Refurbishing a floor jack and a bottle jack?
 

Last year, a long-time neighbor of ours moved to CA and gave another neighbor his old floor jack and bottle jack. That neighbor didn't need them, so he filled 'em with hydraulic fluid and gave them to me. Initially, they both worked well, but it now neither of them is holding a load well. The floor jack still will lift something well, but it won't hold it for long time. The bottle jack won't even hold a 722.3.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what I should do about these? Should I try replacing the seals in them? I don't know what make or model they are, so I assume that I would have to remove the old seals and find matches for them that way. Is there something else?

Here are pictures of the jacks:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1397528244
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1397528244
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1397528244
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1397528244
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1397528244

I should clarify that I never, ever, ever go under a car that is not supported securely by jack stands, but that I often like to leave the floor jack in place under whatever I used to lift the car in case something drastic happens...

They're a pair of accidents waiting to happen. Toss them.

throw them away is my advice

So there's nothing to be done? Nothing you can salvage? At least the floor jack still lifts stuff well, it just can't hold anything for an extended length of time.

I'm a poor high school student, I can't afford new stuff...

I've rebuilt hydraulic camper jacks before. It's been a while but I think I just took the old seals in to a hydraulic seal supplier, got new ones and installed them. Not a big deal. I'd never done it before and it worked well afterwards.

1Duralast/2 Ton trolley jack (80620T) | Jack | AutoZone.com

theyre pretty cheap. if you were in mesa, i would give you one. the ram on the floor jack looks to be in rough shape.

You can get a decent bottle jack really cheap (like $20). Not worth the hassle. I actually thought there was a relatively new one in the trunk of the SD but I might have taken it out prior to your acquisition.

You see the outside all corroded....lot of time the inside is the same.

The one with wheels is like a toy jack....I helped a buddy towing one time....we used those kind...wear out, scavenge wheels maybe then toss them.

Harbor freight.....others.....most those are Chinese made...tough to get parts for.

Jack stands aren't a guarantee either.....

nothing is, not even a tire, but jack stands are the safest bet. my dad used to drill that into our heads when younger. i still to this day wont even take a peek until ive got stands under it.

Those will bring a few dollars from yonder scrap metal yard

I'd toss the bottle jack, as one is far too close to the lift when trying to use it.
Catastrophic failure could be catastrophic....;)

The little floor jack, I'd keep it and use it, understanding it's limitations.
You never know, you might come across another one that has a good cylinder and bent structure. People tend to abuse those things, I've seen several that were all bent up, but still had a perfect hydraulic cylinder.

Of course, you could opt to take either or both apart and give the inside a visual inspection. If they are clear of fouling or corrosion on the inside, it might be worth putting some new seals in. Especially as a learning experience.

If you weren't so far away, I'd take them both.

Those old dogs were over engineered by a 3X factor for safety.

They may be a bit awkward or hard to take apart but they cab always be used as aux jacks or as the power for something that needs a hydraulic oomph.

the bottle jack maybe, but the floor jack doesn't look old to me. Not worth keeping around if its not working properly

However, I might decided to keep and clean up the bottle jack if I were mr Jooseppi