Rebuilding a floor jack will give you several challenges that seem almost unbeatable at each occurrence. Thus, reconstructing your old floor jack is more complicated than refilling or bleeding. That’s why it requires a few hours, which is necessary for rebuilding a jack.
If you want to rebuild your old floor jack and do not know it, we are here to encourage you to reconstruct your floor jack quickly. Many users ask, can a floor jack be rebuilt or how to rebuild a floor jack? So this guide will enable you to do it by yourself, or you can consult with a professional.
If your workshop floor jack is no longer lifting things, you can try rebuilding it. It is common for jacks to be disposable and thrown away as soon as they break. However, high-quality floor jacks can be overhauled rather than replaced.
As many manufacturers are offering rebuilding kits, let’s explore the procedure of can a hydraulic floor jack be repaired. So keep reading to get the process.
Can A Floor Jack Be Rebuilt- A Step-Wise Repairing
Floor jacks are simple instruments, so beginners and professionals need them to lift heavy vehicles. When a floor jack is not operating correctly, you can repair it if you have the skill to fix it. That’s why we have simplified the process of learning floor repairing skills.
Therefore, it would be terrific if you had the right tools to do your job. The following is the step-by-step guide from which you can learn how to repair a floor jack.
Step 1- Check The Weight Limit Of Your Floor Jack
First, identify the weight limit of your floor jack. You can confirm it from the jack manual that came with it. After that, you have to know the weight of your car that you can get from the driver’s door panel.
Besides, please do not take your vehicle with your floor jack that can’t lift it because you may harm yourself or your property.
Step 2- Clean Your Floor Jack
Every professional or beginner works on their floor jack to lift their vehicles. So it is necessary to clean it before working over it. If any debris gets into the hydraulic fluid, it can bring damage to the inside of the unit. Always apply store rags to clean the system before you open it.
Step 3- Remove Plug From The Unit
Due to rust or dirt in the system, your lifting machine would not work efficiently. You should search for the rubber plug over the top of the unit and employ a screwdriver to pry it up carefully. When your jack plug evolves impaired, you must buy a new one to put it on later.
Step 4- To Drain The Old Hydraulic Fluid
Put a bucket under the floor jack, remove the drain plug, and turn it, so the oil drains out completely. Once the unit is empty, look inside to ensure that there isn’t any more debris that requires cleaning. After draining the oil, you have to clean it and then reinstate the drain plug.
Step 5- Remove The Handle Assembly
After draining completely, you must remove the jack handle assembly. You will notice a few bolts that conceal the handle assembly.
Therefore, when you take it off, now you should pull the pump piston out from beneath the jack handle. You can do it manually without effort, though secure the jack with a vise.
Step 6- Unscrew The Release Valve
You can remove the release valve by unscrewing it. So you will find a ball or pin to balance flow beneath the lid or cap. You can release it using the pencil magnet and maintain the ball and lid together.
Step 7- To Release The Overload Valve
Now you should release the overload valve. Therefore, you will spot this valve, which is usually beneath a screw and near the release valve. Next, you can free the screws or bolts which are holding it. And then, apply the pencil magnet to release the two balls and springs beneath.
Also, under it, you may see dividers, plates, and guides. As you remove these, please note the order it freed them. It will help you when you replace them.
Step 8- To Remove The Tank Nut
Now you have to remove the tank nut while using a pipe wrench. As you remove it, the piston will slide out, and you can slide apart all the pieces. Always look inside to confirm if any part is remaining inside to reassemble it later.
Step 9- Examining All O-Rings And Replacement
During the disassembly, inspect all the O-rings and seals for pinches, cracks, and breaks. So you must replace all the old washers and O-rings with new ones. When releasing the O-rings, you should not use the side that can forge the seal, which may impair the surface.
Similarly, it may also block the new ring from closing perfectly. Adding hydraulic fluid to the new soft O-rings and washers will improve their original seal.
Step 10- To Reassemble The Piston
In this step, you must reassemble the piston following how you drew it up during the removal process. You should ensure that you have tightened the tank nut after securing the piston inside the bottle.
Step 11- Replace All The Springs And Ball Inside The Overload Valve
Now, in this stage, after completing the reassembling of the piston. Now you should install a new set of balls and springs inside the overload valve. In most cases, the small ball goes first, then the smaller spring, followed by the bigger ball and the bigger spring.
So you must do it according to the orders you noted when you removed them if you have extra parts. Then you should put the cap over the hole.
Step 12- Replace All Inside Ball In Release Valve
Next is the restoration of the release valve. You must reinstate the ball or pin in the release valve by sliding it into position. After that, you will need to replace the bolt or screw holding the release valve.
Step 13- To Push The Pump Piston
After this, you should push the pump piston back into place under the handle. And you will replace the handle assembly using the bolts you removed before to secure it firmly.
Step 14 – Refill The Jack With New Hydraulic Oil
Next, you must open the oil reservoir and pour new fluid in with the help of a funnel to avoid fluid loss. But make sure you refill the jack with quality Oil.
Floor jacks vary in size, so you will need to use a different amount of jack oil for filling. It would be terrific if you immediately refilled it with the 5W-30 motor oil as a substitute in the correct proportion.
Step 15- To Bleed The System
Now you have to bleed the excess air from the system. For bleeding the air, you must open the jack release valve and then pump the handle quickly many times. You should repeat this procedure until the jack attains its maximum height.
Step 16–Go Under The Test Station
After successfully replacing the fluid and bleeding, the system, and having no other issues. Then, you must carefully examine it following the test for any evidence of leakage. And being cleaned with a clean cloth, you should test your jack to lift the vehicle.
But, make sure you have tested your floor jack several times before putting any substantial load on it. Then, place the jack under your vehicle and lift it. Congratulations on finishing the job and learning how to rebuild a floor jack!
Conclusion
To cut the story short! After comprehensively studying this blog, you will have to get the answer: how to rebuild a floor jack? And you will be an expert in how you can restore your old floor jack after following the above procedure.
Therefore, you can flush it inside with a solvent, letting it dry completely, and fill it with new quality hydraulic jack fluid. It might be worth a crack. You should use only hydraulic jack fluid. Other lubricants like motor oil or brake oil can create problems. So it can make the seals swell.
Whether you have a bottle or hydraulic floor jack, we have made it easy for you in the above discussion. So your query about can a floor jack be rebuilt or how to repair a floor jack is solved now. As a result, you can apply the above method to rebuild your old jack. You must use the above practice for your jacks, especially when they are old and needs restoration.
