Walker jack find and rebuild

[Cameronl]

I was out for a long run yesterday. While still about three miles from home, I pass a jack at the end of the driveway with a "Free, needs work" sign on it. It looked like an oldie. I didn't have any way of getting it home, so I kept running. The jack stayed on my mind, though, with thoughts of rebuilding and painting.

So when I finally got home, I threw on a dry shirt, grabbed the car keys and headed back, hoping someone didn't beat me to it. Luckily, it was on the end of long dead end, so not too much drive by traffic, just folks headed to the forest at the end of the road. It was still there.

Walker J-122 Series A. I don't know much about it, but I've been reading up on jack rebuilds here, and now can't wait to get started!

Some pics:

 

[ADSR]

Congrats! That's a quality built jack. And the best price for one at that!

 

[Richard Cranium]

congrats, You can't beat the price. Good luck

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

Great jack, best jack I have ever owned.

 

[469 runner]

Free is the biggest, YOU ****!

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

YOU ****! Congrats on the score and good luck on the rebuild

 

[Cameronl]

Thanks, all. The sign was right, it needs work. only lifts a few inches. Didn't try it with any load greater than my skinny-*** son.

 

[Buckgnarly]

You didn't carry it home...

 

[cubfarm 1]

Your grandkids will thank you someday!

 

[CNGsaves]

Send a PM to HiBall asking for the "skinny" on the jack if he doesn't see this thread and chime in.

Take your time and rebuild it properly. That baby is a LIFETIME Keeper !!

Getting that great jack for Free is absolutely earned . . . YOU **** !!!

 

[Cameronl]

Bringing this thread back from the dead nine years later. After putzing with it on and off then putting it to the side while I work on a million other projects, I finally got back to it. Biggest hurdle not surprisingly was the gland nut. Now I'm in the process of breaking it down and cleaning. Everything looks good. Now I'll order a rebuild kit and reassemble (and maybe paint). Parts are currently sitting in a solvent bath.

 

[honcho]

Bringing this thread back from the dead nine years later. After putzing with it on and off then putting it to the side while I work on a million other projects, I finally got back to it. Biggest hurdle not surprisingly was the gland nut. Now I'm in the process of breaking it down and cleaning. Everything looks good. Now I'll order a rebuild kit and reassemble (and maybe paint). Parts are currently sitting in a solvent bath.

Congratulations for getting started 9 years later! Some of us never get started on such projects :-(

 

[MWitte]

I always thought it was neat that Walker puts the lift range on their data tags. That one looks to have a lift range of 3 3/4 inches to 20 inches.

I picked up a (third) long frame Walker jack in 2020 for a rebuild project when there was talk of sending people home, but our work was deemed essential so I have not gotten to that one yet.

 

[Cameronl]

Rebuild kit is on its way. Meanwhile, issues and observations:

Gland Nut/Tank Nut
Most videos and tutorials for these Walker jacks show a single giant nut. On mine they are separate.


I fabbed a tool to take the gland nut off and pulled the piston out. I tried to use another tool I cobbled together to get the tank nut off but no bueno. It wouldn't budge. But then I thought, I don't see a need to pull the tank off for the rebuild. So I'm leaving it on. The outer nut JUST holds the tank to the base as far as I can tell, as opposed to the one-nut version that does double duty. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Expansion Plug Removal
Those suckers where harder to get out than I thought. I drilled a small pilot hole and twisted in a small screw and tried to yank them out. Only managed to pull the screws back out. So I used some small easy-outs. Broke one, but finally was able to pop them out. The pressure valve screw head was close enough to the top that I managed to ****** it up a bit in the center with the easy-out, but there's still enough slot intact for a driver head. Speaking of which...

Pressure Valve Removal
As noted with other write-ups, a screwdriver ain't gonna cut it. I didn't have one with a big enough head to do the job anyway, so I busted out the manual impact driver...and couldn't find the bits. Had to order a new set. A few days later, USPS drops off a package, and I had the valve out after just a couple of whacks.

Safety Valve Removal
I remembered to tighten it down and count the # of turns before removal so I can return it to the same setting afterwards. Maybe I tightened too much because I removed the screw, and the spring followed, but no cup and check ball. I assume they are down in the hole (It's hard to see what's there). So after cleaning the parts I got out, and flushing the hole well, I put it back together. Perhaps after rebuilding, I'll loosen the setting and put a little pressure on it by starting to jack something up and see if that can push it out for cleaning. Or just leave it alone. I'll never use it to jack up anything that's going to push it to its limit. Mostly just jacking up an old Beetle.

That's where I am now. I haven't taken the actual pump assembly apart yet. I'll tackle that later this week while I wait for the kit delivery. Also contemplating painting it while I'm at it.