth-wheel. Then you can get them to match up and work. My dad used to tell me the heavier the jack, the better built. Most jacks (floor jacks)are about 20-25 pounds, this particular power built is close to 75-80 # I’m guessing. I just know it’s real damn heavy, but then I’m not as young as I used to be. Hope this helps, good luck

I just picked up a similar jack on the side of the road today and was able to remedy this issue fairly quickly. I took the gear that's connected to the handle off, then took a large socket that is big enough that the gear almost fits inside, but just catches the teeth. Put the round side of a ball peen hammer into the center hole of the gear and then struck the hammer with a larger hammer causing the gear to dish. Then when reassembling the gear, put the teeth so the bend is directing the opposite direction of the other gear, so the one on the handle faces down when the handle is straight up, and the other is facing up. This made the gears mesh quite well no matter what orientation the handle is in.

Tighten up the bolts on the side the whole Jack is slipping downward and it's putting the star gear out of alignment

Mine had the same problem. The problem was the handle housing and the two big bolts on each side that hold it. It seems that the factory did not grease anything and the bolts along with the housing wallowed out causing too much slop thus the gears did not mesh anymore. I doubt replacement parts were available so I ended up making my own. Now it works the way it should.

I'm having a really similar problem with my jack. In my case, though, the upper gear is slipping too low compared with the lower gear on the jack body. I'm thinking I can shim the gear up slightly, but I'm curious if you've resolved the problem and if you have any guidance on the matter?

I just got the same jack from someone, u see the spring on the right side, switch it, the dented spring goes up but outside on the right of the little red punch mark or whatever that is. I think that is why your gears are not catching. My jack still jacks up but slowly, I have fill fluids and grease it up but still goes up slowly.

How i figured how to fix the Problem on mine is add weight like step on the lift arm or stomp on the saddle pad while i wiggle the handle and it lines up and works like normal again

So did u fix it?

Would be interested in knowing if, and how, you fixed it. I have the same Jack and I overextended it a bit jacking it up and now it cant turn the cog to let it down. My truck is currently stuck on it after doing some work on the truck. In the morning, I plan to get a chisel and Hammer and see I can turn the lower cog to let it down. Otherwise, I'll just to drive backwards off of it. 😁

I'm having a similar issue . The sprockets are interlocking but not letting down the jack when I turn the handle. I removed the lower sprocket and the bolt that the lower sprocket sits on is frozen and won't turn. Does anyone know how to fix this issue ? Thank you.

I know this is an old thread, but does anyone know where to find a replacement handle locking screw.?

The teeth on my jack barely touch, almost like they've been worn right down or they are just too short to reach each other

Mine has lot of play where it's has very Little.. mine's doing the same thing did you figure out the problem

I am having same basic problem can not find a video on how to fix I got new gears didn't fix problem I was gonna get the release valve but it's stuck on really good.

The end of the handle on my craftsman connects to a 1/2 inch bolt the connects to the gears. The bolt hole on the handle is stripped out, any ideas? I don't want to spend $90.00 on a new handle that may have a square hole on it......