Hydraulic Floor Jack Bleeding & Fill 

I want to say THANK YOU!! You just saved me 125+ bucks!! I have had my HF jack for 7+ years. It just stopped pumping!! it would NOT pick up a Honda car. Even tho my jack is a little diff then this one but i figured it out. So for now it WORKS!!! Ty!!! James in Dallas Tx

Hey Rich, Thanks for all your videos. Great Help! I started business in '75 repairing/rebuilding hydraulic jacks. Bleeding is important, every time before using, unless you learn to keep the pump and valves always in the fluid. This means carrying it by the front axle which, of course, requires that the handle be removed. Although you 'went through' the required steps, my procedure is slightly different: (1) Fill it first. (If not full you will actually pump air and continue to air-bound it) (2) Open the release valve and pump the handle 4 to 8 times to dispel any air in the pump(s) and valve(s). (3) Close the release valve and pump it up all the way. (4) Open release valve and make sure the saddle comes down completely to rid the ram cylinder of any air. (Often, you can hear air bubbling out at the very bottom.) Lastly, if it does not go all the way up at # (3), repeat (2), (3) & (4) or you didn't get it filled up which can be difficult sometimes. In fact, some floor jacks are near impossible to fill without first raising the rear up, which guarantees you'll air-bound it. Air-bounding is possible with any hydraulic equipment, including bottle jacks, particularly if the fluid level goes below the operating ball valves which are in the base. As for fluid, you're right. Use that which is sold as "Hydraulic Jack Oil." This is approx. a 10W oil. ATF is a fair substitute in a pinch. NEVER use Hydraulic Brake Fluid y'all! It swells and destroys seals.

Just logged in to say thank you! This video Saved me 125 bucks. Was just about to go and get another Jack from Harbor freight. If anyone wants to know this Jack lasted 5 years. Money well spent. RU-vid! The Daddy I never had, when it comes to fixing things.

Hey mate thank you for the video. After 2 months wondering why my jack wouldn't lift I watched this and realised it needed more oil!

Peter Griffin, jack repairer

Thank you for helping me fix my jack. I hate buying a new one when it can be fixed.

Great video. Plenty of people have these harbor freight jacks. Didn't even know they were serviceable like that. Thanks!

Informative and Educational as usual....Thanks Rich

In the area where you removed the fill screw, I have only 3 screws. 2 are equal distant from the rod in the center and 1 is off to the left. I don't know what is what, and afraid of opening something I shouldn't. Mine is a HF Pittsburg, (racing I think ) similar to yours shown here. How do ya know what all the screws are for. There's no labels and no model or item #. Mine is probably about 15 yr old. It pumps up, but the weight of the car pushes it down quickly. I do not see any leaks.

Mine just started to take forever to pump and almost bought a new one thanks for the video !

Excellent going to try this on my aluminum jegs jack. Thanks 😊

Thanks, just saved a jack that was thrown away at work (was in really good shape too)!

Very helpful. My jack has developed about 4-6 inches of slop even trying to lift anything. It's real annoy too when trying to lift up from the rear where you already have limited range from the bumper. Trying this today. 🙏

Thank you for posting! This is an excellent video!!! 👏🏿

Thanks for the video.It worked great.

I have a powerbuild jack with 1 large and 2 small holes how do you know what hole is the fill and the bleed? No luck on a manual online.

Hiya, excellent video you possess there.

I've never done that thanks for the video

Well done! Thank you sir!

Wow. I’ve had this one for a few years. After watching a few RU-vid videos. I went to add oil and I must’ve added a half of the container. Didn’t know I needed that much. But it works better now.

Thanks for making this vijeo my friend

Great video thanks 👍

Just what I needed to know!

Very helpful video, I’ve been looking for a video on this exact jack like mine but could not find it until now!

On my Pittsburg 1.5 Ton Jack, you are *not* supposed to fill to the top. You fill it up to 1/4 below the fill screw (which is in a different configuration from yours). You bleed at the same time by opening the the valve by turning counterclockwise and pumping the handle, then put more oil till 1/4” below the fill hole. I confirm this is correct as I bought another one and that is the level when it is new. I once filled to the top and it did not work correctly. The manual is wrong because in the bleed procedure in the front it says fill to the top while the one in the middle of the manual says 1/4” below the fill hole.

Thank you!

ERES LA MEJOR FEITA

Of course i see this the day after i bought my replacement HF jack that i purchased bc the previous jack stopped lifting after 10 years. Maybe ill try this for the heck of it and donate it to someone.

Outstanding content. Thank you for this video! If you don't mind me asking, is that accent from Rhode Island, CT, or other?

Great mine I working like new again

Thanks for showing the whole process!

Thanks for doing this!

Great job!

Bleeding is right , but top filling is over.. Hydraulic Jack is used the quantity of oil to limit the height of Jack lift. When the cylinder is full stroke, No oil can be pumped.

I just got what I thought was the exact same jack from HF. The current 2 ton racing jack is item 64542 and the fill screw is in a completely different location and there is no bleed screw. Nicely done video, though.

My floor jack sags when in use, over a minute or so. I haven't noticed any leaking. Would you check the fluid level first, and if it's OK with no air bubbles, replace the seals and O-rings?

you bled it first and then added oil ? Why not bled AFTER you add oil ?

Does this come pre bled ready to use out of the box? Ordering one.

It is possible to buy the replacement wheels and the bar for them? Thank you!

I hav3 a HF jack that is 7 years old and won’t lift anything all of a sudden. I fail to see how the fix in the video works if the jack did not leak oil but I’ll be happier it does.

AutoZone type jacks put where screw is use power steering fluid works just good power steering fluid is us in a compressed system just like a hydraulic fluid is

Thank youuuuu❤❤❤

Thanks for this video. I almost bought a new jack.

I used your videos to get my 01 saturn up and running. Passed smog like new. I wonder, do you have video for trolly jack?

You Rock

What are those other two screws for? My jack only has the two screws like urs next to the stickers

Thks again

I did exactly what you did and my jacks goes up and stays uo however its too weak to pump up my car. Any advice

Now I just bought a Harbor Freight jack. Should I drain the default oil and replace with good oil? If so how do you drain the oil???

Do I need to do this to a brand new one?

Hello guys. I have a small Chinese 2 ton floor jack that serve me well the last 5 years. The problem (I think i have) is that it doesn't stay up. What I mean.. with no load I lift it and the next day Is down. It drops about 1-2cm every 20 minutes. I change the oil and do the bleeding procedure already. Also when I turn anticlockwise the pressure valve to lower the jack,the silicone filler cap pop up. I press the side of it with a flat screwdriver and always push air out,no matter how many times I do bleed it before. I pull oylut some oil and now the filler plug stays in strong but again when I press it air goes out. There is no leak outside. Is that normal or I should something else?

How do you refill and prime a 10-ton hand pump..............jon_jon.......

If the fill screw is the one offset from the others, why doesn't oil shoot out when you pump the handle? My jack is low on oil and when I pump the handle, oil shoots out and I am unable to fill it. No clue how to fill or bleed mine. It's a Central Hydraulics (Harbor Freight).

fill it with the lift handle upright, not down

Just wondering, when transporting Jack can it lay in any position as mine when in its case would be carried on its side etc, thanks

Thank you for video. I have a 3 ton jack, and works well. My question is, is it safe to jack a car so the jack is vertical? Also when storing the jack should you leave the valve in open or closed position?

What are the bigger plugs for?

but will it hold is the question!

Anyone knows where I can buy o-rings & gaskets for Central Hydraulics Item 92782 (similar to above model)? FYI: Bleeding & filling are useless if above parts are defective (worn/cracked/shrunk). Can't buy parts (or didn't fit) from HPT.

What's the best jack oil or hydraulic fluid 2 use? I see that 1 has the 2 sliver handles on that in 4 wheels the I seen only has 1 handle in 1 solid wheel in between the jack did they change the jack style?

Could you use atf

Easy!

Hi rich. I've been having an issue with my low profile pittsburgh hydraulic jack. Since about a month ago, the jack handle moves freely within the handle insert without lowering the jack. I turn counter clockwise as usual to lower the jack, but it doesn't release. Was wondering if you could help me fix the issue so i don't have to buy a new one! Your input would be great.

Hey Rich, nice video! I have a Harbor Freight floor jack almost identical to the one in this video. Yesterday, it started leaking hydraulic fluid. Have you had a leak issue with yours? Mine left a puddle of fluid under the jack.

Do you have a video of how to repair a floor jack that will not go all the way up??

ONLY ONE OF MY CYLINDERS MOVES THE OTHER DOES NOT?

Thank you!!! I was about to throw mine and go to harbor freight for another one to last another 2 years.

What's the other two srews for?

Rhode Island?

I have a different 2-ton jack. I flushed and refilled it and it seems to work great without losing height. However yesterday when I lowered/released twice I heard loud pop on the very first time when I lowered/released it. It lead me to believe I might have to replace it. It did lifted ok but it did made very loud pop sound twice. Anyone had similar experience. It might have air it it and I need to bleed it?

When I jack my jack up it will slowly lower its self down what does that mean

Good video, but what kind of oil I have to use ?

Could you do a video repairing a similar jack with a leak please?

I have a Pittsburg 3-ton jack that I just bought. Ive looked for a way to get to the fill hole, but it seems like its shielded by a piece that was welded onto the top. None of my tools can reach through the tiny gap that they give me on the jack, and I am essentially stuck. Keep in mind, im new to floor jacks and I just bought this one two days ago. Any help at all would be much appreciated.

Well...when i bleed it didn't any oil come up. So i just filled it with common sense. And ill try. It again

how did you know that was the fill screw... is there any markings on jacks or anything that makes it obvious ?

Don't over-fill your Jack...... i recommend Filling it Full while the Handle is Down/Horizontal that is when the fluid rises. I made the mistake of Filling mine Full with the jack handle Vertical and as soon as i went to Pump down the handle Fluid went Gushing out it was over full...

I tried bleeding my jack .It would still only go about half way up and stop no matter how many times I pumped it.

mi no entender

I have to do that to mine then, its newer but won't lift.

What if it goes up no load but won't go up with a load?

I dont know the brand but thats very thin at the end, ideal for low vehicles :-), and it lifts really quickly in comparison to ordinary jacks, very nice :D Looks like your going up in the world ha ha lol, sorry bad joke :D

When i bleed the air out fluid started leaking out what should i do

I followed manual which said to loosen not remove screw. Then pump. I did. And oil got everywhere lol

what kind of oil do you use?

It's now OVERFILLED with oil which isn't good. The oil level should be just above the cylinder when looking in the hole.

i filled mine right up and when i went to use it the filler plug popped open and oil exploded everywhere. to full o suppose.

what kind of oil did you use? thanks

You left something out.

What kind of oil is that exactly?

I feel asleep watching....the bird came into play and that did it......i was out.....zzzzzzzzz

I wish when I walked outside it was that quiet.

Why didn't you fill the jack reservoir first and then bleed it?

That's not all aluminium. Your jack looks new.