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Replacing seals in a floor jack

Started by _judgelj_ , Aug 06 2014 02:32 PM

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#1 _judgelj_

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Posted 06 August 2014 - 02:32 PM

Just curious about fixing a leaky car jack, and before i receive the 'its not safe, buy a new one' lecture, just know that i already have a new jack. Im not about to go use it to lift my hilux up over my face, it is just a bit of a side project. 

 

The jack is a very solid vintage type, with an aluminium specifications plate riveted to the face. Ive already pulled it apart and replaced the o rings inside the bottle, but it still leaked fluid. The o rings were just standard types out of an assortment box. Are these the wrong type? Are their companies that specialise in it? 

 

Thanks


#2 MustardGTR

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Posted 06 August 2014 - 08:21 PM

I just rebuilt a trolley jack for the same reason. Mine was leaking where the rod exits the bottle, but replacing the o-ring was just half the issue as the rod finish was ordinary (bright bar only and not hard chromed). I put the rod on the lathe and polished it with very fine emery paper and now good as new.

Also the O-ring needs to something like Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubber (HNBR)


#3 _judgelj_

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Posted 07 August 2014 - 01:50 PM

Yeah exact the same problem. The shaft seemed pretty good but i wouldnt think it was causing the leak. I know for a fact the original o-rings were bad because they had gone flat, but the replacements weren't as wide and im guessing the wrong type like you have outlined. How did you go about getting new o rings? 


#4 TerrA LX

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Posted 08 August 2014 - 09:11 AM

I had a jack rebuilt once by a reputable hydraulic mob who specialist in these type of pump rams etc, it lasted 2 1/2 years, cheaper to just buy a new one every few years and throw it away.


#5 MustardGTR

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Posted 08 August 2014 - 10:59 AM

How did you go about getting new o rings? 

 

I went to the local hydraulic shop for the o-ring (Pirtek). They seal them individually as well as kits.


#6 _judgelj_

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Posted 08 August 2014 - 11:36 AM

True, but then again depends on how much someone charges. What did something like that cost you? Sounds expensive. If It's only a matter of replacing the seals, which is super easy to do (i've already done it), i just need to find the right seals and do it myself.

 

Plus this jack is vintage and super heavy duty (2 person lift), and super impractical, but i love it because it belonged to my grandfather. Anyway even if not fixable ill still hold onto it, it's nice to look at. 



I went to the local hydraulic shop for the o-ring (Pirtek). They seal them individually as well as kits.

Did they match up your old rings or the groove they came out of?


#7 TerrA LX

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Posted 08 August 2014 - 02:03 PM

They charged about $80, a new jack costs about $120ish
Maybe if I had a nice old mechanics or truck jack I would rebuild it.
Current one has about 10yrs on it.


#8 _judgelj_

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Posted 08 August 2014 - 02:39 PM

Depends what jack though too? I havent seen anything around the $120 mark.

 

This ones nice, ill take a picture. Has to be 20+ years. 



At a time everything had a stamped plated riveted to it, before they started using stickers. 


#9 TerrA LX

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Posted 08 August 2014 - 04:19 PM

Well it has been in service for 10 yr or so, there probably worth about 160 now.


#10 _judgelj_

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Posted 08 August 2014 - 04:50 PM

Wow, the cheapest i found (proper floor jack) was around $150 on special at repco which is still chinese. Its pretty cool as it takes two pumps to raise it to 450 or so mm. Anything else is $200 +


#11 TerrA LX

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Posted 08 August 2014 - 05:41 PM

Sorry, I thought most people would buy a jack at a special price or at trade.


#12 _judgelj_

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Posted 13 August 2014 - 09:40 PM

IMG_4179_zpsbed5dc51.jpg

 

This is the old one. 


#13 TerrA LX

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Posted 14 August 2014 - 07:34 AM

She looks like a rebuilder.


#14 _judgelj_

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Posted 14 August 2014 - 10:31 AM

It would be nice. It's as impractical as hell because it's so damn heavy but still cool as a second jack. 


#15 r2160

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Posted 14 August 2014 - 06:03 PM

I did the same, simply replaced the seals in my 2t hydraulic jack, cleaned it, put new oil in and it is like new.

 

Why do people think that just because something is a couple of years old, it isnt any good.

 

We rebuild cars and engines and bikes etc, but we dont rebuild jacks?

 

glenn


#16 _judgelj_

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Posted 14 August 2014 - 06:07 PM

Glenn i am 100% with you. I was honestly waiting for someone to rip out the 'that's so dangerous yadda yadda' spiel. Mate for the sake of a couple of o rings, whats the big deal? You should be under a car without jack stands anyway. 

How did you go about replacing the seals? Just buy them from a hydraulic mob? 


#17 r2160

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Posted 14 August 2014 - 07:05 PM

yes mate, I have a fitter machinist mate, we stripped the jack down, took the bits to a hydraulic mob, and they gave us new seals, cost us almost nothing.

cheers

Glenn


#18 _judgelj_

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Posted 14 August 2014 - 10:41 PM

yes mate, I have a fitter machinist mate, we stripped the jack down, took the bits to a hydraulic mob, and they gave us new seals, cost us almost nothing.

cheers

Glenn

I have a fitter mate too, wish he bloody helped me !!! 

 

 



Where they those special hydraulic o rings? Expensive?


#19 r2160

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Posted 15 August 2014 - 08:34 AM

From memory, it was only a couple of dollars

 

cheers

Glenn


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