Replace hydraulic leveling jack

jerseyjim wrote:
If the chrome shaft (piston) is in ANY WAY damaged (scored, cut, gouge, cracked) there is no way to fix it.
I just replaced one leaking POWERGEAR jack for just a bit over $600. There was nothing else I could do.
POWERGEAR will NOT sell to an individual. You must go thru a dealer or retailer. And, of course they get their commission (markup) just for making the phone call you can make....and save that money. Everyone gets their pound of flesh.

Rebuild? Check the POWERGEAR website. Some of their jacks have a "re-build kit"...seals, O-Rings, whatever. Cheap, too. But...MY MODEL? Nope. And to add another problem...no "hydraulic shop" (local) wants anything to do with it. All they do is take care of hoses and fittings. One shop (a truck hydraulic place) would not do anything because it was not "their brand". And...any shop less than 80 miles from my house will not even attempt a rebuild.
So...what would a rebuild cost? I would hazard a guess not much less than a new one....ESPECIALLY if a new chrome piston is needed (maybe more?) ....and no warranty. POWERGEAR gives an outreageously short warranty of, I think 3 months...For 600 bucks. You CAN find used ones on the 'net for 1/2 the price of a new one. Some of them have no mounting plate...and used???? Sometimes a bargain is not a bargain. Not for me...
Explore what I just wrote...you may find the same situation. g'luck.

((Edited to say:) I removed the old and installed the new myself. The 6 bolts were really a job to remove...12 years of dirt, grime, rust, whatever...a 200 psi air compressor and a GOOD air hammer did the job (my 12 gallon 125# and Harbor Freight thingy simply wasn't up to it...I borrowed the 200psi compressor and the Snap-On air hammer)..and of course, the 5/16-24 bolts and nuts were hardened...and where could I get them? Nowhere except GRAINGER...and I had to buy 50 of each. ($100 more or less). However...I figured if one jack goes, how far behind are the others? If nothing else, I've got the nuts and bolts to replace them all. A real bummer.))

I have never had a problem with the bolts on any Jack. I just soak them 24 hours in Liquid Wrench, and then use my air Impact. Liquid Wrench is a wonder lubricant. Doug

If the chrome shaft (piston) is in ANY WAY damaged (scored, cut, gouge, cracked) there is no way to fix it.
I just replaced one leaking POWERGEAR jack for just a bit over $600. There was nothing else I could do.
POWERGEAR will NOT sell to an individual. You must go thru a dealer or retailer. And, of course they get their commission (markup) just for making the phone call you can make....and save that money. Everyone gets their pound of flesh.

Rebuild? Check the POWERGEAR website. Some of their jacks have a "re-build kit"...seals, O-Rings, whatever. Cheap, too. But...MY MODEL? Nope. And to add another problem...no "hydraulic shop" (local) wants anything to do with it. All they do is take care of hoses and fittings. One shop (a truck hydraulic place) would not do anything because it was not "their brand". And...any shop less than 80 miles from my house will not even attempt a rebuild.
So...what would a rebuild cost? I would hazard a guess not much less than a new one....ESPECIALLY if a new chrome piston is needed (maybe more?) ....and no warranty. POWERGEAR gives an outreageously short warranty of, I think 3 months...For 600 bucks. You CAN find used ones on the 'net for 1/2 the price of a new one. Some of them have no mounting plate...and used???? Sometimes a bargain is not a bargain. Not for me...
Explore what I just wrote...you may find the same situation. g'luck.

((Edited to say:) I removed the old and installed the new myself. The 6 bolts were really a job to remove...12 years of dirt, grime, rust, whatever...a 200 psi air compressor and a GOOD air hammer did the job (my 12 gallon 125# and Harbor Freight thingy simply wasn't up to it...I borrowed the 200psi compressor and the Snap-On air hammer)..and of course, the 5/16-24 bolts and nuts were hardened...and where could I get them? Nowhere except GRAINGER...and I had to buy 50 of each. ($100 more or less). However...I figured if one jack goes, how far behind are the others? If nothing else, I've got the nuts and bolts to replace them all. A real bummer.))

John Wayne wrote:
I'd pull it and take it to a hydraulic shop and see if it can be rebuilt. Would be cheaper in the long run.

X2

A local, private shop should be able to repair the jack considerably cheaper than buying a new one from the manufacturer or sending it in for them to repair. It isn't rocket science.

Trackrig wrote:
Your profile doesn't say what your MH is or the age of it, but since you're working on the hydraulics anyway, I'd change the hydraulic fluid also.

Bill

Why replace the fluid? Doug

Your profile doesn't say what your MH is or the age of it, but since you're working on the hydraulics anyway, I'd change the hydraulic fluid also.

Bill

I'd pull it and take it to a hydraulic shop and see if it can be rebuilt. Would be cheaper in the long run.