is my floor jack bleeding down?

[The motor guy]

I've noticed that the handle comes back up slowly on its own when I jack things up. I don't know if maybe I'm just not getting it tight enough since the rubber handle at the end of the handle slips and makes it hard to tighten good enough. Frequently I see people use vice grips on the handles to make them easier to tighten I suppose? I know when I put in more effort to tighten it then it stays put. I always put something under the jack to catch it if it does fail.

 

[tomcat27]

does the jack actually lower? put a jack stand under there and jack the car up another 1/4". then check it in a few hours and see if it dropped. the handle on one of mine raises itself - I guess it's spring loaded; and in my case, it is not leaking down.

 

[oldhp]

The check valve could be bypassing fluid causing handle to raise.

 

[bbhero]

You are a common sense and wise man.... Always using a solid based firm support is ALWAYS the right way to go. My Jack is always lowered upon my 6 by 6 salt treated wood I use as my support. I may not be tightening it down quite enough to keep it from doing this but maybe it is not working correctly either. Again, you are very wise to do what you're doing. I know a man died under his car 16 yrs ago. Really sad indeed. And unnecessary. Just Keep being safe

 

[DoubleWasp]

There has never been made a hydraulic lift that does not leak down. Some just do it less than others.

Don't put something under the jack, put something under the frame, and sit the weight there.

A jack can lose the frame if it fails, and then it won't matter what's under the jack.

 

[SOHCman]

That's why you always use jack stands as well.

 

[Traction]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I've noticed that the handle comes back up slowly on its own when I jack things up. I don't know if maybe I'm just not getting it tight enough since the rubber handle at the end of the handle slips and makes it hard to tighten good enough. Frequently I see people use vice grips on the handles to make them easier to tighten I suppose? I know when I put in more effort to tighten it then it stays put. I always put something under the jack to catch it if it does fail.

Why not just remove the rubber from the handle? If it takes excessive force, or vice grips to tighten the handle to keep it from leaking down, I would start shopping for a new jack.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: SOHCman
That's why you always use jack stands as well.


Depends on what you're lifting, sometimes a 4x4 block of wood is all you need.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: Traction
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I've noticed that the handle comes back up slowly on its own when I jack things up. I don't know if maybe I'm just not getting it tight enough since the rubber handle at the end of the handle slips and makes it hard to tighten good enough. Frequently I see people use vice grips on the handles to make them easier to tighten I suppose? I know when I put in more effort to tighten it then it stays put. I always put something under the jack to catch it if it does fail.

Why not just remove the rubber from the handle? If it takes excessive force, or vice grips to tighten the handle to keep it from leaking down, I would start shopping for a new jack.


Sounds to me the problem is I'm not tightening it enough. I'll just take the rubber handle off. I put 2" pipe insulation on the handle all the way up to just before the rubber handle to prevent scratching paint, so between the insulation and the slipping handle it's hard to get a decent normal grip. I'm a firm believer in if you have to force it then something is probably wrong, so I end up being more gentle with things than I probably should.

 

[SOHCman]

Granted, but I thought we were talking about lifting a vehicle, and a jack-stand is the tool for the job IMHO, but I'm not judging if you want to use a 4x4.

 

[mk378]

Like others said, the handle coming up is a leaking check valve in the pump section. It has nothing to do with the lowering valve.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: mk378
Like others said, the handle coming up is a leaking check valve in the pump section. It has nothing to do with the lowering valve.


So the jack is failing then?

 

[mk378]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
So the jack is failing then?

As long as it remains a slow leak it is still usable. Like others said, ANY hydraulic jack should be used only for the initial raising. Then, immediately support the vehicle with jack stands.

It may be possible to service the valves, especially if it is not some total cheap knockoff.

 

[SOHCman]

^+1

 

[SHOZ]

Any tips on rebuilding a floor jack? I have a craftsman one that leaks oil. Still works OK though.

 

[jkasch]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I've noticed that the handle comes back up slowly on its own when I jack things up. I don't know if maybe I'm just not getting it tight enough since the rubber handle at the end of the handle slips and makes it hard to tighten good enough. Frequently I see people use vice grips on the handles to make them easier to tighten I suppose? I know when I put in more effort to tighten it then it stays put. I always put something under the jack to catch it if it does fail.


My HF jack did that when it was brand new. I followed the directions for bleeding it and it's been perfect. Have you tried bleeding it and adding a little fluid if necessary.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: jkasch
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I've noticed that the handle comes back up slowly on its own when I jack things up. I don't know if maybe I'm just not getting it tight enough since the rubber handle at the end of the handle slips and makes it hard to tighten good enough. Frequently I see people use vice grips on the handles to make them easier to tighten I suppose? I know when I put in more effort to tighten it then it stays put. I always put something under the jack to catch it if it does fail.


My HF jack did that when it was brand new. I followed the directions for bleeding it and it's been perfect. Have you tried bleeding it and adding a little fluid if necessary.


Do you bleed it every time you use it? I bleeded it the last time I used it cause I hadn't used it in about a year or so, but didn't bleed it after using it the following days after that. Also, how do I add fluid? I see a Philips screw on it next to the orange adjustment knob. Do you remove the screw and fill it up to the top?

 

[jkasch]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Originally Posted By: jkasch
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I've noticed that the handle comes back up slowly on its own when I jack things up. I don't know if maybe I'm just not getting it tight enough since the rubber handle at the end of the handle slips and makes it hard to tighten good enough. Frequently I see people use vice grips on the handles to make them easier to tighten I suppose? I know when I put in more effort to tighten it then it stays put. I always put something under the jack to catch it if it does fail.


My HF jack did that when it was brand new. I followed the directions for bleeding it and it's been perfect. Have you tried bleeding it and adding a little fluid if necessary.


Do you bleed it every time you use it? I bleeded it the last time I used it cause I hadn't used it in about a year or so, but didn't bleed it after using it the following days after that. Also, how do I add fluid? I see a Philips screw on it next to the orange adjustment knob. Do you remove the screw and fill it up to the top?


For the HF jack, it's part of the set-up instructions and I've only had to do it once.

Bleeding
1. Loosen the fill screw.
2. Turn the handle counter clockwise to open the release valve.
3. Pump the handle up and down quickly several times to purge the air from the system.
4. Tighten the fill screw.

Adding oil
1. Remove the fill screw.
2. Add hydraulic fluid into the fill screw hole slowly until the oil reaches the top of the oil fill hole. NOTE: Do not touch the handle when adding hydraulic oil.
3. Replace the fill screw.

I don't know for certain that all brands are the same, but this procedure worked for my little trolley jack as well. (different brand)

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: bbhero
My Jack is always lowered upon my 6 by 6 salt treated wood I use as my support.


Salt treated wood ?

 

[jkasch]

Originally Posted By: jkasch
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Originally Posted By: jkasch
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I've noticed that the handle comes back up slowly on its own when I jack things up. I don't know if maybe I'm just not getting it tight enough since the rubber handle at the end of the handle slips and makes it hard to tighten good enough. Frequently I see people use vice grips on the handles to make them easier to tighten I suppose? I know when I put in more effort to tighten it then it stays put. I always put something under the jack to catch it if it does fail.


My HF jack did that when it was brand new. I followed the directions for bleeding it and it's been perfect. Have you tried bleeding it and adding a little fluid if necessary.


Do you bleed it every time you use it? I bleeded it the last time I used it cause I hadn't used it in about a year or so, but didn't bleed it after using it the following days after that. Also, how do I add fluid? I see a Philips screw on it next to the orange adjustment knob. Do you remove the screw and fill it up to the top?


For the HF jack, it's part of the set-up instructions and I've only had to do it once.

Bleeding
1. Loosen the fill screw.
2. Turn the handle counter clockwise to open the release valve.
3. Pump the handle up and down quickly several times to purge the air from the system.
4. Tighten the fill screw.

Adding oil
1. Remove the fill screw.
2. Add hydraulic fluid into the fill screw hole slowly until the oil reaches the top of the oil fill hole. NOTE: Do not touch the handle when adding hydraulic oil.
3. Replace the fill screw.

I don't know for certain that all brands are the same, but this procedure worked for my little trolley jack as well. (different brand)


P.S. I just noticed the other set of instructions that came with the jack says to fill the fluid to 3/16" above the inner cylinder. Not sure which is correct or if it matters.