jack descends on its own -- replace?

[tonycarguy]

I bought a new floor jack and decided to test it. I raised the saddle 6" then placed a jug of water on it. After 4 hours it descended to the floor. I don't see any leaking hydraulic fluid around the pistons. When I used the jack to lift a car, the jack felt fine -- no sponginess or no weird noises.

Is it worth the trouble of taking this thing back? I don't have the box anymore plus it's a very heavy service jack (lots of hassle to return it)

 

[Hallmark]

Spooky! I would never trust that product with my carcass under it.

 

[spasm3]

I would check and see if it has enough oil in it. if so i would take it back. I never get under a car on a jack anyway. i jack it up and use jack stands.

 

[wallyuwl]

I'd raise the car up, put jack stands under it, and see if after a little while (how long depends on how much you want to test the jack) the car is resting on the jack stands. If it is resting on the jack stands, replace the jack. If I'm reading your post correctly, you placed weight on the part of the jack itself that lifts. IMO this is an invalid test of if the jack is working right.

You should never get under a car unless it is secured by jack stands anyway, so whether or not the jack can hold a car up for 4 hours or not is kind of pointless anyway.

 

[tonycarguy]

Originally Posted By: Hallmark
Spooky! I would never trust that product with my carcass under it.


I don't get under a car supported by just a jack anyway so I'm not worried about that. I'm more interested in knowing if bleeding down is normal or a symptom of impending failure. I had another jack that bleeds down but another one that doesn't (it could hold a car overnight)

 

[ltslimjim]

This SAME thing happened to me with a BRAND NEW Torin clone(the Red blah, sold at Pep Boys); and it depressed on me when I needed the vehicle raised during a re-grease of some ball joints on my front-end, it was up momentarily and descended twice in a row(I double checked) so I took it back!

 

[Viggen]

Sounds like the release valve (seal) (to lower it) is faulty. I'd take it back and buy another one.

 

[ltslimjim]

^Probably all it is, still good to return it.

 

[Michael_P]

No stands, no body parts under the car. Mine has slowly descended for years. It stops after the weight is off of the jack. I put as many stands as I can put under the car. I never take the jack off, because it is a safety net. It's probably a leaky needle and seat valve.

 

[Viggen]

Good idea to have it as a back up to the jack stands!

I usually do two other things . I always have a person nearby when I am working under the car this way, and I have a cell phone right next to me that is within reach if anything does happen.

 

[aznboi24]

Originally Posted By: Viggen
Good idea to have it as a back up to the jack stands!

I usually do two other things . I always have a person nearby when I am working under the car this way, and I have a cell phone right next to me that is within reach if anything does happen.


This I do too.

 

[exranger06]

I would probably replace it. I once had the whole front end of my Honda supported by my Craftsman Professional jack for 3 or 4 days straight and it never moved an inch.

 

[tonycarguy]

I bled the jack yesterday and it was able to hold up a weight overnight without descending. I think because it was a new jack, air got in the hydraulic fluid from the rigors of shipping (even though it didn't feel spongy before). So I won't need to return it

 

[ltslimjim]

Okay, good deal. Interesting resolution.