Bottle jack

[mikeau]

I was given this by a friend. It was the jack supplied with his MB Sprinter and looks unused.

It only lifts about an inch and stops though, so advice please?

Is this likely to just need topping up with oil or should I be looking at some kind of stuck valve etc?

 

[Stan the Man]

Sounds like it needs a top up. Is the small bit of lift it has got solid though or does the piston feel spongy?

 

[phoenixdave]

Probably just needs a top up with hydraulic oil, though if it's that low it might all escape again quite quickly! David

 

[mikeau]

Sounds like it needs a top up. Is the small bit of lift it has got solid though or does the piston feel spongy?

Lifts about an inch quite solidly then no more pressure on the arm.
I initially thought about topping it up, but its brand new (old, but unused) and no signs of leaks etc...

 

[110landycamper]

Try pulling it out with the release valve open,it might just be stuck. I brought a few very cheap from bootfairs, going to make a bushing/bearing press with one.

 

[andy63]

Pull the rubber bung.. The oil should most probably be up yo that level.. If mot fill it and try again

 

[Grid Man]

I bought a 1.2L bottle of Carlube Jack OIl to top my old big jack up.

 

[110landycamper]

Extra jacks come in handy,doing the front radius arms. One to hold the diff from twisting,one to push the arm in another on the end to support the axle.

 

[mikeau]

Pull the rubber bung.. The oil should most probably be up yo that level.. If mot fill it and try again

Ive not seen a rubber bung.. I'll have another look.

 

[mikeau]

Is jack oil special or just Motor oil/EP/ATF or DOT4 re-labelled..?

 

[Kevm]

Ive not seen a rubber bung.. I'll have another look.

Put your glasses on it's right in the middle of the picture.

 

[Kevm]

Is jack oil special or just Motor oil/EP/ATF or DOT4 re-labelled..?

Usually just iso32 hydraulic oil.

 

[mikeau]

Put your glasses on it's right in the middle of the picture.

I didnt even realise that was rubber!

 

[Grid Man]

Just seen my message said 1.2L not 0.5 litre of jack oil. I wanted oil for my 5 ton jack so erred on the side of safety and bought the specific jack oil.

 

[110landycamper]

That's a two stage jack,it's only the 2nd short ram working. The 1st outer ram tube is what's seized,here's a pic of that style

 

[andy63]

It's not so long ago that I was mucking about with a little landrover bottle jack which burped a bit oil past the seal..
I just got a bottle from halfords.. Labeled jack oil.. About £3.50..
As mentioned a above. ISO VG32

 

[mikeau]

That's a two stage jack,it's only the 2nd short ram working. The 1st outer ram tube is what's seized,here's a pic of that style
View attachment 527157

Yep. Its only the centre part that moves and only about an inch, so I wasnt sure if that was supposed to rise first or not tbh...

 

[andy63]

Yep. Its only the centre part that moves and only about an inch, so I wasnt sure if that was supposed to rise first or not tbh...

It would be normal for the large bore ram to rise first and then the small.. Someone has had a go at the top of the large bore before by the looks in your photo..
It looks like a proper engineer with stilson and hammer has had a go..

 

[110landycamper]

Have you tried unscrewing the top cover ?

 

[Stan the Man]

I hadn't noticed the heavy scoring on the first ram...... I don't think I would trust it even if you can get it moving it's obviously got issues.