OT: Hydraulic Floor Jack Problem

[Danny in CO]

I have 2 hydraulic floor jacks that I have added fluid to them and now they don't want to work very well. I think I need to bleed them (like brakes). I don't know how to bleed them.

Each has 2 screws that go into the fluid resevoir.

How do you bleed the air out of a floor jack?

Danny

 

[GB in MT.]

[b:040035bf4f][i:040035bf4f]
Danny;
Had one do that once. I took the rear lock plug, completely out, and jacked the handle once, and made sure it was all the way to the down possision, then filled the resevior.
Had to jack it up about four times, and release the lock-up bolt. then stand on the lift plate, and release the lock bolt. That should force all the air out, then refill the oil res.

Worked for me....just had to keep doin' it that way, until the air lock was gone.

Gary :roll: [/i:040035bf4f][/b:040035bf4f]

 

[gahorN]

I've got two floor jacks that don't work. One of them is a "fast lift"...in which the first stroke or two should lift the pad all the way to the object and then further pumping of the handle will take-on the actual work of lifting. Both units: No leaks. Full of fluid.

There's an adjustment at the aft end that stipulates "Do not adjust".....so naturally, I adjusted it. Still didn't help.

Does anyone have a "typical" schematic showing what goes on inside a floor jack? Or know of a "service manual" that might describe the actual workings of that "do not adjust" screw?

 

[Dollar Bill]

The "Do Not Adjust" valve you mention is the pressure relief valve. If you have a 2 ton jack, it's set to "pop off" to prevent overloading the jack frame somewhere just above 2 tons.

 

[gahorN]

(quoted from post at 19:27:54 08/06/09)
The "Do Not Adjust" valve you mention is the pressure relief valve. If you have a 2 ton jack, it's set to "pop off" to prevent overloading the jack frame somewhere just above 2 tons.

SO... I'd venture a guess that since the jack won't lift it's own pad up with no weight at all on it....it's either the pump seals that are leaking...or that pop-off valve is stuck open. I guess it's time to take it apart. Thanks.

(Danged thing was barely used and sat around for a year before it failed. Grrr.)