Good Floor Jack Maintenance guide
Any decent floor jack of good quality and renowned brand will give you good service for years, but it
depends on you – if you maintain it properly it will last long otherwise it may fail and cannot give you service when you need it most.
Maintenance of floor jack is simple and it takes only a few minutes within 2-3 years, what you need is
just the proper knowledge, consciousness and maintenance kits. . You can keep a notebook in your
garage writing a list of all your important tools, maintenance dates, and notes regarding unusual wear or
behavior so that you can easily detect potential problems and continue maintenance on a regular basis.
Tips for floor jack maintenance
Tip 1: Regular Inspection
Always inspect your jack before using, look for cracks, loose nuts or bolts, and any damage that requires
attention. If any damage is found, repair or replace the jack as soon as possible. You should also remain
conscious of any oil spots or signs of leakage as signs of leakage indicate that service is needed. Do not
forget to check the wheels for cracks, flattening on one side, or other damage. The wheels are the most
important parts of the best floor jack system and that is why, do not do late to repair any damage of wheel
Tip 2: Always keep your floor jack neat and clean
Since your floor jack has to expose in grease, it acts like a magnet for dust and dirt. So, clean it after
every use with a clean cloth, and after that wipe the surfaces down with a lightly oiled cloth. At least
once a year, (or more if you use your jack regularly or are extra hard on it), clean the thoroughly to
remove any buildup that is not easily wiped away.
Tip 3: Lubricating
For getting the best service, the wheels and hinges of your floor jacks need to be lubricated using heavy
grease. Although you can lubricate your jack using oil also but grease works better as it remains in place
without dripping. Some higher quality best floor jacks include grease fitting for the hinge system, but most of
the jacks do not. During the annual thorough cleaning, you should remove built up grease and re-grease
when you are done.
Tip 4: Oil changing
In case of hydraulic jack, it is better to change the oil occasionally. Although floor jack is a closed system,
replacing the hydraulic oil on occasion is considered as a wise task that should be performed once every
couple of years for ensuring smooth operation. Before draining the cylinder take note onthe fluid level
and do not overfill or under fill when it is done as under filling may result in a weak lifting system, while
overfilling could permanently damage the jack.
Tip 5: Bleed your cylinder
Do not forget to bleed the system after changing oil, or you will notice erratic behavior of the jack at any
time. When you will notice slow lifting or inability to hold weight once it is lifted, you should bleed the
jack. Never take a risk to use a floor jack that is behaving erratically or even if you have a feeling that
Tip 6: Storage
Before storing the jack cylinder release all pressure. It not only removes stress on the system to keep it
working longer, but also saves your time in setting up the next time you need the jack, and you will need
less space for the storage of the jack. In order to avoid potential leaks and jack malfunction always store
the jack in an upright position.
Courtesy from
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