Levelers Need Help Retracting

Replacing the springs is the usual solution to this problem. Be careful, if one of those things slips, you can get hurt. WD40 is not a good product to use on the rams. Better a spray white lithium grease.

Hi,

Automatic Transmission Fluid is what I refill my hydraulic reservoir with, and that is in contact with the cylinders and seals all the time when the lifts are retracted.

A little ATF on the cylinders should help. How long have the lifts been down? Do you bring them up every once in a while, or is this a thing that happened while spending long term someplace?

I think that the company does not want WD 40 on the cylinders because it might react with whatever the seal is made from. But that is just a guess.

Good luck,

Fred.

Extend the rams as far as possible. Wipe the rams down with ATF. With the rams wet with ATF try to retract the rams. It might take 2 or 3 times wetting the rams and retracting to get them to operate. It's a easy try to get them working.

Replacing the spring(s) might be your best long term option. There are a couple of different ways to do it and a search on the forum should give you an idea of the work involved. If you do want to try a bit of lube on the extended cylinders using the same oil as what is in the system is probably best. Less is better as you want to avoid dirt and such sticking to the extended cylinder. The seal should clean the cylinder as it retracts but best to avoid the need.

Have you checked the hydraulic fluid reservoir on the pump?