DIY Floor Jack Restoration: A Step-by-Step Guide (Resurrecting a Classic)
- Muddy Ruttzz
- Sep 4, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 5
Floor Jacks are amazing? Believe it or not they are. Consider these facts:
Hydraulic Cylinder: The main lifting mechanism is a hydraulic cylinder, which uses fluid pressure to push a piston upwards.
Portable: Many jacks are portable and can be easily moved around a garage or workshop.
Multiple Uses: Hydraulic jacks are used in a wide variety of applications, including automotive repair, construction, and industrial machinery.
High Capacity: Some hydraulic jacks can lift incredibly heavy loads, such as large trucks or construction equipment.
Pascal's Principle: Hydraulic jacks operate on Pascal's Principle, which states that pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted equally in all directions. (More on Pascal's Principle)
History: Hydraulic jacks have been around for centuries, with early versions using water or other liquids.
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Sears 3 1/2 Ton Capacity Service Jack With Patented Speedy-Lift Lever Model No. 214.50136
When Is It Time For Your Jack To Undergo "Floor Jack Restoration?"
If your floor jack fails to support a load or cannot hold itself up (like in this video), it needs to be rebuilt. Even if you don't notice any oil leaks, the issue could be internal. Floor jack troubleshooting is not mysterious. This is a Sears 3 1/2 Ton
Related How To and DIY Content
How Did I Get So Interested In Floor Jacks? (It Just Needs A O-Ring)
Borrowed a jack from a buddy to install my Mopar Lift Kit on our Gladiator. He said it needed a o-ring. Actually, it required a complete floor jack restoration. Took on the project and I was hooked. Floor jack seal replacement is not that difficult. I have links below to purchase this and other rebuild kits.
Found The Exact Same 30 Year Old Sears 3 1/2 Ton Floor Jack On Craigslist
I wanted to rebuild another and document the process in a video. I got very lucky to find the exact jack I borrowed from my buddy but in like new condition. Gentleman bought it when he was 17 years old. He even had the original manual.
Disassembly Is Relatively Easy: Remove A Few Bolts And The Power Unit Comes Out
Due to its excellent condition, troubleshooting this floor jack was a simple task. The robust construction ensured that the wheels, handle assembly, and other moving parts were all in good shape and required no maintenance. The only components showing signs of wear are the seals and o-rings, which is simply due to the jack's age.
Floor Jacks Are Actually Powered By A Bottle Jack Adapted To A Lifting Mechanism
The Power Unit Assembly Internals: Where Floor Jack Restoration Mostly Happens
To access the main seal and o-rings, the large nut on top of this assembly needs to be removed. It was initially installed at the factory with a significant amount of torque, making it challenging to remove without a lot of leverage.
The nut is about 2 1/4". I would have liked to use the proper size socket but pipe wrench and a large adjustable wrench was available to me.
What Does the Floor Jack Power Unit Assembly Contain?
A Little Redneck Engineering Helps Me When I'm Working Alone
Working solo, I was reconstructing a classic floor jack. Lacking the perfect tools, I improvised with what I had in my garage. I utilized another floor jack as a stabilizer to prevent the pipe wrench from rotating, and secured a conduit to my sizeable adjustable wrench to increase torque for tightening the nut.
I was able to apply enough force to get my matchmarks to line up.
Floor Jack Needs To Be Refilled With Quality Jack Oil And Have Air Bleed Out - see the video.
Filler hole on jack is small and hard to access. I like to use a syringe to add the oil. It prevents the mess and waste of jack oil. There is a procedure for adding oil and bleeding are:
Position the jack on level ground.
Refill with new oil through the oil filler plug.
Remove air from hydraulic system by opening the release valve and rapidly pumping the jack handle several times.
Replace filler cap.
Testing The Jack After The Rebuild
Utilizing my recently refurbished Sears 3 1/2 ton floor jack, I raised my Jeep. It successfully supported the weight without any oil leaks for approximately 45 minutes. Mission accomplished!
This video will show you how to fill the floor jack with oil and bleed trappped air.
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Conclusion: Don't Throw Out That Old Floor Jack!
Watch my video for more details and use this article and you will have no problem rebuilding this or most any other floor jack. Principle are the the same for most all of them. I took me a while because I was making a video. It won't take most folks very long. I'm really happy to have a vintage floor jack that I can confidently use a everyday tool. I learned a lot and it was a great project.
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