Craftsman 3 ton jack

[Albiemanmike]

I have this Craftsman 3 ton jack I bought 15+ years ago. It has always worked well but recently it seemed like it wouldn't raise my truck as high as it used to so I put it up on my bench and started taking it apart. There are two fluid ports one underneath the pumping ram and then a screw port i assume is for checking adding fluid. I am assuming this thing just needs to be bled but I have no idea how to do that on a jack like this? I don't think there ia nything wrong with the jack I just think maybe i introduced air into the hydraulics and now i have no idea how to purge it? I can take some pics if that is any help. I don't want to by a new jack as this one is a beast and I don't see them made like this anymore. The thing must weigh at least 80 lbs. Any help will be extremely appreciated and I know you guy's will have an answer for me after reading many many threads here for days.

 

[Hiball]

The ports on the back of the unit are not for adding oil, the oil fill plug is on the reservoir, look aprox 3-4 inches in front of the release valve. The valves are the working valve and the overload, to properly bleed a jack (if that's what it needs) is to first make sure there is enough oil in the jack (oil level resting above the inner cylinder) NOT nut Full... With the valve in the release position, pump the jack 6-10 times, this will flush the valves, recheck the oil level and then simply operate the jack normally.

 

[Albiemanmike]

Thanks Hiball I will take a look at it this weekend.