Can someone help with a floor jack problem?

[larrys2020]

I have a bout a 40 year old seldom used 2 ton sears 32812160 floor jack that pumps up but you can push it down with your hand. It has no leaks I replaced the o ring on the small pump rod near the valves. and if you push it down by hand and look at that piston rod it does not move. what can be the problem?

 

[Hiball]

1. It’s 40 years old.

2. It sounds like the Ucup on the Main Ram is kaput, Tear into it and verify.

 

[larrys2020]

1. It’s 40 years old.

2. It sounds like the Ucup on the Main Ram is kaput, Tear into it and verify.

I have to use a shallow socket to get off the wheel bolt and the thing was so old it broke my 3/8" extension. I will have to order impact tools to do this. and where can I get parts if it is bad?

 

[dagofast]

See the sig line at the bottom of Hiball's post? That'd be a good place to start if you need parts. Hiball has probably forgotten more about jacks than most of us know.

I pulled apart my old Snap-on YA700 about 5 months ago. It was doing the same thing as your jack. Wanna guess what the problem was? Yep. It was a split Ucup seal. And yes, you should buy an impact socket to get the cap off of the cylinder. I tried using a big 'ol wrench with 5' of cheater pipe on it to get the cap on mine off and all I did was wear myself out pulling, bouncing, hammering and cussing. When the Amazon van dropped off the new impact socket and I hit it with my cordless impact, the cap came off so damn fast that I don't think the van was out of the neighborhood yet.

Before you re-assemble, remember cleanliness is next to godliness. And warming up that new Ucup seal with your wife's hair dryer makes if far easier to get it on the shaft and far less likely to split. Bonus points if you return the wife's hair dryer without oily fingerprints all over it.

 

[larrys2020]

Your lucky I need the impact just to get off the caster wheel bolt.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Brake fluid will swell dried seals... old old school trick. Then once your seals have restored, replace them...

 

[Wamsutta]

They got your parts!

https://www.hcrcnow.com/shop/seal-kits/product/3016

 

[retDAC]

I have a bout a 40 year old seldom used 2 ton sears 32812160 floor jack that pumps up but you can push it down with your hand. It has no leaks I replaced the o ring on the small pump rod near the valves. and if you push it down by hand and look at that piston rod it does not move. what can be the problem?

They got your parts!

https://www.hcrcnow.com/shop/seal-kits/product/3016

Hey Larry, that does seem to be the right kit in Wamsutta's link but the pdf is wrong!
Here is the correct one:
https://www.hcrcnow.com/uploads/drawings/Sears_328.12000_Hydraulic_Floor_Jack_2_Ton.pdf
I sent them an email months ago, but they have not corrected the pdf link.

NOTE: Unlike every vid and post I had seen previously, the Oil Tank (7-1) is permanently attached to the Oil Box (6-1), so don't try to take that off.

If you only have to replace the cup seal (5-12?) on the Piston Rod (5-5) and maybe 5-14 and 7-4, then leave the other stuff in the Oil Box alone.

If you are having other problems so you have to remove the Release Valve Assembly (10-0), put some Liquid Wrench or other penetrant on the threads of the Release Valve Lock Nut (10-5) and let it sit awhile before taking it off. Even if the threads do not appear corroded!

Of course the cautions and instructions stated elsewhere regarding the Safety Valve Assembly (9 series) apply. Again only remove this if you have to.

 

[Matt The Hammer]

I'll piggyback an existing thread.

My floor jack won't lower anymore once the load is off. I know there are tons of people here with great knowledge about hydraulic systems in a floor jack. I assume it's due for a rebuild as its about 20 years old.

Jacks fine. Holds fine. Lowers fine until the load is removed. After that, I have to push it down to get it lowered all the way. It's a pain at times because the jack is still in contact with the vehicle, so I can't roll it out. Once the wheels are back on the ground, the arm won't lower anymore. I have to slide under and use my leg to help push it down. Getting too old for that now.

Thanks. It's an older Torin Big Red 2 Ton

 

[Hiball]

1. Are the return springs still attached?
2. Is the lift arm centered between the frame rails or is it rubbing?
3. Are there any lube points on the center pivot?
4. Check the oil level and Bleed the jack, it might have some air in the system that is holding things up.

 

[Matt The Hammer]

Thanks Hiball. I will check all of the list. I have pumped it full of grease. And it's not rubbing. Springs would make sense and I will definitely check and bleed the oil.

 

[Matt The Hammer]

Hiball - Checked the entire list over the weekend. Everything on the list was ok. I also bled and topped off the reservoir with hyd jack oil. Still have the same issue. One thing I noticed is that my handle can rotate close to 10 full rotations. This seems more than it should. After I jack it up empty, I start turning the handle counterclockwise to release it. About one full rotation it will slightly drop the arm but no more. I tried to slightly rotate the handle each way to get it to move again without luck. From there, I can rotate it several more full counterclockwise rotations before I can't turn it anymore. The arm won't move on its own regardless. It will lower with some resistance once I put my foot onto the pad and push down.

The resistance feels like it's pushing fluid in the jack. IT's not the free fall as it was in the past.

The jack is a torin 3 ton Chinese made unit. Not sure if this is even serviceable.

Thanks for your knowledge and assistance.

 

[Hiball]

Just so we are clear, when you say “topped off the reservoir” You didn’t fill it completely full did you? Every jack is different but the reservoir can’t be completely full, A general rule of thumb is enough oil to cover the cylinder when peering thru the hole, too much oil and not enough head space can cause performance issues.

In regards to it feeling like it’s “pushing fluid” when you apply foot pressure, that tells me that there might be something restricting the flow of oil. Just to troubleshoot, operate the jack with the oil fill plug removed to rule out air issues and or a overfilled reservoir. If things don’t get better and your feel like Investigating further, I would start with the release and pull the valve/ball looking for the culprit. If nothing is found it will require further disassembly to see if the problem is lodged in the release port inside the cylinder.

 

[Matt The Hammer]

Thanks. No it wasn't filled to the rim. I look into the release valve. I pulled a diagram off line. Appreciate the help.

 

[p00p]

This week someone asked for assistance in rebuilding the same model jack [32812160] & when I arrived, they went ahead & tore it down... which led to parts not being accounted for, so now I'm going into it blind.
Where I'm hung up is at the gear assembly that goes down into the jack.
Does anyone have an assembly drawing of this particular model?
I'm suspecting it's missing a ball &/or spring that goes into the [handle side] port where the two gears turn.

 

[Hiball]

This week someone asked for assistance in rebuilding the same model jack [32812160] & when I arrived, they went ahead & tore it down... which led to parts not being accounted for, so now I'm going into it blind.
Where I'm hung up is at the gear assembly that goes down into the jack.
Does anyone have an assembly drawing of this particular model?
I'm suspecting it's missing a ball &/or spring that goes into the [handle side] port where the two gears turn.

Its pretty straight forward, if the stem at the bottom of the release assembly is flat, It utilizes a Ball in between the seat/stem. If it’s pointy, Better not put a ball in its place or not gonna be pointy anymore. (Thus no ball needed).. Lol

 

[p00p]

So, it's missing just a metal ball. In the "kit" that's online, I'm thinking it'll take the larger ball?