How To Service A Floor Jack

Y'all're merely almost to lift your car when you realize that your floor jack simply won't hold pressure level? Of grade, using it in such a condition is out of the question; information technology's but too risky. Doing so would significantly increase the risk of dissentious your vehicle or, fifty-fifty worse, harm yourself.

With that being said, you however demand to raise your automobile to fix it right? So what can you lot do with a floor jack that won't hold pressure level?

First of all, take a deep jiff, and calm down. In most cases, the solution is quite unproblematic. Here are the steps you should follow:

Inspect the lifting capacity;
Check the hydraulic fluid level;
Bleed the arrangement;
Inspect the release valve;
Perform overall inspection once again.

Inspect the Lifting Capacity

Offset of all, you demand to know that each jack has a limited lifting capacity. You cannot go beyond information technology and endeavour to elevator something that exceeds the device'due south potential.

The first affair to do when faced with a jack that won't lift whatsoever yous are trying to lift is to check its capacity.

In most cases, trying to elevator a vehicle exceeding the chapters of your jack will cause the aforementioned symptoms as a jack that can't hold force per unit area. The jack will commencement to ascension until it reaches the vehicle's body and it might even lift it a niggling. But when reaching the point where the bike would leave the ground, two things may happen: the jack will finish lifting or information technology will slightly elevator the wheel off the basis but volition go back downward every bit before long as yous stop pumping.

Keeping on pumping the jack may cause internal leaks and damages to the seals, ultimately preventing the jacks from property any corporeality of pressure.

And then, before you lot endeavour to lift whatsoever vehicle, compare the nominal capacity of your jack confronting the weight of the vehicle.

This is 1 of the nearly straightforward fixes, as the solution is quite obvious – simply don't wait your jack to do the impossible.

Photo credit: bendpak.com

Check the Hydraulic Fluid Level

Be it a lower or college fluid level, both extremes are bound to cause problems, equally your lifting device won't part properly.

The fluid level should always be within the recommended threshold, neither more nor less than what'due south needed.

When operating a jack with a higher fluid level than normal, the higher than recommended pressure chance bravado out seals, causing internal leaks and resulting in a jack that won't hold pressure.

On the other mitt, a jack with a low fluid level will ordinarily work fine, but the maximum meridian volition be significantly lower. The real concern here is finding why the fluid level really decreased. Hydraulic systems work in a closed-loop, pregnant that the fluid level should never go down. If information technology does, there's probably a leak somewhere and you'll demand to fix it before you tin can utilize your jack.

How to check the fluid level on a jack

Checking the fluid level on a jack is quite simple. But take off the fill plug and check the chamber for the oil level.

Unlike jacks may work differently and so make sure to cheque the specs in the possessor's manual. Of course, it's not uncommon for jack owners to take lost or trashed the instructions later buy. Luckily, in that location are many websites offering jack repair manuals out in that location.

When it comes to oil selection, exist aware that different jacks may apply different hydraulic fluid. Once again, make certain to bank check in your jack's owner manual the required fluid type and viscosity.

Moreover, lubrication prevents corrosion and potential hereafter breakup, which is another reason why yous should pay attention to the products y'all buy.

Likewise, e'er retrieve to never use compressor oil for jacks. Compressor oil, merely like engine oil, for example, doesn't take the required additives and may cause seals to leak prematurely. If you lot really are in trouble and absolutely demand to observe a quick fix, you can always utilize automatic manual fluid to re-fill your jack and finish the task. However, don't forget to completely drain the fluid and re-fill it with the recommended hydraulic fluid for your jack as soon as possible.

Bleed the arrangement

As airheaded every bit it sounds, when a fleck of air gets trapped inside your lifting device, information technology loses its lifting power. When it happens, you'll need to drain the organization to remove whatever air bubbles left.

Luckily, bleeding a jack is quite unproblematic; all you have to practice is follow these iii simple steps:

Turn the purge valve counterclockwise
Remove the oil fill spiral from the lifting device.
Return the valve to its original position

Voila! The trapped air should accept been pushed out the system, and so you can move forwards lifting the vehicle. If the condition is notwithstanding the same, repeat the process a couple of fourth dimension more.

But how did air bubbling go far the organization in the first identify?

One of the most common reasons for that is a low fluid level or there might be a leak somewhere. If hydraulic fluid can leak out, air can also get in.

For that reason, you should implement the previous steps and inspect the jack for leaks and make certain the fluid level is correct.

If the level is low, add some fluid. If you suspect that information technology could be due to inadequate fluid viscosity, drain the jack and re-fill information technology with new hydraulic fluid.

Inspect the Release Valve

Okay, and so y'all've checked the oil, chapters, bled the system, and your jack still won't concur pressure?

So, the next pace is to inspect the valve and encounter if it'southward air-tight. If it's non, it will let the pressure out when yous are trying to lift and may allow air to get back in the arrangement.

In about cases, a leaking valve will unremarkably take a greasy motion-picture show around information technology, letting you know that there's a leak.

Credit: hcrcnow.com

Perform Overall Inspection Again

And that leads us to the terminal step – overall checkup.

If yous desire my apprehensive opinion, I'd recommend you do that before and every fourth dimension you start lifting anything.

This will minimize the chances that something goes wrong in the middle of your job and volition reduce the risk of damaging your jack or vehicle.

Inspect every part, including valve, piston, linkage, etc. Turn it on the sides, and discover it in both the extended and retracted positions to make sure it works properly either way.

This procedure is quite quick and information technology will save you lots of troubles.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know what to exercise when your floor jack doesn't hold pressure, no more than reasons to panic. Just go stride past footstep, and y'all'll discover what'due south wrong.

In one case once more, the easiest style to forbid malfunctions and potential problems is regular maintenance. Continue your jack clean and dry as much every bit possible and maintain it at regular intervals. When in doubt, make sure to take a wait into your jack'due south repair manual and follow the manufacturer'southward recommended maintenance procedure.

Doing and then will ensure your jack lasts as long as possible and that you get the most blindside for your bucks!

See As well: ten Best Flooring Jack Reviews!

Featured Paradigm: Chicago Tribune