Hydraulic press issues..

[BellyUpFish]

Maybe someone can help.. I've got a HF 20T press I'm having issues with the bottle jack..

Basically, I can get about 2 good pulls on the handle before the compression piston gets what feels like vacuum bound. It springs back and has no compression..

I've tried loosen the main nut, pumping the cylinder a plentiful amount of times and it works for about 2-3 more pulls and gets bound again.. Pump a bunch of times, I may get 2-3 more good pulls..

I just noticed a leak around the piston so I'm guessing a seal/o-ring has gone bad?

Anyone experience this?

 

[Milton Shaw]

Sounds like you are low on oil. There is usually a screw about half way up the cylinder that is the fill hole for oil. Use jack oil to fill it. The seal probably needs to be replaced to stop the leak but some oil will put you back in business.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Excellent. I'll give that a shot.


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[gorilla]

Make sure that the ram is all the way down when you fill it. If you over fill it you will have quite a mess.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Sweet. Just grabbed some jack oil. Gonna add some in a few.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Well that idea was a bust. It's full..

This press has been a joke since the word go..

I guess I just got a bad bottle jack..

 

[mrobins297aaa]

make sure the shut off (or pressure release valve, not sure what its called) is tight before you pump the handle i had the same thing with mine until i realized it needed a little more than hand tight, just a little extra with the channel locks and mines been ok since.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

The bottle jacks that come on these are pretty poor. The piston seals leak and it's not hard to start foaming the oil with the leaks resulting in no pumping. Replacing the seals will help, but really, it's better to replace the bottle jack.

There happens to be a simple solution- an air over hydraulic jack replacement that is a drop in fit.

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-air-hydraulic-bottle-jack-69593.html

It is even on sale right now for around $60 in stores. I sorely tempted to go get one to replace mine since all that pumping by hand gets old fast.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Yeh, it's toast.. I'm just going to replace the bottle jack..

I've been looking at that air jack.

Wonder if I could get it for $60 online? HF is 2 hours from me.

 

[Steroblan]

I would replace the o-ring first. If it has air in it, it can't build pressure. You can always buy a new (good) jack later.

 

[BellyUpFish]

The bottle jacks that come on these are pretty poor. The piston seals leak and it's not hard to start foaming the oil with the leaks resulting in no pumping. Replacing the seals will help, but really, it's better to replace the bottle jack.



There happens to be a simple solution- an air over hydraulic jack replacement that is a drop in fit.



http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-air-hydraulic-bottle-jack-69593.html



It is even on sale right now for around $60 in stores. I sorely tempted to go get one to replace mine since all that pumping by hand gets old fast.

I may be headed down this road.. One thing I was looking at is the lack of holes in the base. Shouldn't the jack be secured to the press?

I guess a plate could be drilled and welded to the bottom of the bottle?


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[Vegaman_Dan]

I may be headed down this road.. One thing I was looking at is the lack of holes in the base. Shouldn't the jack be secured to the press?

I guess a plate could be drilled and welded to the bottom of the bottle?


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The original appears to be a floater on the base. I don't think it's going anywhere, but you could weld on nuts or pieces of scrap steel around it in three places to keep it centered.

 

[Just Primer]

I also have a HF press, and I had to put in my own bottle jack, an old one from sears, in the first year. Still it has worked pretty well, for pressing out bearings and control arm bushings. I only buy a few things there now. The first year it came to town, I was there all the time, until I learned the 10% that is actually worth buying.

 

[BellyUpFish]

This press has soured me.. Support from HF has been terrible.

I need a 2 ton hoist and had planned on getting it there.. I think I'll just go elsewhere now..

I've had several issues.. I do have some decent items, but I'm hesitant to spend over $25 on any single item..

That said, the reviews on the air jack seem to be good, so I might give it a shot..

 

[spoonsports86]

hmm this got me thinking i am planing getting one of these cause i need to redo all the bushings and wheels bearings on my project car

 

[BellyUpFish]

The press overall seems to be fine..

My cross brace isn't level, I can live with that, or make a new one..

The plate the bottle jack mounted to isn't level at all nor was it drilled correctly.. I wound up welding the holes up and redrilled it.

Now my bottle jack is toast..

Oh well.. I've been Freighted.. LOL

 

[sz0k30]

Vegaman_Dan

Where have you seen that jack on sale for $60.00? I still only see them for $120.00 and right now they have 20% off coupons which would put it at $96.00.

 

[gipraw]

This press has soured me.. Support from HF has been terrible.

I need a 2 ton hoist and had planned on getting it there.. I think I'll just go elsewhere now..

I've had several issues.. I do have some decent items, but I'm hesitant to spend over $25 on any single item..

That said, the reviews on the air jack seem to be good, so I might give it a shot..

I have one of the air jacks and have been happy with it. I use it on my lift bridge for a quick way to get jacks stands under the axle. That is all I have used it for, but have been very pleased with it for that purpose.

 

[TheOtherChris]

I consider HF equipment to be more of a"kit" that needs to be properly assembled and by "properly" I mean also correcting the design/manufacturing deficiencies.

My HF 20T press cross piece (where the arbor plates sit) was warped and I had to weld a shim under one corner to get it to sit square to the ram. The ram plate had so much slop that I had to weld shims (I used 5/8" fender washers) in to keep it square to the frame as it slides. The bottle jack was total free float (no mounting holes) so I just tack welded it the the ram plate.

NOW it works the way I need it to and I didn't have to pay the premium for a ready to use quality press.

I am also interested in the 20T air over hydraulic jacks as a upgrade to the hand pump because it will greatly speed up broaching keyways for some of my other projects.

 

[BellyUpFish]

My 20T sounds just like yours, TheOtherChris.