my Craftsman floor jack just quit lifting

[rfuerst911sc]

I have a 3.5 ton Sears floor jack. This has been a good jack with no issues but recently out of the blue it will not lift with weight on it. There is no visible leaks and it jumps right up on the first pump with no weight on it. So is it low on fluid? Blown seal/seals? Maybe it's angry I just bought a lift Any suggestions on what to check are appreciated.

[Rick Lee]

I suggest a bleed.

[legion]

Welcome to the club!

How old is the jack?

[tabs]

Well dam ya all will just have ta send it back to China...

[URY914]

Do a search. Failing floor jacks are very popular here.

[cab83_750]

Originally Posted by URY914

Do a search. Failing floor jacks are very popular here.

.....especially the Sears (3 news ones and died on me) No more Sears jack for me.

[KNS]

Same thing recently happened to my 3 ton Costco jack. I'm going to try and bleed it but after doing a little research I am now sticking with El Cheapo (but sturdy) jacks from now on.

Maybe someday I'll buy a $400 American made jack but for now...

[trekkor]

Replace the o-ring under the pivot.

add fliud and bleed.

I fixed mine for .89 cents.


KT

[URY914]

That new o-ring will soon wear out. The problem is with the cylinders and the cheap "rough" finish that wears out the o-rings. China can't seem to teach the 10 year old kids making these things to get it right.

[trekkor]

It lasted about three years until it started weeping out the seal.


What's a favorite brand of floor jack?

KT

[Rick Lee]

Can someone post a diagram of where this seal is? My HF aluminum jack has been great for three years of heavy use. I'd like to be able to repair it when this seal goes.

[s_wilwerding]

My Craftsman jack is also leaking - I've got one of the nicer, more expensive ones, the one that lifts to the chassis on the first pump.

Hate to drop another $150, being as how the jack is only about three years old. If someone could post instructions on a seal fix, that would be great.

[legion]

Craftsman has about a half-dozen different manufacturers currently making jacks for it. What goes for one model isnt' necessarily the same on a different model.

[DanielDudley]

My three ton Craftman is about twenty years old, and works like a champ.

[craigster59]

You might want to switch to a Levitra jack. But if your 911 stays in the air more than 4 hours, you should consult a mechanic,

[MichiganMat]

Change the seal. Its $0.75 for 2 and will take 2 minutes to replace.

Don't toss it. Throwing away tools, even foreign made ones, is un-American

Instructions:

1. The little piston is what pumps the oil, its attached to the brackets that your "pump pipe" slides into. Take the brackets off so you can get access to the piston.
2. Remove the piston from the cylinder, don't try to unscrew anything
3. using a hook or an alen wrench, reach into the cylinder and pull out the o-ring. Don't try to take it all apart, it won't work
4. Take the o-ring to ACE hardware or your fav hardware store, match it with some new rings
5. Install new ring
6. Enjoy.

[trekkor]

That's the way to do it!

( I use Motul in place of the fluid it came with )


KT

[s_wilwerding]

If you don't have Motul, what other sort of fluid would work? Gear oil?

[MichiganMat]

I like heavy weight oil, put left over Swepco in mine

[pwd72s]

My 30 year old Napa jack still functions well...knocking on wood now. (edit) Similar to this, but maybe NAPA buys from China these days as well?
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=NLE&PartNumber=7916425&Description=Floor+Jack