So, you purchased a floor jack a long time ago, right? And now it has stopped working though other tools in your garage are working for a much longer time. For a newbie who faced this problem the first time, your mind is probably exploding with questions like how you will use it now? And how can you rebuild it? Everything you need to know about how to rebuild and repair your floor jack, you will get to read below. But first, let’s get over the bookish definition of the floor jack.
A floor jack is a hydraulic jack that can be used by hand and has a cylinder mounted horizontally, making it very low-profile. However, most automobile mechanics prefer to utilize a jack to raise big vehicles, such as trucks and buses. But is it possible to rebuild it?
Rebuilding floor jack – How to rebuild a floor jack?
Floor jacks aren’t complicated. If you have a floor jack that doesn’t work, you should think about fixing it and getting it to work again. Most jacks are meant to be thrown away as soon as they break. But some floor jacks can be rebuilt.
Step No.1
A floor jack has bottle inside filled with hydraulic fluid, so remove the bottle before you start. It could help if the jack wasn’t. Remove the drain plug on the jack to drain the oil. This is usually the plug on top of bottle if it was on its base. Once the oil has been drained, you should clean and put back the drain plug.
Step No.2
Remove the handle set. This is held in place by a few screws. You can pull the pump piston out from under the handle as soon as you have it off. This can be done by hand. But you might want to use a vise to hold the jack in place.
Step No.3
Remove the valve by unscrewing it. There is usually a ball or pin under the cap to control how much water comes out of the top of the bottle. The pencil magnet can be used to get this thing off. Keep the ball and the cap together.
Step No.4
Take the overload valve out of the way and turn it off. Often, this valve is under a screw and near the release valve. Screw or bolt it out of place. Then use the pencil magnet to get rid of the two balls and springs under it. Dividers, plates, and guides may also be under the table’s surface. You should write down the order in which you remove these. This will help you when you have to change them.
Step No.5
To get the tank nut out, use the pipe wrench. You can slide all the parts apart once this is turned off. When you’re done, write down the order to remember which piece went inside.
Step No.6
While everything is apart, look at all the o-rings and seals for pinches, cracks, or broken parts. O-rings and screws should be replaced with new ones. When you remove the o-rings, don’t use the side that makes the seal as leverage. This could damage the surface and make it hard for the new o-ring to seal properly. To enhance the initial seal of your new soft o-rings and washers, you may soak them in hydraulic oil.
Step No.7
When you put the piston back together, follow the directions you made when you took it apart. Slide the piston back into the bottle, then tighten the tank nut so it doesn’t move around as much.
Step No.8
Change out the balls and the springs in the overload valve. People usually start with the smallest ball and work their way to the smaller spring. Then they move on to the bigger ball and bigger spring. If you have more parts to remove, look at your instructions. When you finish, put the cap back on the top of the hole.
Step No.9
By dropping the ball or pin into the release valve, you can put it back in place. Then, you can screw or bolt the release valve back together.
Step No.10
Use the bolts you removed previously to remove the pump handle, reinstall the pump piston and secure it in place.
Step No.11
Open the oil reservoir cap, fill the jack with oil, and let any air out of the existing system. To get rid of the air, open the valve and pump the handle hard several times. Then, close the valve, pump the jack-up, open the release valve, and let it go. Repeat this until the jack is at its full height. Test the jack very carefully to look for any signs of leaks.
Testing
Before putting any weight on the floor jack, you should test it to make sure it works well. Lift the arm a few times to ensure the pressure doesn’t fall off, then let it go again. Place the jack under the car and start to lift it. Make sure that the pressure can hold the weight before you use it.
Conclusion
Floor jacks are a great piece of equipment that mechanics and drivers use all the time when they need to fix things under the car. However, using the floor jack without the continuous need to replace it is also essential. By closely following the steps described above, you can easily rebuild your floor jack without any help.
