The Home Machinist!

The bottle jack on my relatively new Harbor Freight 20-ton hydraulic press leaks. I am not all that concerned, since I plan to get an air jack, but can someone tell me if there is a way to fix it? CHEAP?

I had one go bad. There are several decent web pages out there on the subject. You can also make use of the opportunity to drill and tap for a pressure gauge.

How about replacement under warrenty

Depends on where the leak is. Mine leaked at the release screw and was a simple fix using my lathe to make a new screw.

SteveHGraham wrote:The bottle jack on my relatively new Harbor Freight 20-ton hydraulic press leaks. I am not all that concerned, since I plan to get an air jack, but can someone tell me if there is a way to fix it? CHEAP?

Steve,
How about a CLOSEUP PICTURE,and a description
of where on the press the leak is.
You know, like a cracked weld on the cylinder, or a packing
seal, or the release needle valve, oil fill screw, etc.
This would be very helpful to the person that is trying to
help you with a answer to your question,
(Can someone tell me if there is a way to fix it? CHEAP?)

Also what hammermill suggested above.

Just trying to help.

Ken.

I can't even tell where the leak is. I think the warranty is like 20 minutes. I figured it would be less aggravation to get O-rings and fix it.

Theoretically, the outer casing/tank should unscrew from the base, place the base in a vise and a wrench on the top collar. Should lift off the top of the piston, there is an o-ring between the piston and the case for dirt/grime/tank leaks. Inside, there is a pressure cylinder also screwed into the base, the piston slides inside of it with a second o-ring at the base of the piston.

That being said... My HF pipe bender jack died after a bit of use, internal seal leak that caused it to not sustain pressure. I beat on the outer casing repeatedly but could never get it to unscrew. I eventually cut it apart and could unscrew the internal cylinder but the casing was frozen. The o-rings were rock hard and no longer sealed.

My experience with HF if you can bring the item back to the store with the receipt and they have one in stock, they are pretty good at exchanging. I've heard ordering a part can take weeks. Mark

Steve,
I agree with Mark and Hammermill on HF and there warranty's.
I have returned items with the receipt and walked out with a
replacement item. It's my opinion that they handle return's and
replacement's better then Sear's. Remove the hydraulic jack from
the frame and take it to the store where you made your purchase.
My gut feeling is they will hand you a replacement. If they say they
don't have one in stock then suggest that for all your grief this has
caused you that they should give you one of there air operated
equivalents which would keep you as a happy customer.

Ken.

SteveHGraham wrote:I can't even tell where the leak is. I think the warranty is like 20 minutes. I figured it would be less aggravation to get O-rings and fix it.

Uhh, if you don't know where the leak is, how do you know O-rings will fix it?

Confused reader

I dug out my receipt, and it looks like I'm still within the short warranty period, so I plan to take the jack back and see what they do.

The press itself is an exchange. I had to take the first one back because the table or whatever it's called was made incorrectly and would not slide up and down on the upright beams.

SteveHGraham wrote:I dug out my receipt, and it looks like I'm still within the short warranty period, so I plan to take the jack back and see what they do.

The press itself is an exchange. I had to take the first one back because the table or whatever it's called was made incorrectly and would not slide up and down on the upright beams.

Steve,
I am sure they will take care of you.

Ken.