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Floor Jack Won't Work In Cold

F

foolishpride

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Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
343
Location
Southwestern Ohio
Went to use my 20-year old Sears floor jack to put my dollies under my bass boat, and it wouldn't pump up. It would raise when I pumped the handle, but it would fall quickly back down in between strokes. I had this problem once last winter, when it was very cold.

I've never had a problem with the jack in warmer weather. I ended up taking a small propane torch, and heated the hydraulic cylinder up. The jack worked fine after that. Hiball, if you see this, does this sound like a rebuild candidate, or is this an easy fix? Thanks!
 
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kc-steve

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Jun 22, 2010
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Kansas City
Sounds like the fluid is leaking past the internal seals to me. You might try taking it apart since you really haven't got anything to lose in doing so. Then replace the o-rings with some from a hardware store. Take the old ones and match them up.

Most of Sears jacks are made by different overseas manufacturers. So I think just replacing the o-rings is about all you can hope for before taking it to the dump. Just my amateur opinion on the matter. :)

The worst thing that can happen is that you might gain some experience in dismantling a jack. And always be sure to use jack stands. :)

Steve
 
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H

Hiball

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Apr 30, 2009
Messages
14,027
Location
Missery
foolishpride said:
Went to use my 20-year old Sears floor jack to put my dollies under my bass boat, and it wouldn't pump up. It would raise when I pumped the handle, but it would fall quickly back down in between strokes. I had this problem once last winter, when it was very cold.

I've never had a problem with the jack in warmer weather. I ended up taking a small propane torch, and heated the hydraulic cylinder up. The jack worked fine after that. Hiball, if you see this, does this sound like a rebuild candidate, or is this an easy fix? Thanks!
Click to expand...

What part of using a Torch did you think was a good Idea? LOL.... It could be numerous things but Cold weather is Hard on Floor Jacks, Especially Yasui designed models. What kind of Oil are you using? Do you have a Picture of your Jack? Color? I can tell you that Import jacks of 20+ years ago are Hands down better than what you can buy today so Fixing it is in your best interest. I have a details "Import Tutorial" in the sticky section that get you well on your way. Most of the Older Imports used the thicker series Oring and you cant always find them Locally but if you exhaust your options give me a shout with some meaurements and ill Fix you up.
 
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F

foolishpride

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
343
Location
Southwestern Ohio
Hiball said:
What part of using a Torch did you think was a good Idea? LOL.... It could be numerous things but Cold weather is Hard on Floor Jacks, Especially Yasui designed models. What kind of Oil are you using? Do you have a Picture of your Jack? Color? I can tell you that Import jacks of 20+ years ago are Hands down better than what you can buy today so Fixing it is in your best interest. I have a details "Import Tutorial" in the sticky section that get you well on your way. Most of the Older Imports used the thicker series Oring and you cant always find them Locally but if you exhaust your options give me a shout with some meaurements and ill Fix you up.
Click to expand...

I'll try to get a picture up later. It's 2 ton, and it's gray in color, with a black handle. I've never changed the fluid in it, so whatever they put in it 20 years ago is what's still in it. It's either manufactured in Japan, or Taiwan, can't remember which. It looks just like these photos, only mine's gray, not blue.
 

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H

Hiball

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Joined
Apr 30, 2009
Messages
14,027
Location
Missery
foolishpride said:
I'll try to get a picture up later. It's 2 ton, and it's gray in color, with a black handle. I've never changed the fluid in it, so whatever they put in it 20 years ago is what's still in it. It's either manufactured in Japan, or Taiwan, can't remember which. It looks just like these photos, only mine's gray, not blue.
Click to expand...


Yeah.. thats your typical Yasui designed Jack. The Hydraulics on those jacks is designed to be Loose, Its very possible with 20 years on the Clock that the Pump doesnt have enough Suction to Pull the thicker Oil that you are encountering during the Colder Weather. Id say after 20 years its time to freshen things up a bit, Find my tutorial and get busy this off season.
 
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