Dead Aluminum Jack?

[whiteNSXs]

Hi Guys,
After using the Harbor Freight Aluminum Racing Jack for a few years, its piston got stuck in the down position when I tried to lift a car last week. I figure it is dead but would like to ask the gang if it is definitely hopeless before throwing it away. I paid about $199 in 2003.
Steve

 

[Osiris_x11]

periodic inspecting/servicing...

Hi Guys,
After using the Harbor Freight Aluminum Racing Jack for a few years, its piston got stuck in the down position when I tried to lift a car last week. I figure it is dead but would like to ask the gang if it is definitely hopeless before throwing it away. I paid about $199 in 2003.
Steve

Have ya ever purged air from it, using the bleeder-screw? Have you ever replaced/added hydraulic jack fluid in the reservoir? The floor-jack needs some attention, from time to time. If you still have the manual, it can guide you. Or I can scan the relevant pages for you (I had the same issue last week, and I added some fluid as well as bled-out some air bubbles).

 

[MJK]

Same thing happened to mine a couple years ago. After much fiddling and mess, I tossed it an replaced it with a a better one. If I had to bet, I would think it was a piston seal that failed on mine. If you disassemble it far enough to get get to it, you can probably find a replacement at some place like McMaster.

 

[sca037]

Before doing anything else, check to make sure the piston that the jacking arm pushes on is returning all the way back out.
It's lightly spring-loaded, and you might need to coax it back out (pull or pry) then if that's indeed the problem, give it a good cleaning.

Brian

 

[whiteNSXs]

Before doing anything else, check to make sure the piston that the jacking arm pushes on is returning all the way back out.
It's lightly spring-loaded, and you might need to coax it back out (pull or pry) then if that's indeed the problem, give it a good cleaning.

Brian

Thanks guys.
AK pmed me with the same recommendation. I will try to unstuck the piston using some PB Blast or WD40.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[whiteNSXs]

Re: periodic inspecting/servicing...

Have ya ever purged air from it, using the bleeder-screw? Have you ever replaced/added hydraulic jack fluid in the reservoir? The floor-jack needs some attention, from time to time. If you still have the manual, it can guide you. Or I can scan the relevant pages for you (I had the same issue last week, and I added some fluid as well as bled-out some air bubbles).

I don't see a bleeder screw anywhere though. Does yours have one? I doubt it is the issue as I would expect the jack not rising with pumping if air was the culprit. My situation was the jack actually lifted the car without problem but the piston got stuck on the last pump.
Thanks,
Steve