Torin floor jack leaking...can it be saved?

[jayemm]

If you are not finding oil on the carboard, then I wouldn't suspect the seals on the piston. At least not initially. Two things though : 1) have you been bleeding the air out by pumping the handle with the valve open (handle turned counterclockwise and not screwed down tight clockwise ) to purge air and circulate fluid internally. You may have dirt between one of the check balls (ball bearing) and it's seat causing leakdown from fluid returning to the reservoir, thus try to flush dirt by pumping handle. 2) from previous jacks I owned, the proper fluid level is level with top horizontal edge of the piston rod as viewed down through the filler hole. You want fluid to just cover the rod and have some air space above it. How far are you filling it up?

Another thing, go back up the page to post #24 and look at the second parts diagram. That's pretty much what you should have except only 1 pump piston and not two as shown. Look at item #21. It's the little ball that is forced against a machined seat in the aluminum housing when you tighten the handle prior to lifting. If that ball has dirt or the seat is distorted from really cranking the handle tight, then fluid will leak back to the reservoir. Really this just closes off the return path to reservoir when the jack is to be raised and opens the path to reservoir when lowering. You can remove this valve and ball easily and check for dirt (maybe a metal chip from manufacturing got smashed against the seat) .

 

[TechGuy8]

If you are not finding oil on the carboard, then I wouldn't suspect the seals on the piston. At least not initially. Two things though : 1) have you been bleeding the air out by pumping the handle with the valve open (handle turned counterclockwise and not screwed down tight clockwise ) to purge air and circulate fluid internally. You may have dirt between one of the check balls (ball bearing) and it's seat causing leakdown from fluid returning to the reservoir, thus try to flush dirt by pumping handle. 2) from previous jacks I owned, the proper fluid level is level with top horizontal edge of the piston rod as viewed down through the filler hole. You want fluid to just cover the rod and have some air space above it. How far are you filling it up?

Yes. I unlocked the reservoir by turning the handle counterclockwise before pumping.
I will make sure it is at correct level after checking the check the small ball bearing and cleaning.

Another thing, go back up the page to post #24 and look at the second parts diagram. That's pretty much what you should have except only 1 pump piston and not two as shown. Look at item #21. It's the little ball that is forced against a machined seat in the aluminum housing when you tighten the handle prior to lifting. If that ball has dirt or the seat is distorted from really cranking the handle tight, then fluid will leak back to the reservoir. Really this just closes off the return path to reservoir when the jack is to be raised and opens the path to reservoir when lowering. You can remove this valve and ball easily and check for dirt (maybe a metal chip from manufacturing got smashed against the seat) .

The first diagram on post #24 applies to my jack as my jack does not have the big round short tubes on both side of the oil reservoir. The oil reservoir has only 2 screws on the top of the reservoir vs the first diagram. I will remove the part#25 and check on part#24/#23 on the first diagram. Clean and remove any debris inside that hole.

 

[reiserx]

Does anybody know the model number of the jack in post #3 balane posted. I have that jack and it just stopped working after about a 30 year run. I'm hoping I can still get the rebuild kit for it.