I would like to try to tune up my floor jack before giving up on it and
buying a new one. It works, in that it lifts my vehicles and holds the
weight with no problems, but it seems like it takes more pumps than it
used to. Each pump only raises the jack about a 1/2" and the handle has
to be pushed almost to the ground to get even that much.

As can be seen in the link below, there are 3 plugs associated with
the cylinder:

A screw plug, covered by a clear plastic disk. I think that may be
the air bleeder plug.

A hex head plug, which I believe is the fill hole.

A rubber plug in the middle of the cylinder whose purpose I do not
know.

I watched 3 different videos on how to bleed a floor jack. Each
one showed a different method. One said to remove just the air bleeder
plug, another said to remove both the air bleeder and the fill plug and
the last one said to just push the rubber plug to the side and the air
will rush out. (They all said to loosen the handle and pump the jack to
bleed it.)

What is the correct procedure to bleed (and possibly fill) this jack?

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/q...pslv5ccgq3.jpg

Thanks!

On 03/06/2016 08:18 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I would like to try to tune up my floor jack before giving up on it and
buying a new one. It works, in that it lifts my vehicles and holds the
weight with no problems, but it seems like it takes more pumps than it
used to. Each pump only raises the jack about a 1/2" and the handle has
to be pushed almost to the ground to get even that much.

As can be seen in the link below, there are 3 plugs associated with
the cylinder:

A screw plug, covered by a clear plastic disk. I think that may be
the air bleeder plug.

A hex head plug, which I believe is the fill hole.

A rubber plug in the middle of the cylinder whose purpose I do not
know.

I watched 3 different videos on how to bleed a floor jack. Each
one showed a different method. One said to remove just the air bleeder
plug, another said to remove both the air bleeder and the fill plug and
the last one said to just push the rubber plug to the side and the air
will rush out. (They all said to loosen the handle and pump the jack to
bleed it.)

What is the correct procedure to bleed (and possibly fill) this jack?

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/q...pslv5ccgq3.jpg

Thanks!




Pressure valve first

Fill plug second

On Sun, 6 Mar 2016 18:18:00 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I would like to try to tune up my floor jack before giving up on it and
buying a new one. It works, in that it lifts my vehicles and holds the
weight with no problems, but it seems like it takes more pumps than it
used to. Each pump only raises the jack about a 1/2" and the handle has
to be pushed almost to the ground to get even that much.

As can be seen in the link below, there are 3 plugs associated with
the cylinder:

A screw plug, covered by a clear plastic disk. I think that may be
the air bleeder plug.

A hex head plug, which I believe is the fill hole.

A rubber plug in the middle of the cylinder whose purpose I do not
know.

I watched 3 different videos on how to bleed a floor jack. Each
one showed a different method. One said to remove just the air bleeder
plug, another said to remove both the air bleeder and the fill plug and
the last one said to just push the rubber plug to the side and the air
will rush out. (They all said to loosen the handle and pump the jack to
bleed it.)

What is the correct procedure to bleed (and possibly fill) this jack?

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/q...pslv5ccgq3.jpg

Thanks!

Not sure how to help exactly. Is this a concern in really cold
weather? Better in warm weather?

On Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 10:39:27 PM UTC-5, philo wrote:
On 03/06/2016 08:18 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I would like to try to tune up my floor jack before giving up on it and
buying a new one. It works, in that it lifts my vehicles and holds the
weight with no problems, but it seems like it takes more pumps than it
used to. Each pump only raises the jack about a 1/2" and the handle has
to be pushed almost to the ground to get even that much.

As can be seen in the link below, there are 3 plugs associated with
the cylinder:

A screw plug, covered by a clear plastic disk. I think that may be
the air bleeder plug.

A hex head plug, which I believe is the fill hole.

A rubber plug in the middle of the cylinder whose purpose I do not
know.

I watched 3 different videos on how to bleed a floor jack. Each
one showed a different method. One said to remove just the air bleeder
plug, another said to remove both the air bleeder and the fill plug and
the last one said to just push the rubber plug to the side and the air
will rush out. (They all said to loosen the handle and pump the jack to
bleed it.)

What is the correct procedure to bleed (and possibly fill) this jack?

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/q...pslv5ccgq3.jpg

Thanks!




Pressure valve first

Fill plug second

On Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 10:39:27 PM UTC-5, philo wrote:
On 03/06/2016 08:18 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I would like to try to tune up my floor jack before giving up on it and
buying a new one. It works, in that it lifts my vehicles and holds the
weight with no problems, but it seems like it takes more pumps than it
used to. Each pump only raises the jack about a 1/2" and the handle has
to be pushed almost to the ground to get even that much.

As can be seen in the link below, there are 3 plugs associated with
the cylinder:

A screw plug, covered by a clear plastic disk. I think that may be
the air bleeder plug.

A hex head plug, which I believe is the fill hole.

A rubber plug in the middle of the cylinder whose purpose I do not
know.

I watched 3 different videos on how to bleed a floor jack. Each
one showed a different method. One said to remove just the air bleeder
plug, another said to remove both the air bleeder and the fill plug and
the last one said to just push the rubber plug to the side and the air
will rush out. (They all said to loosen the handle and pump the jack to
bleed it.)

What is the correct procedure to bleed (and possibly fill) this jack?

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/q...pslv5ccgq3.jpg

Thanks!




Pressure valve first

Fill plug second

Could you be a lot more specific? As noted in my OP, I made assumptions as to
which plug is what. I'm not even sure I got that right.

What is the exact procedure from start to finish?

Thanks.

On 03/07/2016 05:56 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 10:39:27 PM UTC-5, philo wrote:
X

Pressure valve first

Fill plug second

Could you be a lot more specific? As noted in my OP, I made assumptions as to
which plug is what. I'm not even sure I got that right.

What is the exact procedure from start to finish?

Thanks.



Unless anyone here says different, just open them both .

On Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 11:18:22 PM UTC-5, Oren wrote:
On Sun, 6 Mar 2016 18:18:00 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I would like to try to tune up my floor jack before giving up on it and
buying a new one. It works, in that it lifts my vehicles and holds the
weight with no problems, but it seems like it takes more pumps than it
used to. Each pump only raises the jack about a 1/2" and the handle has
to be pushed almost to the ground to get even that much.

As can be seen in the link below, there are 3 plugs associated with
the cylinder:

A screw plug, covered by a clear plastic disk. I think that may be
the air bleeder plug.

A hex head plug, which I believe is the fill hole.

A rubber plug in the middle of the cylinder whose purpose I do not
know.

I watched 3 different videos on how to bleed a floor jack. Each
one showed a different method. One said to remove just the air bleeder
plug, another said to remove both the air bleeder and the fill plug and
the last one said to just push the rubber plug to the side and the air
will rush out. (They all said to loosen the handle and pump the jack to
bleed it.)

What is the correct procedure to bleed (and possibly fill) this jack?

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/q...pslv5ccgq3.jpg

Thanks!

Not sure how to help exactly. Is this a concern in really cold
weather? Better in warm weather?

I don't have enough data to answer that. I used it yesterday when it was
in the low 40's F. The last time I used was last November, when it
was in the low 60's.

As far as my aging mind recalls, I've been unhappy with the performance for
some time now, but never really tracked the actual range of motion vs. lift,
nevermind the ambient temperature. I don't know if it's any worse than it
has been or if I'm just finally annoyed enough to do something about it.

On Sun, 6 Mar 2016 18:18:00 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I would like to try to tune up my floor jack before giving up on it and
buying a new one. It works, in that it lifts my vehicles and holds the
weight with no problems, but it seems like it takes more pumps than it
used to. Each pump only raises the jack about a 1/2" and the handle has
to be pushed almost to the ground to get even that much.

As can be seen in the link below, there are 3 plugs associated with
the cylinder:

A screw plug, covered by a clear plastic disk. I think that may be
the air bleeder plug.

A hex head plug, which I believe is the fill hole.

A rubber plug in the middle of the cylinder whose purpose I do not
know.

I watched 3 different videos on how to bleed a floor jack. Each
one showed a different method. One said to remove just the air bleeder
plug, another said to remove both the air bleeder and the fill plug and
the last one said to just push the rubber plug to the side and the air
will rush out. (They all said to loosen the handle and pump the jack to
bleed it.)

What is the correct procedure to bleed (and possibly fill) this jack?

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/q...pslv5ccgq3.jpg

Thanks!

Every one I've monkeyed with the rubber plug was what you removed to
"fill it". Let the jack all the way down, pop the rubber plug out. If
it's like mine it will be on "top" so to speak when the jack is flat
down on the ground. Pour hydraulic jack oil into the opening till
it's filled. Put the rubber plug back on. Best to leave it a little
underfilled to allow for heat expansion. If it's too full and it
warms up it might pop the rubber plug off. That should get you going
again. The problem is, where did the missing hyd fluid go? It will
eventually leak out again sooner or later. If it's a slow leak and
you don't mind a little oil dripping on the concrete/ground you are
good to go.

I think one of those other "plugs", is an adjustment for max pressure
so that you don't get it at full extension, keep pumping anyway, and
blow the seals out.

On Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 9:13:59 PM UTC-5, Ashton Crusher wrote:
On Sun, 6 Mar 2016 18:18:00 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I would like to try to tune up my floor jack before giving up on it and
buying a new one. It works, in that it lifts my vehicles and holds the
weight with no problems, but it seems like it takes more pumps than it
used to. Each pump only raises the jack about a 1/2" and the handle has
to be pushed almost to the ground to get even that much.

As can be seen in the link below, there are 3 plugs associated with
the cylinder:

A screw plug, covered by a clear plastic disk. I think that may be
the air bleeder plug.

A hex head plug, which I believe is the fill hole.

A rubber plug in the middle of the cylinder whose purpose I do not
know.

I watched 3 different videos on how to bleed a floor jack. Each
one showed a different method. One said to remove just the air bleeder
plug, another said to remove both the air bleeder and the fill plug and
the last one said to just push the rubber plug to the side and the air
will rush out. (They all said to loosen the handle and pump the jack to
bleed it.)

What is the correct procedure to bleed (and possibly fill) this jack?

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/q...pslv5ccgq3.jpg

Thanks!

Every one I've monkeyed with the rubber plug was what you removed to
"fill it". Let the jack all the way down, pop the rubber plug out. If
it's like mine it will be on "top" so to speak when the jack is flat
down on the ground. Pour hydraulic jack oil into the opening till
it's filled. Put the rubber plug back on. Best to leave it a little
underfilled to allow for heat expansion. If it's too full and it
warms up it might pop the rubber plug off. That should get you going
again. The problem is, where did the missing hyd fluid go? It will
eventually leak out again sooner or later. If it's a slow leak and
you don't mind a little oil dripping on the concrete/ground you are
good to go.

I think one of those other "plugs", is an adjustment for max pressure
so that you don't get it at full extension, keep pumping anyway, and
blow the seals out.

I'll give the rubber plug a try. Thanks.

As far as a leak, I don't see any fluid on the garage floor where it is
stored nor do I see any leakage while in use. However, there was oil in
the area that I took the picture of, all the way from the flat area to the
front of the cylinder. I clean it up for the photo. It was pretty old oil
with some dirt mixed, but this was the first time I took the cover plate
off to see what was going on, so I don't know how long the oil was there
or where it came from.

I bought the jack many years ago on Craigslist and it was old then. I
definitely got my $60 out of it, so if filling it doesn't work, I'll
consider another used one or maybe go new this time. In the meantime,
I'll try to keep an eye on the area I cleaned up to see if any more
oil shows up.

Thanks again.

On Tue, 08 Mar 2016 19:13:55 -0700, "Ashton Crusher"
wrote:

Every one I've monkeyed with the rubber plug was what you removed to
"fill it". Let the jack all the way down, pop the rubber plug out. If

I agree. I have always filled them at the rubber plug.