How to Repair a Hydraulic Jack 

Perfect video at the perfect time. An old boss said one time, "It’’s easy...if you know how. It’s impossible if you don’t." I just fixed my jack, and it was easy. Thanks for showing me how!

Holy crap I lost track of how many jacks I scrapped over the past 60 years because I always thought the internal seals were shot when they got mushy. Great video.

Thank you very much! Just finished the repair and it was good to my soul that i could fix it with your help.

Appreciate this video a lot! I was about to buy a new Jack, I have 4 that had the same issue i thought i had bad luck Haha. But with your help they are all back in service! Thanks again

Thanks, That was very helpful. I'm going out to the garage now and hopefully fix my jack .

THANKS A LOT!!! I went all over the little town I live in last week to find a funnel or what ever to fill a bottle jack and found nothing. And there sitting on the shelf of the dollar general store were catsup and mustard bottles that would have solved my frustration on the spot. Sure glad I clicked on your show, thanks again.

Excellent instructional video. All the info I need to fix my bottle jack up. Thanks!

Thank you! I fixed all my bottle jacks with the information from this video.

I found a 12 tonne press with an identical press at the dump today. This video might come in handy. I'll do my own video on it tomorrow. Thanks for the advice!

Thanks for the quick fix demo bud 👍

Sweet...just saved me some money. Thanks brother.

Have two old Ford Van bottle jacks and thought they were no good ! After seeing this I fixed them and getting ready to use them !! Thank you for this video!!

I had a similar issue with my 8 ton long ram on the engine hoist. Took a lot of pumping, but it worked. Bigger reservoir. More air. Thanks for sharing a quick fix.

Thanks for the help!

Good information, just the simple things like your plastic bottle for jack oil is helpful. Thank you.

Thanks for the video. I had to replace the o ring at the top where the piston comes out. Bled air out and my 12 ton jack is working again.

Straight, clear and brief. Your instructions are guaranteed to stay even in my dim wit brain. Thanks a helluva.

Awesome! sure helped me with my jack. Thank you. Subscribed and liked your informative channel.

You my good sir are definitely a life saver.. or better yet, a jack saver!! Brought my old low profile back to life. Thanks brother. ✌️ & ❤️

Thanks mate for posting. Got me going again instead of going to town. Much appreciated.

Bless You for making this video🙂

Thank you. That's great, simple and practical advice. I needed to replace the plug too so your replacement plug making video is excellent too.

Thanks for the video. It helped me out.

Your info is extremely significant.

Do the air hydralic Jack's come in 8 ton. I keep seeing 12to but I need to use a air compressor on a 8 ton one.

Tap it ,put a threaded machine screw with a seal ring on it and throw that rubber stopper in the garbage. good video, thanks. my problem is a leaking dual piston floor jack. thanks. I don't know jack about jacks.

this video has been very helpful, thanks very much for your help. rob

Great video have same jack on my bearing press.. going to give this a try!

Thank you for sharing ir knowledge sir

Helpful, thank you. will be able to fix mine now.

Thanks for your response. I’ve reviewed your videos and released air from back grommet and repeatedly copied your process but still get air. You replaced an Oring on a plunger and finally the air disappeared . I think that’s what’s wrong. But not sure. Maybe I need to replace the-cup rubber seal like you replaced th Oring. If you know any outlet supply but they are probably going to want to know the model number which I can’t find (worn out) if not I appreciate your reply and will unfortunately toss it. Thanks

Yes, this helped very much. Thank you sir.

Very helpful, thank you

Sweet! It actually works an my hydraulic jack is fixed!

Hey mister, you just taught me how to do this myself. Thanks!

I have an old Heinz Werner bottle jack that has no fill hole on the side like all other jacks I've seen. How do I refill this jack?

Excellent vid. If one stores a bottle jack on its side does it damage the bottle jack? Irreparably?

I've learned something, thanks.

,vary good video. Vary helpful

I've rebuilt a trolley jack as the O rings were leaking in it. I don't think they are very particular as far as hydraulic fluid goes,I just used Dexron III automatic transmission fluid & it's done a lot of work since.

Hayden-no harm intended, it was just a pun. I was just being funny to lighten the day. He serviced the Jack as he should have. Great tutorial. As an ASE certified mechanic myself, I occasionally preform this task to my many hydraulic devices.

Thanks for the clear instructions. You got me out of a jam. Take care

very helpful thanks!

Unable to locate video referenced herein about making a replacement oil fill plug.

I have two new 12 ton bottle jacks that are impossible to push back down after jacking up. I have to beat on them about a hundred times with a block of wood to get the piston back down. What could be the problem?

Thank you! Never knew how to prime or cycle the jack after adding oil, I feel like I just got a couple new jacks.

great video

I have two jacks doing this and did not know about the fill hole. Thanks

Just got me out of trouble!!! Thanks

Thank you. .. worked well

big help thank you

It works, thanks a lot sir... 🙏

Got a 2 year old Harbor Freight 12 ton bottle jack working again. Curiously this thing had almost no oil in it...I used the thing maybe only 5X and never noticed any leakage. Perhaps it was sold with low oil? Anyways even got the plug out without damaging it, took more oil than I thought (I used 5W-20 synth motor oil, all I had and seemed to work fine) and works great - thanks for the easy lesson!!! Here's a similar saying I've heard that @juddbutler shared - "Nothing is impossible, unless you can't do it" 😆

Cool - I did not know this. thanks for sharing

It was helpful to someone!! Me!! Many thanks.

Thanks! The instructions that came with mine named none of the parts nor did it tell me how to lower it, when it was stuck at the top, even after opening the lowering valve. So, video time...I’m heading out to possibly release an air bubble. Pressing down on it? I weigh 100 pounds. I may use a bigger hammer. As one viewer did, gently, if it doesn’t lower easily after that possible air bubble. Thanks! Bookmarked for when it’s time for a refill.

Where can I buy replacement reservoir plug and seal on the relief valve?

Thanks, man. I was clueless on this.

Thank you. Very helpful

Think you've just shown me what's wrong with my bottle jack and how to fix it. Thanks.

Mines leaking air out the top of the bottle jack where the Piston comes out it's making bubbles is there an o-ring I can replace????

When do i put the hydraulic liquid seal/plug back? After filling it or?

I have one that has worked fine until I got it extended all the way and then it won't lower... Haven't tried anything but opening the valve and pushing down, also placed a 20 pound weight on it overnight but it doesn't budge. Any ideas??? Thanks! NOTE - I fixed it by doing what I've been trained NOT to do - USE A BIGGER HAMMER. I smacked it with a 6 pound sledge and it descended! Then I bled the air off and it be woikin' fine!

What kind of oil I should put in my trolley jack!!?? Thank you

Awesome Vid. This saved me!! I almost tossed it to buy another... I'll bet this same thing would've fixed the floor jack that a trashed a year ago.

Thank you sir so helpful...

Might be stupid for asking cause I don't read directions. I got a brand new jack. Used it about 5 times on the same car. And while trying to jack even higher while it was on platforms a ring popped our from the piston. What happened?

HELP I removed the release valve i mean my son did I can't get it back in on my engine crane.ANY help helps TIA

I found a junk bottle jack that I'm trying to restore. I accidentally lost the ball bearing from the check valve. I'm trying to replace it but I have no idea on the size. I've tried 5/16 and 3/16. Basically the jack operates fine except when you put real weight on it, like a car. Then it just pushes it back down. I performed your method shown in this vid but no change. How crucial is it that the ball is exactly correct in size? Have any idea what the correct size actually is?

Yeah.. Bought a cheap cane press from China few years back... I think this could do the trick but if not I will be back to see more... Thanks and much obliged!!!

Thanks it worked!

Can jack use the atf or power steering fluid

Thanks for the tip. I’ve got one that has similar problem. Maybe you have an idea. My son losened the lock valve to release pressure and lower his Jeep back down but the different tire size allowed the jack to be fully compressed but tire still barely off the ground. He thought the jack was still holding and loosed the valve to the point the threaded portion came out of the jack and drained the jack of most of the oil in gush. I put the threaded portion back in but it seems to not seal and allow the jack to make pressure. Do you think there is a seat or ball or something that got blown out and lost when the oils gushed out? I’ve not been able to find a parts diagram of the jack.

very cool

What if the handle handle piece is stuck frozen? Not letting you jack it up?

I tried it but still wants to come up some..Can you drain all the oil out then pump it,and fill it back up?

So you don't lay it on its side and fill it as much as you can? You fill it upright? Would laying it on its side over-fill it?

Me and a freind were going to put my new lift shocks on but my new jack ( That I have only used once) did not want to go up and pick up my truck ?. Decided to to see if somebody on You Tube had a video to troubleshoot and RIGHT THIS SECOND 3:35 P.m we are working on the bottle jack.

Parts for plunger u-cup seal central Hydrolic 20 ton bottle jack harbor freight 20 year old. I’d like to try and repair it. I bled it like you did and push down main shaft and hear bubbles????

I got a craftsmsn atv jack # 950190. It jacks up but gives almost as fast and can not hold pressure. Any Ideas please.

You need to add the link above to your rubber plug repair fix. My old plug was gone altogether......

Awesome 👍

Short sweet and to the point.

Thank you so much. A very easy fix to a jack I thought was toast for the past 3 years. Working great now.

I hv done the same procedure but this 3 ton jack wont even lift 500kgs. Is it because i use engine oil?

Thanks, fixed my jack.

Have a real issue with minw old floorjack. This video show it stands up and mine is standing down, Is it a difference in level of oil. Floorjack they say it should be full when it lays down and here on the video it says it should about 75 % full. Have aired it 20 times but nothing happens. So it must be inside. I lifted my lifting arm and at the same time push the pump. THe cylinder suck oil into the reservoiar so at the same time I have to pump so the oil comes through. At the the end of the top when the lifting arm not can go any higher I close the valve and then it goes back some depending on the oil level but it standing . Problem is when I release valve it goes back but I cant pump it up....Tried different things nothing works. Try to change the o-ring at the pump-function. Somebody?

Very good

thanks bro!!!

My jack has problem. I jack it up and when i release screw push it down it wants to pop up on its own.can you help me?

Thank you! that's a lot of help for me! Sir.

Can you use any oil, like engine oil?

What about the one stuck in the up position?

I have about 20 hydraulic jacks that don't work. I bet at least half of them will be fixable using that procedure. Thank you ‼️

Hey my release valve came out and when I try to screw it back in, it won’t screw in all the way, any help??? Please

Thank you!

Thanks bro

When do you put the plug back in

You don't have to remove the plug to get the air out. Just push it sideways till it makes a crack and you will hear the air coming out.

Thank you