Bottle Jack Questions

[bigtiller]

I have an old 8 ton bottle jack that needs a little TLC. It spent a few years in an unheated shed. When I pump it while sitting on the bench, it will raise an inch and stop, after a few more pumps it jumps up 2 inches and stops. Repeat until it tops out.

Can I drain it and refill with fluid?

Can I fill it with JD Low-Viscosity High-guard?

Or should i throw it in the scrap pile and buy another one?

 

[CalG]

Higuard will be fine.

It's pumping air, hence the jumps.

After filling to level/ fill screw when fully collapsed. Put a weight on the ram and exercise the jack a dozen times or more to push the air through.

You might considering opening up the fill, and even the pump section, and let the unit drain. It my have water in it from condensation etc. It's best to get them clean and dry.

 

[/pine]

FWIW...The cost of a container of bottle jack oil is worth it (at least once) for the pointed, easy fill cap on the containers...!

 

[bigtiller]

I put some hi-guard in a clean squirt can. It worked great that way.