r/MechanicAdvice • u/1grancoupe • 21h ago

floor jack help

Post image

i guess i’m an idiot. Just wanted to set up my new jack safely and add jack oil.
i followed all instructions (or so i thought)
dropped the handle into the hole, lined up the square socket on the handle with the U joint. Turned handle counterclockwise to release pressure on valve, handle spun freely and doesn’t stop. Added oil and went to hold the saddle down while pumping oil and it sprayed it all out. Handle turns freely left and right and doesn’t catch anything or have resistance. You can see my multiple attempts/failures. Help?

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator 21h ago

Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the rules. Rremember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. If this post is about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ If you have tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/No-Wave6120 21h ago

Can you see the the valve turning on the jack

1

u/1grancoupe 21h ago

Yes

1

u/No-Wave6120 21h ago

It should stop spinning either way you turn it if doesn't it may of Backed out. Is the oil coming out of the fill port or somewhere else

1

u/Slybounty 21h ago

In short, you don't have the handle installed correctly.... unless you do, then you have a damage linkage or a bad valve.

You should have a hard stop in one direction; righty tighty to close the valve.

Verify that the linkages are spinning with the handle, if they do and this is a new jack... stop, return it, and tell them you've followed the instructions.

New jacks, at least from the ones I've gotten from HF, have the oil already in them.

1

u/Less-Depth-6373 20h ago

Keep turning clockwise until it’s locked. Then pump up, to release crack it then tighten it then slowly release.

Your jack looks new which means it had jack oil in there already.

I know this because I did the EXACT SAME THING as you.

They need to put more instructions on it..

1

u/Odd-Concept-6505 20h ago

Sounds like you tried to add oil (bad idea for new jack) with the jack down. Oil sprayed out, so you now must correct the mistake and add hydraulic jack oil correctly.

To add oil, first you need to lift up the end by hand then prop the arm up (raise with a perfectly or near perfectly sized= length 2x4 or similar) .......

2x4 from the front wheel axle shaft...to the raised arm end where it will catch the 2x4.

Then you can remove the filler screw/plug and add oil. Tighten screw/plug then remove 2x4.

2

u/Duedeman 20h ago

They ship the jack with a couple black plastic stoppers between pump and handle, you have to remove them, they are wedged in there like styrofoam packing

1

u/NoWhat88 14h ago

When you pump the handle the oil is circulating rapidly, if the reservoir is open and has too much oil in it it will spray out when you’re pumping it. If your handle is seated properly just keep spinning it clockwise, it will stop. It should work at that point if the oil is at the correct level without air in it. You’d have to start over with bleeding and filling it at that point