The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest engine hoist oil refill

My old reliable cherry picker has lost its ability to get it up any more, do they make viagra for these things??? Th lift has had a slow leak for years but it never caused issues. How do you fill these things back up? Is it hydraulic fluid or oil?
Thanks, Paul

hydraulic jack oil - should be a small fill plug on the side of the jack - you can tell it needs oil when each pump doesn't do as much as it once did

Bill

if i open the plug oil comes out, how do i refill it? the plug is at the bottom of the jack.

If it's full of oil it might be a leaking valve that's letting the oil slip back by as you are jacking.

if the plug is at the bottom of the jack how do you know if it is full or not?

usually you need to lay the rig on it's side so the plug is a high point, like with a bottle jack

Bill

thanks Thats what I needed owe you one.
Paul

Be sure your jack is scoped all the way down when you fill it up with jack oil.

thanks for the advice

If it's leaking down with a load on it, there's a problem with the piston seal(s). If it's failing to reach its full travel, then adding oil will help. Any lightweight oil like power steering fluid or EP-32 hydraulic fluid should work OK for refilling. Long-stroke replacement jacks aren't expensive or hard to find- - - -try Northern Tool & Supply or maybe Harbor Freight.
Jerry

I have a floor jack that comes down slow after I raise it up, because of a leaky O-ring. In our hot summers I just replace the oil with 30-50 weight so it "takes its time" to drop down - long enough to get the jack stands under the truck.

In the winter any oil will do because its almost like molasses and the jack comes down just as slow. I do the jacking before I heat up the garage.

Its not a major problem so I never bothered replacing the seals yet - I never go under without stands anyway.

So hey wodniw, when you find the filler try thicker oil and see if there's an improvement.

Hope this helps.