hello all. I got a craftsman 50145 floor jack Chinese leaking from around the pump. Been reading and reading the last few weeks and can't seem to find another having the same issue. Read hiball FAQ but didn't see this issue mentioned.
Replaced a pump o ring yesterday and it appears to no have made any difference, so I decided to post the symptoms and what I have done and maybe someone with similar issues can chime in.
First off I have read these Chinese crapsman floor jacks are not the best. The one I got is probably 15 yrs old and I think it acted up most of the time I owned it. Not helping the issue is I didn't really use it often and it would sit for years between uses.
So it leaks from the plunger area as far as I can tell. However it leaks only when not in use. I bleed and bleed until I get no pssssssss sound at the fill plug. Other times I would bleed with the fill plug off. Bleed until oil doesn't overflow from fill port and no air bubbles come out. Then I use the jack and push the fill plug with a screwdriver after use and the thing pops off due to air pressure.
The jack lifts up fine. Doesn't feel spongy. Lifts to like 19 1/2" before safety valve opens. Will hold the load with no noticeable lowering even after 12 hours under load. No leaks at this time.
Using autozone Jack oil.
But after I lower it, it seems like the reservoir is pressurized and is forcing oil back through the check valve then past the o ring in the plunger.
If I push the fill plug to get the psssssssss then the leak past the plunger stops.
So my guess is the high side of the jack is ok, but something is going on with the low side. Sucking in air from somewhere? But where? The plunger? If so I would expect to see oil leaking during the compression stroke of the plunger, but I don't. Also, if it was sucking in air I would expect it to feel spongy which it doesn't. Lifts up the front end of my buggy in 8 strokes or so, no leaks, not spongy. The trouble arises after I release the jack and store it. Oil starts to oose out the plunger slowly.
I replaced the plunger o ring with one from an o ring kit. Looked like a match as best as my eye could see. Fit in the plunger groove and was a little snug on the plunger OD so I thought I found my problem. Replaced o ring, bled, jacked up load. Let sit an hour. Released. Then started leaking again. Btw the load I am lifting isn't anywhere near the 3.5 ton rating on the jack.
Before I chuck this crapsman Jack I figured I'd post to make sure I didn't miss something. Will start looking on CL for rebuildable us made jack in the meantime.
If the issue is with the check valve then I'll probably scavenge the hardware off this POS and chuck it. Haven't messed with them by the way.
Also tried Bigfoot bleed method too. Didn't make a difference as far as I can tell. Read this will help dislodge any stuff that might get into the check valve.
Sorry for long post. Thks for everyone's help.
Replaced a pump o ring yesterday and it appears to no have made any difference, so I decided to post the symptoms and what I have done and maybe someone with similar issues can chime in.
First off I have read these Chinese crapsman floor jacks are not the best. The one I got is probably 15 yrs old and I think it acted up most of the time I owned it. Not helping the issue is I didn't really use it often and it would sit for years between uses.
So it leaks from the plunger area as far as I can tell. However it leaks only when not in use. I bleed and bleed until I get no pssssssss sound at the fill plug. Other times I would bleed with the fill plug off. Bleed until oil doesn't overflow from fill port and no air bubbles come out. Then I use the jack and push the fill plug with a screwdriver after use and the thing pops off due to air pressure.
The jack lifts up fine. Doesn't feel spongy. Lifts to like 19 1/2" before safety valve opens. Will hold the load with no noticeable lowering even after 12 hours under load. No leaks at this time.
Using autozone Jack oil.
But after I lower it, it seems like the reservoir is pressurized and is forcing oil back through the check valve then past the o ring in the plunger.
If I push the fill plug to get the psssssssss then the leak past the plunger stops.
So my guess is the high side of the jack is ok, but something is going on with the low side. Sucking in air from somewhere? But where? The plunger? If so I would expect to see oil leaking during the compression stroke of the plunger, but I don't. Also, if it was sucking in air I would expect it to feel spongy which it doesn't. Lifts up the front end of my buggy in 8 strokes or so, no leaks, not spongy. The trouble arises after I release the jack and store it. Oil starts to oose out the plunger slowly.
I replaced the plunger o ring with one from an o ring kit. Looked like a match as best as my eye could see. Fit in the plunger groove and was a little snug on the plunger OD so I thought I found my problem. Replaced o ring, bled, jacked up load. Let sit an hour. Released. Then started leaking again. Btw the load I am lifting isn't anywhere near the 3.5 ton rating on the jack.
Before I chuck this crapsman Jack I figured I'd post to make sure I didn't miss something. Will start looking on CL for rebuildable us made jack in the meantime.
If the issue is with the check valve then I'll probably scavenge the hardware off this POS and chuck it. Haven't messed with them by the way.
Also tried Bigfoot bleed method too. Didn't make a difference as far as I can tell. Read this will help dislodge any stuff that might get into the check valve.
Sorry for long post. Thks for everyone's help.