Craftsman
Floor Jack Hydraulic Oil Filling Guide
How to fix a poorly performing Craftsman
floor jack by adding new hydraulic oil with picture illustrated instructions.
Craftsman Floor Jack |
Jack Release Valve |
Open Valve All Way |
This
Craftsman 2 1/4 Ton automotive floor jack has been reliably lifting
our vehicles for over a decade without any degradation in
performance. So I was surprised when the jack was suddenly unable to even lift one wheel of my friend's Chevy Cobalt compact car off the ground. I was shopping online for a new floor jack when I decided to examine the jack and its carrying case again before making a purchase. I discovered that there was a small pool of hydraulic oil in the case. The leak originated from the loose rubber oil filler plug and occurred when the carrying case was mistakenly left upside down for a few weeks. Instead of buying a pricey new jack, I instead purchased a large 32 ounce bottle of Sta-Lube hydraulic jack oil for just a few bucks. |
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Push Jack "Saddle" Down |
Remove Metal Cover |
Pry Out Fill Hole Plug |
The first step is to open the floor jack's
release valve by turning it all the way to the left (counter clockwise).
Then push down on the "saddle" (lifting arm) until it is in the fully
lowered position. Next remove the metal cover that conceals the jack's spring and hydraulic oil filler hole. Use a small flathead screwdriver to gently pry out the rubber plug from the oil filler hole. |
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Fill Hole Rubber Plug |
Small Automotive Funnel |
Hydraulic & Jack Oil $8 |
After the rubber plug is removed, you'll be able to see the hydraulic oil level. I could see that the reservoir in my jack was nearly empty which explains its inability to lift a vehicle. | ||
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Funnel With Tubing |
Slowly Pour In Oil |
Filling Jack Oil Reservoir |
Use a small funnel or a large syringe to slowly add oil to the reservoir until the level reaches to just below the filler hole. | ||
Oil Near Fill Hole |
Close Valve - Test Jack |
Checking Oil Level |
Then close the release valve all the way by turning it to the right (clockwise) and attach the handle to the lifting mechanism. Pump the handle until the saddle reaches its maximum height. If the handle doesn't max out, you may need to a tiny bit of extra hydraulic oil. | ||
Few Ounces Oil Used |
Close Valve - Clockwise |
Accord - Both Wheels Up! |
I was very pleased
to see that my Craftsman 2.25 ton floor jack was easily able to lift the
entire passenger side of a Honda Accord after re-filling the hydraulic oil
reservoir.
Even if the floor jack also has a very slow oil leak from the piston or release valve, I should be able to keep it working well for years to come by topping off the fluid with the large bottle of hydraulic jack oil that I purchased from Amazon. If your floor jack has a rapid oil leak, it would be best to remove the faulty gasket and purchase a replacement at a hardware store or automotive parts store. |
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Replacing Filler Plug |
Oil Filler Plug Replaced |
Replace Jack Top Cover |
To complete the
job, re-insert the rubber oil filler plug and replace the cover board over
the top of the floor jack. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spilled
hydraulic oil to prevent someone from slipping and falling.
For more of my
automotive DIY guides, please check out the following links:
Nissan Altima Repair Guides,
Honda Accord Repair Guides,
GM Pontiac Grand Prix Repair Guides,
Ford Edge Repair Guides,
Toyota Corolla Repair Guides,
Honda Civic Repair Guides,
Chevy Impala Repair Guides,
Honda Fit Repair Guides,
Dodge Charger Repair Guides,
Nissan Cube Repair Guides,
Hyundai Santa Fe Repair Guides,
Mazda CX-9 Repair Guides,
Toyota Camry Repair Guides,
Ford Fusion Repair Guides and
Toyota 4Runner Repair Guides. |
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