[garretthes]

Found a great "how to" doc online. Took about 45 minutes but my Michelin jack is working again!

[jetnow1]

So why not post where this doc is to help the next guy? Thanks-Jim

[garretthes]

I was going to but it's a pdf file and I couldn't grab the link. Let me see if I can copy and paste the text.

[garretthes]

Found another link to it.
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Arch.../msg00014.html

[xunit13]

Guys, As a rebuilder of floor jacks I will share some thoughts. First , China jacks are cheap because of poor quality. Most are impossible to get parts for, except NAPA.
Most fail within a year or two. The best use for them is a boat anchor. Now on the other hand, old American jacks are bullet proof, high quality if you can find them. Blackhawk, Walker/Lincoln, Hien Werner, etc. There are still rebuild kits available for them. The kits are usually between $50 and$100 on the net. Your local hydrulic repair company can fix it for you. Usually between $150 and $200. You will have a jack that will last another 20 years. Charlie

[cranky1]

I have a couple of Lincolns and they both need kits and I bought them. Don't remember what I paid but don't remember them being very expensive. On the China made crap, I just add heavier oil to those POS's....usually makes them work again.

[Coolball]

Something I picked up from another thread was to use brake fluid to fix a leaky jack. Have an old Montgomery Ward jack that started leaking and it's been the best jack I've owned so I gave it a shot and it's worked for me so far after a few months. Seems to be you get lucky or you don't on rebuilding.

[cranky1]

Brake fluid makes the seals swell....but it's not something that you should leave in it since most of the time, the seals will continue to swell....

[Coneboy]

Here's a link to a GREAT "How-to" on floor jack rebuilding. Hope it helps! http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51105

[Coolball]

Confirmation on the brake fluid swelling the seals. It was a temp fix for about 2 months of heavy use and now it's back to leaking.

[adamsautoadvice]

Originally Posted by Coneboy

Here's a link to a GREAT "How-to" on floor jack rebuilding. Hope it helps! http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51105

I was going to suggest looking at that thread too!

[Tony_G]

I have the same floor jack, it's the blue Michelin 3.5 ton. Mine stopped lifting after I lifted mt super duty with it to rotate my tires. I found it also had a stuck valve, what I did was pulled the screw that is on the far right side (as you are standing with the handle in your hand), it will leak fluid....about a tbl spoon. I lifted the arm a little and let it fall back down, when I did the spring popped our and it freed up the stuck valve. It was also about a 1/4 cup low on fluid, I used DOT 3 brake fluid and mine is working great!

TonyG (the other TonyG)

Hope this helps.

[Maxwell007]

Try this....has tons of good info.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=36252

[Keeper]

Anything on that forum by Hiball will help, he can also point you in the right direction for parts/kits as well.

Funny how all us junkies end up on the same websites...lol