THSCC Forums

Anyone know the "proper" procedure for bleeding one of the harbor freight aluminium jacks? I can't get it up The first pump or two do just fine, but after that the jack quits going up with each pump.

I tried the bleeding procedure listed on the front of the jack.
1) Remove fill screw
2) Turn handle 1 1/2 turns counter clockwise
3) Pump handle to remove bubbles (no bubbles came out)
4) Turn handle back closed
5) Refill oil
6) Put screw back

That didn't do anything at all. Actually seemed to make it worse???

-Tom

I used to do hydrolic work Tom, if you can get it to me I can more than likely get it working right. I find it hard to explain the process to get it to work right.

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beware of EV powered Ford EXP's they are quiet and come for you when you least expect it... hide behind an aluminum light pole...... ya that will help

Tom,

Right off the instruction sheet.

1. Turn handle 1 1/2 turns counterclockwise..
2. Remove Seal Bolt oil fill plug.
3. Rapidly pump handle several times to purge air.
4. Close release valve by turning handle completely clockwise.
5. Top off fluid to bottom of plug hole.
6. Replace Seal Bolt (plug).

Try it again. Make sure the lift part is flat down at the bottom of its travel. I had to add some to mine after I got it because it wasn't filled enough. I did the process a couple of times and now it is fine. 4 pumps and that little Chevy is right up and ready to rotate wheels...

Graham

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http://www.greywinds.com

I've done it like 10 times. Still no go.....

Can you give me a basic rundown? Our next autox isn't for a while and I wanted to use it before then...

-Tom

you may have trash"dirt or something" stuck in the valve. but I sugest raising the handle, then open the bleed screw. push the handle down, close the bleed screw and repeat. (just like bleeding brakes) first.

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beware of EV powered Ford EXP's they are quiet and come for you when you least expect it... hide behind an aluminum light pole...... ya that will help

By bleed screw you mean the handle right? There is no "bleed screw" on this jack that I know of.

So 1 1/2 turns clockwise on the handle. Then down. Then close the handle back and up. Repeat? I'll try that tonight to see what happens.

-Tom

I ran into this problem and found a correction sheet in the box
stating the location for the bleed valve was incorrectly labeled
in the directions.

Looking down at the jack, with the handle facing you and the pad
facing forward, the bleed screw should be the third threaded hole
on the far right side of the cylinder near the base of the handle.

I believe the directions showed it in the center
hole. I move it and it bleed down fine within a few pumps.

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Mark Vitacco
THSCC TT Chairman
mvitacco@bellsouth.net

what kind of oil/fluid are you using to top it off with? I'd like to try this on mine but dont know what kind of fluid to use.

Jake,

Believe it or not, there is actually "jack oil" sold by auto parts stores, etc. Should work with any floor jack.

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT