Is my jack broke?

[shaun]

I have one of the Harbor Freight alum. jacks - http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47246. It has served me well for several years except recently. It puked some fluid a few months back and since then the rise from each pump has been very small.

I bought some new fluid, opened the high pressure bolt, oops! Closed it, read the manual - http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/47000-47999/47246.pdf and followed the 'Oil Replacement' section and the 'Purging Air from the Hydraulic System' section. Now when I pump the handle the saddle raises but when I raise the handle for the next pump the saddle lowers. This process goes on and on, over and over up down, up down. It never gets any higher.

There is nothing in the manual to help troubleshoot this and I've tried all sorts. I don't think its broke...

Any ideas?

 

[Junkman]

Grab the saddle, and lift it with the valve open.. Then have someone close the valve, and let go of the saddle. When you lower the jack the next time, it should burp out the air. This is what I did with my jack and it worked. Yours might be different..

 

[goodfellow]

It puked some fluid a few months back and since then the rise from each pump has been very small.

Why did it leak? If it started leaking by itself, then there is very good chance you have a bad seal. If it started leaking while you were lifting, then again you most likely have blown a seat or a seal.

If you just lost fluid while trying to refill and bleed, then take "Junkman's" advice and bleed according to his directions.

He's very old you know, so he's "burped" a lot of jacks in his day

Sorry Junk, couldn't resist!

 

[Junkman]

I'm so old, that I even burped kids like you when you were still wet behind the ears..................







Sorry goodfellow, couldn't resist!

 

[shaun]

I messed with it again and couldn't figure it out. Took it back to HF and explained the issue, they replaced it!

I've had it for 5+ years and never bought the extended warranty... So I spent an hour in there and $70 on more stuff!