help with engine hoist jack

[tbone1004]

I purchased a 2ton Ex-Cell W-1000 engine hoist on craiglist list last fall knowing that the jack was bad. Got it for $50 so couldn't complain. Found a replacement jack at HF and thought everything was hunky dory. Well, I am going to buy an engine later today and come to find out the ram that I bought doesn't have the two bolt holes on the bottom of it and shock of all shocks, there is a cutout where the bolt holes could be drilled. Do I have any real options or am I SOL? I tried to refill the jack and just keep hearing a slurping in the piston as it goes up and down. Pulled the piston and the seals looks fine but it almost looks like it is leaking where the cylinder meets the base.

Unfortunately the flat base looks as if it was put there when they welded the tabs so I don't think I can remove it to try and replace with a round bottom jack easily.

Any suggestions?

 

[justanengineer]

If youve got a lathe and a welder theres all manner of possibilities for fixing it, if not youre going to have to weigh the cost of a new one vs fixing the old. Sorry I cant help with the actual functional issue without taking a better look, but as for making the cylinder fit your hoist, Id just make an adapter plate. Depending on the bolt holes currently there, you might be able to make a bolt-on adapter but my guess is likely itd have to be welded on.to either the hoist or the cylinder

JMHO, but Im very wary of imported hydraulics as Ive seen all manner of stupid things wrong with them from the factory. Id much rather rebuild an old domestic cylinder than buy a new import one any day.

 

[tbone1004]

My only real hesitation with trying to rebuild it stems from not having any model numbers or anything on the jack itself and with Ex-Cell now being out of business, no way to find out what rebuild parts I am going to need to do it...
I think it might be bleeding somewhat out of the bottom where the sleeve meets the base, but will have to take it apart and see. The piston bit itself looked ok but the bleed screw wasn't straight when I removed it which is not something that I have ever seen.