Intro:€ Rebuilding a Hydraulic Floor Jack This is a 1 1/4 ton hydraulic floor jack my father passed on to me. €He bought it new during the 1970s. It began to leak down a little a few months ago. The lift arm no longer rises when the handle is pumped up and down.
Common hydraulic jacks permit lifting the heavy weight of vehicles with relatively low jacking force on the hand-operated handle. Each jack will have a design range, in particular, a minimum and a maximum height. A low hydraulic jack oil reservoir may decrease the maximum available height. The fairly simple procedure of adding oil to the reservoir when necessary can prevent losses in maximum jack height. The process involved in adding oil to the Craftsman 3-ton hydraulic floor jack also applies to many other models.
Step 1
Locate the round fill plug with Phillips-type slots in the top located just forward of the jack handle pivot point and centered side to side. Clean carefully around the plug area to prevent getting dirt into the reservoir when removing the fill plug.
Step 2
Lower the jack completely and use a large Phillips screwdriver to remove the fill plug. Add hydraulic jack oil to bring the oil level to the bottom of the fill hole and replace the plug.
Open the floor jack release valve by turning the jack handle counter-clockwise. Move the jack handle up and down sharply several times to purge any air that may have gotten into the system.
Tips
- Most jacks will have the fill plug located on the cylinder that contains the hydraulic ram. Other possible plug styles include plugs with a hex head or plugs with a hex or a square hole in the top. Remove these types with a. a hex socket, an Allen wrench, or the square end of a ratchet wrench extension bar respectively.
- Use an old toothbrush or the equivalent and some common spray solvent such as thin lubricant or penetrating oil to clean the area around the fill plug.
- Use a small funnel to minimize oil spillage and put some old newspapers under the jack when you are working since some oil may get spilled.
Warnings
- Hydraulic jack oil is available at auto parts stores. The Craftsman hydraulic jack manual strongly cautions to use only hydraulic jack oil and not to use other type fluids such as power steering fluid or motor oil.
- Never work under a vehicle supported only by a hydraulic jack. Sometimes hydraulic jacks have slow leaks that cause them to gradually lower under load. Use jack stands or ramps to support the vehicle when you are under it.
Items you will need
![Floor Floor](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71s2+S90sjL._AC._SR360,460.jpg)
- Cleaning solvent
- Large Phillips screwdriver
- Hydraulic jack oil
- “Sears Owners Manual for 3 Ton Capacity Floor Service Jack (Model 214.12300)”; Sears, Roebuck and Co.
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If you repair cars, trucks, or any other type of vehicle, a hydraulic floor jack is an absolute must for your business to be functional. Thus, it stands to reason that the floor jack should be kept in good working condition. Proper oiling is among the necessities for keeping your floor jack running efficiently.Here you will find simple instructions on how to refill your hydraulic floor jack.
Ste 1 - Find the Filler Port
The first that needs to be done before anything is to locate where the filler port is on the floor jack. The port is located in a different place on different floor jacks. However, most of the ports are usually found somewhere near the top of the jack. The filler port should be well marked as for what it is.
Step 2 - Remove the Cap and Put the Funnel in Place
Once you have found the filler port, take off the cap to the port and make sure that you put it somewhere where it won’t get misplaced or lost. To remove the cap from the filler port, use your adjustable wrench and turn the cap counterclockwise.
As soon as you have done this you need to immediately grab your funnel and place it into the opening of the filler port that the cap came out of. Make sure to hold the funnel tightly with your hand.
Step 3 - Fill the Fuel
Take the hydraulic fluid and begin to slowly pour the fluid into the funnel so as not to spill any of it on the jack or the floor. If you do spill some, make sure to clean it off the jack or the floor.
Step 4 - Replace the Cap
After you have completely filled the hydraulic floor jack, it is important that you replace the filler port cap, so as to avoid any leaking from the jack.
Step 5 - Maintain Filling Procedures
In order for your floor jack to perform at optimum ability the oil needs to be filled and changed on a regular basis. Once the hydraulic fluid begins to get low, you will immediately notice a reduction in the ease of raising a vehicle. This should be the first hint that the fluid is in need of filling. Once you see the signs, follow the steps above again to keep your jack in proper working order. It can last for years with the right maintenance.