Trolley jack lifting in tiny increments

[threadlock]

I've got two 2-tonne trolley jacks, one old, one new. Both inexpensive Halfords-types. Never had a problem with either... until this afternoon when I needed them for the first time since moving house.

Both would only lift the car in very short increments. The pump handles did maybe 80% of their stroke with minimal resistance and only the last bit actually did any work.

Do they need bleeding? Or more fluid? Can this problem be solved on budget trolley jacks like these or are they sealed for life?

Having (eventually) lifted the car the jack held it without dropping at all, so it didn't seem to be leaking.

[GreenV8S]

threadlock said:

Do they need bleeding? Or more fluid?

If you haven't found two pools of oil anywhere, bleeding would seem the more likely. It seems quite possible they were tipped upside down at some point during the move.

[Mignon]

Probably just needs filling up with oil.

[Doofus]

If two of them have gone wrong, it's probably user error.

Are the valves properly closed?

[E-bmw]

GreenV8S said:

threadlock said:

Do they need bleeding? Or more fluid?

If you haven't found two pools of oil anywhere, bleeding would seem the more likely. It seems quite possible they were tipped upside down at some point during the move.

^^^^ Wot 'e said.

Only reasonable answer to explain both together.

with the valves fully open leave them to settle & with the valves still open pump them for a while & then try again.

Could they be REALLY cold, as that won't help as it makes the oil more viscous?

[threadlock]

Thanks for all the replies.

GreenV8S said:

It seems quite possible they were tipped upside down at some point during the move.

That's certainly possible. Is that a problem for them?

Doofus said:

Are the valves properly closed?

I'm not a complete doofus

E-bmw said:

with the valves fully open leave them to settle & with the valves still open pump them for a while & then try again.

Thanks - I'll try this.

E-bmw said:

Could they be REALLY cold, as that won't help as it makes the oil more viscous?

When I was changing a brake caliper yesterday afternoon it was raining, but it wasn't especially cold.

[E-bmw]

threadlock said:

Thanks for all the replies.

GreenV8S said:

It seems quite possible they were tipped upside down at some point during the move.

That's certainly possible. Is that a problem for them?

It just means they are likely to be full of air, a bleed as above should do the job.

[threadlock]

E-bmw said:

It just means they are likely to be full of air, a bleed as above should do the job.

I'll give it a go later on. Cheers