Sears MC floor jack cylinder issue

[Clintster]

Some time ago my cylinder spit some oil out onto the floor.  Well it continues to work, figured I need to buy a cylinder, it just won't go up all the way.  Has anyone had this happen and is their a way to return the oil to the cylinder.  Type and amount?  Or just buy another?  It hasn't leaked anymore since then and works ok but to about 2/3 the heighth.  Suggestions, folks who have repaired theirs?

[superglidesport1]

Clint,

Sounds like it might have "burped" some fluid. I believe that there's a fill plug somewhere on the hydraulic jack. You can add some oil to it. It shouldn't take more than about 1/2 -1 ounce. You should use 10 wt. jack oil but in a pinch you can use a light wt. multi-viscosity motor oil like 5-20 or 10-30.

[Tollbooth]

Also, At the auto parts store , you can buy a small bottle of hydraulic jack oil . It has a nozzle top and fits the fill hole in the jack.
TB

[truck]

Not all jacks fill the same way.
Mine has a rubber plug on the side of the cylinder, others have a screw on the bottom and there is other ways too.
If you remove the wrong screw or plug you could ruin the jack because of all the small balls and springs that might fly out.
There was a thread about adding oil to a jack that had a link to a web page describing different ways to add oil.
Try Googleing it.

[truck]

Here it is.

http://www.hyjacks.com/H7.HTM

[70weight]

I have the sears jack and I have had to add oil to it. There should be a rubber plug on the side of the cylinder ner the top. With the cylinder upright, pop the plug out, fill until it starts to come out, put the plug back again and you should be good to go.

[preacher son]

Truck, thanks for that link, makes me feel like a dumb a. I think i better go check my jack again, and, save that link. I have a hard time remembering  my name! Lol

[superglidesport1]

I have the sears jack and I have had to add oil to it. There should be a rubber plug on the side of the cylinder ner the top. With the cylinder upright, pop the plug out, fill until it starts to come out, put the plug back again and you should be good to go.

I hope you didn't use 70weight..................

[seattledyna]

I just used some fork oil I had on the shelf to top mine off, I figured it should about the same as hyd oil

[superglidesport1]

I just used some fork oil I had on the shelf to top mine off, I figured it should about the same as hyd oil

I was actually responding to the comments made by "70weight." My feeble attempt at some Friday morning humor...........

[02roadcling]

Super,
I'm working on my 3rd cup of 70wt myself, seems to do the trick.


cling

[Tsani]

The pump on mine failed. Seems as tho they had quite a few were the seals fail and that is the biggest reason for discontinuing it. Can't get a replacement part for it either, so much for the name. So I modified a 6 ton unit to fit in and take it's place untill I got my J&S jack, which I absolutly like much much better!

[02roadcling]

mine was modified to a screw jack with a big handle

[Rags722]

No matter what you do, remember this.... Hyd Bottle jacks, no matter if freestanding or in a motorcycle lift are meant to lift and lower heavy objects.  They are NOT designed to HOLD heavy objects.  Anytime you use a bottle jack, lift to the height you need, and then support the weight using jackstands or the dogs on your lift.  You should lower all the weight to the stands or dogs, not leave the jack holding weight for any period of time.  Never trust your life , limbs, or bike to a $0.02 rubber seal.  Trust me on this, I was under a 17,000 lb motorhome that was up on the hyd lifting system when it failed.  That was 10 years ago and I still hurt from being crushed when it came down.  Be safe!

Rags

[Moosedeuce]

Owners manual says " With ram fully lowered and jack on level ground, remove oil filler plug. Add oil if level is more than 1/2" below hole. Also says to replace oil once every year. "NEVER use brake fluid, alcohol, glycerine, detergent motor oil or dirty oil of any kind."

[Moosedeuce]

Thats for the red model not the new yellow one.

[Pzokes]

I bought a Sears motorcycle jack, but found that it didn't go low enough to get under some of my bikes.  I sold it to a friend that has an Ultra.

[70weight]

I have the sears jack and I have had to add oil to it. There should be a rubber plug on the side of the cylinder ner the top. With the cylinder upright, pop the plug out, fill until it starts to come out, put the plug back again and you should be good to go.

I hope you didn't use 70weight..................

whahaha

[Clintster]

Thanks folks, another crisis averted, add oil and walla it workee.  Going out to test it with a weight, do a little maintenance, be able to do it, at full height thanks to the membership.  From the jack site, it may be that soon the bottle jack may fail.  Are the bolt patterns for the mount on this jack commmon with another jack.  Bolt on, without having to fabricate a bracket?  Thanks again guys

[Tsani]

Nope, had to drill the bottle jack.

[PaJoe]

I had an Sears Craftsman lift with a bad cylinder, had to replace the entire lift as Sears does not sell replacement parts. Afterwards, I was looking at the Harbor Freight motorcycle lifts and they use similar cylinders and do have a replacement part number their cylinder. It may be possible to order replacement cylinders from Harbor Freight that will fit a Sear lift with minor modifications.. My first Craftsman lift only lasted a year or so but this one is lasting much longer, I never store this one with it fully collapsed, try to keep some pressure on the seals at all times.