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Help me fix my Craftsman Pro Floor Jack

AngryBird

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
7
A few years ago, I bought a Craftsman 4 Ton Low Profile Service Jack at sears. It had a really beefy frame and looked like it was great quality. At the time, there weren't 93 reviews with 2/5 stars on average on the sears website.

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-4-ton-low-profile-high-lift-service-jack/p-00950168000P


First of all, I've read they sticky and many other threads about how to fill and bleed floor jacks. None of them seemed to address a "fast up" jack. I tried the bleeding procedure in the Operators Manual with no effect. There is a sticker on the jack that tells you a different way to bleed it than what the manual tells you (go figure).

I've been talking to some other engineers here at work and based on what I described to them, they told me to keep bleeding it (but I've tried this for hours... literally). I fill up the reservoir all the way and put the plug back in. When I try to bleed it right after filling, it blows oil out the plug when I push it open slightly with a screwdriver. Here is what I have been doing to bleed it:

1. Open release valve
2. Pump handle quickly several times.
3. Crack open the oil plug slightly to let air out. I always get a little air out on this step. Right after I fill it up (with the ram fully retracted), this step blows oil and air out of the fill plug.
4. Close release valve.
5. Pump handle until the lift arm reaches maximum extension and continue to pump several times with my foot on the saddle.
6. Open release valve and let saddle go to the floor.
Close release valve and check for proper pump action.
7. Crack open the oil plug slightly to let air out. (I always get a little air out on this step too.)

I do this ten times or so and check the jack to see if its working. It will still not lift a load. The fast up function works fine, but once it starts to lift the load, it pushes it up slightly(1/2" - 3/4") and then lets it right back down. I can sit there and pump it forever with the release valve closed and without raising the load up.

Any other suggestions or bleeding techniques I could try?
 
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AngryBird

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
7
Major, Thanks for the reply. I read the sticky before posting. I didn't see anything in there that I had not tried short of taking the jack apart. I need some help beyond what is in there unless I missed something.
 

uncle john

Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2014
Messages
9
Location
southeast mi
hi angry bird.i have a 3 1/2 ton jack,with the same problem. did you get it fixed?.mine never worked. never got around to taking it back. now my walker is broke too.looks like we will have to buy a new power unit assembly. if you have the operaters manual, there is a part # for it. my part # is 5954.
 

Hiball

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Apr 30, 2009
Messages
14,029
Location
Missery
@AngryBird

Unfortunately Hydraulic Jack seals fail, Not all Jacks can be fixed by "bleeding", I would suggest inspecting the Main Ram Seal, Which will obviously require dismantling the Hydraulic Unit.
 
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LB-1911

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Joined
Sep 24, 2011
Messages
5,742
Location
Northwestern Il.
hi angry bird.i have a 3 1/2 ton jack,with the same problem. did you get it fixed?.mine never worked. never got around to taking it back. now my walker is broke too.looks like we will have to buy a new power unit assembly. if you have the operators manual, there is a part # for it. my part # is 5954.

just bought a new power unit assembly. it was $123.00. I hope this one works!


5954
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/part-number/5954/0009/214.html
 

Hiball

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 30, 2009
Messages
14,029
Location
Missery
For what it's worth.. I would not recommend making a $125 investment into another power unit, I'm fairly certain this unit utilizes the 2 piece piston seal design, and it is problematic to say the least. Id also wager that the same core design can be bought in a various amount of color schemes for probably less with coupons.
 

454ragtop

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Joined
Mar 24, 2008
Messages
5,011
Location
Carver, MA
I too thought it strange you'd want to invest that much into a jack that never worked from the get go. 2/5 stars and multiple problems doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling about longevity for this jack. Might think about fixing the Walker instead........
 
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AngryBird

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
7
I ended up buying a harbor freight on sale for $94. Then while i was rotating tires at Discount this weekend I asked what they use. Turns out they use a $250 American Forge and Foundry made in China. I was told they rarely if ever have problems with them.
 

goforride57

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
300
Location
Upstate NY
I have the same jack and all I can say is garbage. First one I had taken back and had warrantied. Second one took a dump just outside the warranty. I replaced a few seals and seems to work for now, but, it just seams like a piss poor design. Carrying the Craftsman Profesional name and being a 4 ton unit, I thought I was buying a damn good jack that would last my lifetime. Nope. The smaller 3 ton unit they sell is better.
 
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AngryBird

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
7
Yeah I have their standard 3 ton too. I've had it about 12 years and have had no issues. Just bled it for the first time the other day and it works like new again. I threw the other craftsman away and bought a Pittsburg on sale for $94. I have low expectations so I won't be disappointed. It needed bleeding but after that it works great. Maybe it will last. I hated throwing the craftsman away because it was really nice other than the hydraulic unit. Oh well. Not spending $125 to fix it when I can buy a new jack for $94.
 

michiganman18

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
174
I ended up buying a harbor freight on sale for $94. Then while i was rotating tires at Discount this weekend I asked what they use. Turns out they use a $250 American Forge and Foundry made in China. I was told they rarely if ever have problems with them.

Its funny I asked them as well and got the same thing. Im not sure if that feels better or not. Maybe they get them rebuilt regularly or go through enough of them. I found that interesting as well. Or how do they define problems.
 
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