Rebuilding old Floor Jack - question about leather seals

[shopnut]

I'm just about finished painting and rebuilding an old 4-ton long frame Walker floor jack. It is an awesome jack and has been in the family for quite some time now. I bought a rebuild kit for it which came with the original style leather cup seals for the rams.

Just wondering if anyone knows how long these type of seals should be soaked in oil before attempting to install them.

Thanks.

 

[T56 Impala]

Never rebuilt a jack before so take this for what its worth. I have done some food industry work. Some things still use leather for seals and hard woods for bearings. We would soak seals for a good 48 hours. We were soaking in vegitable oil. Not sure if dino based oils react (absorb) at a different rate or not.

 

[Franz©]

I'd just soak the leather seal long enough to allow the leather to slip easily into the cylinder. Let the seal finish soaking inside of the cylinder and form fit. Otherwise you may have real fun, especially if it's a leather cup on the ned of a piston.

 

[eschoendorff]

I'd just soak the leather seal long enough to allow the leather to slip easily into the cylinder. Let the seal finish soaking inside of the cylinder and form fit. Otherwise you may have real fun, especially if it's a leather cup on the ned of a piston.

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