Transmission fluid additive in the hydraulic system

Extend the cylinder with no load on it to the maximum travel. Using fine emery cloth, polish the exposed piston. Wipe down with solvent to remove any sanding dust. Oil piston lightly with a lubricant that doesn't deteriorate plastic or rubber (motor oil works well and this eliminates WD-40 as a lubricant).

This is a question senor westend, not a comment or a critique of your response...

Is not extremely fine emery cloth referred to as "crocus cloth"? I would like to re-learn this as I have projects that would love to see "fine emery cloth" and wish to know for sure if the term "crocus cloth" would succinctly define what I need to a hardware store employee north of the border.

I was talking about an additive I could add to the fluid reservoir and have it soften the seals. I would hate to add something to the fluid and have all 4 jacks quit working. I guess the safe way is to just keep the cylinders lubricated from time to time.

Ken

Try Lucas Power Steering Fluid with Conditioners. It claims to have seal conditioner in it. Power steering and transmission fluids are both just hydraulic fluid so should be compatible.

This is a hairball grade better than nothing band-aid for a leaking hydraulic cylinder seal. Directions must be followed exactly to the letter or total cylinder seal failure will occur.

Brake fluid. Any.

Cloths (2) both clean.

Wipe extended protruding cylinder shaft to clean off hydraulic oil.

Wipe on a THIN coat of brake fluid to the exposed cylinder shaft. Careful! No drops, no slops.
Now retract the cylinder shaft.
Wait 3 hours.

Extend the shaft.

Did this reduce the amount of leakage?
Brake fluid swells neoprene. But I warn you, this is a tourniquet not a health spa treatment.

take it off take to a shop have rebuilt. then it won,t fail on your next trip.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
This is a question senor westend, not a comment or a critique of your response...

Is not extremely fine emery cloth referred to as "crocus cloth"? I would like to re-learn this as I have projects that would love to see "fine emery cloth" and wish to know for sure if the term "crocus cloth" would succinctly define what I need to a hardware store employee north of the border.

Crocus cloth has iron oxide for abrasive and has nothing to do with emery cloth. Both have there place but crocus cloth would be better suited for a cylinder rod.

The jack is not leaking at all. It is just going up slowly. On one cycle it stopped 1 inch from going all the way up and would go no further and the jack down light stayed on. After cleaning and lubricating it with fully extended with automatic transmission fluid it goes all the way back up but is still a little slower than the other rear jack.

I think in the end I will have the get a new jack or this one rebuilt but we will see.

Ken

Perhaps it's time for new springs? They do get stretched out, rusted, etc.

1. HWH is ADAMANT to NOT use any additive in the system
2. Under warranty, when the seals stick. HWH replaces the cylinder, NOT try to do silly things like polish the cylinder or wipe it down with something else or add an additive. ALL that does is temporarily stop the problem. It comes back in a few weeks or a month.
3. The problem is the seals have stiffened up and only a rebuild or replacement with the new style seals will fix the problem
4. If you want to know if springs are your problem
1. If they are NOT rusted and both ends taper up to the hook, your springs are OK
2. When you retract, with NO springs, you can easily push the cylinder fully up. If you suspect the springs, when it stops, manually push it up. If you cannot, then springs are not the problem. Doug