A red face and a bottlejack

Advert

New Replies

Report Bug

Help/FAQs

A red face and a bottlejack

This topic has 18 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 9 June 2020 at 09:56 by Andrew Tinsley.

Viewing 19 posts - 1 through 19 (of 19 total)

Author

Posts
8 June 2020 at 14:55 #478453
Andrew Tinsley
Participant
@andrewtinsley63637
Like many here, I have been having a mega tidy up during lockdown. I found a 4 ton Lake and Elliott bottle jack, last seen some 35 years ago!

I cleaned it up and freed the stuck threaded top section. I checked the oil level (it had been leaking as it was on its side). Topped up with hydraulic fluid and gave it a pump or three. It eventually got to full height and then the awful truth dawned. How do you let it down? I must have known once!

There was no sign of a release valve and the only visible features were the oil filling point and the device to put the pumping handle into (this just drives a horizontal shaft to pump up the jack). Now there is a spring loaded lifting device on this, which needs to be lifted to get the handle out. But this is ALL it does. There is also a floppy lifting handle, but this doesn't do anything else. It is a very heavy brute and the handle is needed.

So, I have an erect jack (no comments please) and no apparent way of collapsing the ram. I have a very red face indeed but I am confessing my sins in the hope that someone can tell me how to retract the ram.

Andrew.
Advert

8 June 2020 at 14:55 #27431
Andrew Tinsley
Participant
@andrewtinsley63637
8 June 2020 at 15:01 #478455
Adrian R2
Participant
@adrianr2
Try pushing the handle all the way down and holding it there, I've got a couple that work like this. It may be reluctant to compress if not under load so you might have to apply some force to the top as well.
8 June 2020 at 15:03 #478456
David Jupp
Participant
@davidjupp51506
Not sure if it was the same make – one I used years ago was released by pulling the handle back slightly from the slot in the 'rocker' – this allowed the handle to be depressed further than when pumping, allowing the oil to 'return to tank'.

It needed a significant push down on the ram if not actually carrying a load, the weight of the ram alone wasn't enough to force the fluid back round the circuit.
8 June 2020 at 15:14 #478458
Anonymous
Put it aside for another 35 years.

Andrew
8 June 2020 at 15:19 #478462
Andrew Tinsley
Participant
@andrewtinsley63637
Thanks gentlemen,

That rings a bell, however in my enthusiasm to pump the jack up, I have pumped the ram to the top and cannot get the pump handle to go down. I am sure that if I leave it long enough, then slight leakage will allow me to get the ram down a touch to enable me to "bottom" the pump handle.

I did notice that there seemed to be two positions for the pump handle at maximum height. I just thought that this was due to a 35 year lack of use. Maybe the two positions at the top are the equivalent of your two positions at the bottom, I will check, as I can lift the handle.

Before anyone cautions me not to use the jack, it would not be put to use without a strip down and seal replacement,

Thanks all.

Andrew.

Edited By Andrew Tinsley on 08/06/2020 15:20:09
8 June 2020 at 15:41 #478468
Andrew Tinsley
Participant
@andrewtinsley63637
Hello again,

Just got the jack down by forcing the handle to its lowest point, so you were right on the money Adrian! Thanks, my face is no longer red!

Now wait a minute Andrew. I shall not be putting it away for another 35 years, UNTIL it has been overhauled and fettled.

Come to think, I won't be around in 35 years (my friends are dropping dead like flies now). It will be the executors of my estate that will dig it out again!

Andrew.
8 June 2020 at 16:36 #478485
Brian Wood
Participant
@brianwood45127
It probably doesn't need stripping at all, but if you do so take care that spring loaded balls do not leap out of sight, You may also need some odd sizes of O rings before you rebuild it. Just undoing the big nut at the bottom of the ram cylinder will be be a challenge. I seem to remember the bottom plate allows a way in too.

I would leave it alone and tolerate the cost of topping it up

Best of luck Brian
8 June 2020 at 17:20 #478495
larry phelan 1
Participant
@larryphelan1
Amen to that ! Let sleeping dogs lie !
8 June 2020 at 17:36 #478501
Andrew Tinsley
Participant
@andrewtinsley63637
You could both be right. It was only leaking from the filler because it was on its side. Maybe clean it off and give it a coat of paint. The executors won't know!

Andrew.
8 June 2020 at 17:49 #478505
Brian Sweeting 2
Participant
@briansweeting2
Maybe write some instructions down and put in a plastic bag, then tape it to the jack.
8 June 2020 at 18:01 #478509
AdrianR
Participant
@adrianr18614
Put a clause in your will, they don't get a penny unless they can raise and lower the jack
8 June 2020 at 18:12 #478511
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Posted by Andrew Tinsley on 08/06/2020 15:19:06:

…

Before anyone cautions me not to use the jack, it would not be put to use without a strip down and seal replacement,

…

Not a bad idea to assume all hydraulic jacks have untrustworthy seals. Jolly useful devices but I'd never go underneath one without putting a stand in first. Screw jacks are dodgy too – I've had one roll over whilst changing a wheel when one side of it's base sank into the road – apparently tarmac isn't rock solid.

Dave
8 June 2020 at 20:59 #478546
Dave Halford
Participant
@davehalford22513
Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 08/06/2020 18:12:27:

Posted by Andrew Tinsley on 08/06/2020 15:19:06:

…

Before anyone cautions me not to use the jack, it would not be put to use without a strip down and seal replacement,

…

Not a bad idea to assume all hydraulic jacks have untrustworthy seals. Jolly useful devices but I'd never go underneath one without putting a stand in first. Screw jacks are dodgy too – I've had one roll over whilst changing a wheel when one side of it's base sank into the road – apparently tarmac isn't rock solid.

Dave

That one is even funnier if it's a hot day and a new motorcycle left on the side stand, goes down like a falling tree – strangely except when it's yours.

To be serious, scissor jacks were worse for that
8 June 2020 at 21:01 #478547
Howard Lewis
Participant
@howardlewis46836
If it is any consolation, I have painted myself into that corner, with hydraulic jacks, many times!

But been able to summon enough brute force to force the handle down to release the pressure.

Howard
8 June 2020 at 21:32 #478561
old mart
Participant
@oldmart
When you mentioned hydraulic fluid, my immediate thoughts were " I hope it was not DOT4".
8 June 2020 at 21:35 #478564
Nicholas Farr
Participant
@nicholasfarr14254
Hi, you should never put any part of your body under anything supported by a jack of any type, whether it's brand new or years old. I have a 300mm approx' square and about 30mm thick, very tough piece of plastic in my car, that I use to stand my jack on whenever I have to jack it up and if I'm just changing the wheel, I put the one I take off, under the sill until I've fitted the other one on, then if for some reason the jack gives way, the car won't fall down very far.

Regards Nick.
9 June 2020 at 09:17 #478636
Perko7
Participant
@perko7
My dad always told me that when jacking up a car to change the wheel, always put the spare wheel under the side sill of the car while jacking up so that, if the jack slips while the crook wheel is off, the car won't hit the deck. Still using a bottle jack of indeterminate age (certainly over 80 years old) which has never failed but you can't be too careful.
9 June 2020 at 09:56 #478647
Andrew Tinsley
Participant
@andrewtinsley63637
Hi Old Mart,

I always use pukka hydraulic fluid for jacks. I was given a lifetimes supply of brake fluid it is a pity I can't use it in jacks.

Andrew,
Author

Posts