Is it worth it to repair/rebuild bottle jacks?

[LoneGunman]

I have a 20 ton Hein Werner bottle jack, the release leaks unless you make it extremely tight, it also will not lower unless I open the release and stand on it. It was low on fluid, I filled it but it still has the same issue. Anyone have any idea whats wrong with it, are they worth repairing?

[Uncle Buck]

I have a 20 ton Hein Werner bottle jack, the release leaks unless you make it extremely tight, it also will not lower unless I open the release and stand on it. It was low on fluid, I filled it but it still has the same issue. Anyone have any idea whats wrong with it, are they worth repairing?

I am no expert, but every piece of hydraulic equipment I own (of the USA stuff) I have successfully rebuilt. Brands worth the effort/time would include older Hein Warner, Walker, Lincoln, Blackhawk, and OLDER USA mfg rebadges of quality brands from Sears and the like. Just cause it is old, doesn't mean it was made in the states, particularly with Sears. My rebuilds include bottle jacks, floor jacks, end lift jacks, and my porta power. I bought and rebuilt every one for a fraction of what they would have cost new. I have never owned a new piece of hyd equipent.

I am sure someone will follow and post Elroys documented rebuild of his Hein Warner floor jack. I bet his opinion would echo mine. Now roll up your sleeves and get to crackin! :thumbup:

[goodfellow]

You bet!!! Those old jacks are great. Rebuild it and it'll last for decades. Take the release valve out and check the seal. There's usually an "O" ring in modern designs, or a neoprene washer in older models. There is also a ball under the valve. If the ball gets corroded or seated too hard, it will deform over time and cause leakage.

If the seals are gone, then just replace them with an "O" ring that can be purchsed at the HW store. If the ball is deformed, then you're better off getting a replacement valve kit.

[LoneGunman]

"My rebuilds include bottle jacks, floor jacks, end lift jacks, and my porta power."

The porta power is high up on my "must acquire soon" list, I keep trying to talk myself out of the $90 HF kit and wait for a better used one to pop up.

[jjkrjh]

I have a 20 ton Hein Werner bottle jack, the release leaks unless you make it extremely tight, it also will not lower unless I open the release and stand on it. It was low on fluid, I filled it but it still has the same issue. Anyone have any idea whats wrong with it, are they worth repairing?

Every 20-ton bottle jack I've seen has acted like you are saying. The one that I have on the shop press has big springs to help it return and I still have to help them to get it to go up.When pressing the release has to be tight or it leaks off.The part of "extremely tight" might be a issue, on the release.

[Uncle Buck]

"My rebuilds include bottle jacks, floor jacks, end lift jacks, and my porta power."

The porta power is high up on my "must acquire soon" list, I keep trying to talk myself out of the $90 HF kit and wait for a better used one to pop up.

Porta power was bought used for $5 at a swap meet cause it was leaking, it was so cheap I took a chance on it even though it was a hard used import job. The set was totally complete. I took it apart and started trying to locate a rebuild kit for it in the pre WWW days and failed to find a kit. I did the only thing I could which was match the o rings and the others I could find matches for and reassembled it. That was a good 20 years ago and it still works like a champ!

[jimvannoy]

Porta power was bought used for $5 at a swap meet cause it was leaking, it was so cheap I took a chance on it even though it was a hard used import job. The set was totally complete. I took it apart and started trying to locate a rebuild kit for it in the pre WWW days and failed to find a kit. I did the only thing I could which was match the o rings and the others I could find matches for and reassembled it. That was a good 20 years ago and it still works like a champ!


Yep, usually all it takes is a couple o rings and they are good for another 20 or 30 years.

[Elroy]

I am sure someone will follow and post Elroys documented rebuild of his Hein Warner floor jack. I bet his opinion would echo mine. Now roll up your sleeves and get to crackin! :thumbup:

Elroy is far from an expert but he would think that cylinder is well worth rebuilding. You need to be careful not to over fill the reservoir. It's a sealed system and you need a certain amount of air space.

This is the link Buck was referring to:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18055

Go to the very end and you'll find a few links to some parts sources.

[LoneGunman]

My Hein Werner is made in taiwan, Ill see what it will cost to rebuild, if it's less than a HF 20 ton bottle jack I'll do it if not I'll toss it.

[Uncle Buck]

My Hein Werner is made in taiwan, Ill see what it will cost to rebuild, if it's less than a HF 20 ton bottle jack I'll do it if not I'll toss it.

This being the case I would have to agree. On the other hand, even if you simply replace it and opt against putting money into it you could take this as an opportunity to see if you could resurrect this jack with nothing more than in stock o rings and gland packings found in the plumbing departments at REAL HDW stores, not the big boxes, you will find nothing but frustration there. Find a small Ace or True Value mom and pop or their equal.

This is a good place to learn a bit with nothing to lose. I have taken dial calipers and my handful of o rings and packings and done just this several times and met with success.

The value is not so much in the jack you may, or may not fix, but more in the lessons learned through your efforts. If nothing else consider it an opportunity to learn that will give you greater confidence to dig into the old Walker or Blackhawk USA made you find in the future. This is how a guy learns this stuff, or at least how I did.

My 2 bits. :thumbup:

[LoneGunman]

Thanks Uncle Buck, what you said makes perfect sense. Hydraulics is one of my very weak areas when it comes to mechanical things, as you said, this will give me some free practice.

[sberry]

Its one thing to replace a couple seals but if the cyl or piston is rusted or epitted forget it, really difficult to get parts as well as pricey.

[Uncle Buck]

Its one thing to replace a couple seals but if the cyl or piston is rusted or epitted forget it, really difficult to get parts as well as pricey.

Even those can be saved, but you start having to go to heroic measures such as turning a new ram, or perhaps boring and sleeving the bottle. I must admit though you really have to be really determined by the time you get to that point, and in the end it really just is not worth all the effort. Yes I made that mistake on the first old Walker long frame I ever did, but I would not do it again.

With all that said you may take ten hyd units apart and never find any problems except o rings, cup washers, wipers, or gland packings that are shot. I think unless a jack has taken on water at some point it would be fairly unlikely you would find much water /rust on the ram or in the bore.

[Elroy]

In Elroy's experience the O-Rings are the easy part. If you want a top notch education in O-Rings, Elroy would suggest this "little" down load:

http://www.parker.com/literature/ORD%205700%20Parker_O-Ring_Handbook.pdf

292 pages jam packed with all kinds of info. You can take glad dimensions and work backwards to identify the proper O-Ring.

Parker also has lots of information about "hydraulic" seals at their sight.

http://www.parker.com/portal/site/PARKER/menuitem.75b3c0354ff8851afa93ebde76108a0c/?vgnextoid=b126981ef31a0110VgnVCM10000048021dacRCR D

The cost on these parts is small. Like pennies. What you'll end up having trouble with is finding sources and many times you end up having "minimum" orders levels.

It's really rather simple finding these parts. Just takes a few calls. It's no big deal. You can end up burn a bunch of time. Finding a complete kit with all the parts eliminates the discouragement factor

[jocono]

I bought this jack last weekend from home depot to jack my Travel trailer. It worked fine getting it up, but once I released it, it went down but would not go all the way. I can push it down, but it will creep back up about 3 inches.
Anyone know a quick fix or should I just take it back.
Thanks,
Joe

[Hiball]

I bought this jack last weekend from home depot to jack my Travel trailer. It worked fine getting it up, but once I released it, it went down but would not go all the way. I can push it down, but it will creep back up about 3 inches.
Anyone know a quick fix or should I just take it back.
Thanks,
Joe

Sounds air bound, pull the vent and listen for air to release and then check the fluid level. Or just take it back.....

[lilredex]

Chances are pretty good that it has taken on some air. It needs to be extended, then inverted for a few minutes, then open the valve and push it closed. You may have to do this a few times. If it has a side filler, the oil should be up to that level when the jack is standing up and closed. If you do do fill it on its side do not overfill.

[jocono]

Thanks guys. I bled the air out and it works fine now. Need to put a little oil back in but beats taking it back.
Joe