P38 Bottle Jack

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Canyon

New Member
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THE most useless jack in history.

Went to change over a tyre today ( slow puncture) thought I could do it in 20mins. Went to use the bottle jack did see some light oil all over it, but thought nothin of it.
Anyway postioned the jack correctly and started to pump the arm, it started to rise until it got to a certain point and then you could hear a small jack fart.
Still kept pumping away and not getting anywhere fast.
Pulled the jack out from under the car and tightened the release valve again. Repeated again as above, still getting a small parp, and not lifting the wheel clear.
So I now think not enought oil is in the jack and it has some how leaked out.

So question is, which oil to refill with ( will any oil do?) also how to refill it?
 
THE most useless jack in history.

Went to change over a tyre today ( slow puncture) thought I could do it in 20mins. Went to use the bottle jack did see some light oil all over it, but thought nothin of it.
Anyway postioned the jack correctly and started to pump the arm, it started to rise until it got to a certain point and then you could hear a small jack fart.
Still kept pumping away and not getting anywhere fast.
Pulled the jack out from under the car and tightened the release valve again. Repeated again as above, still getting a small parp, and not lifting the wheel clear.
So I now think not enought oil is in the jack and it has some how leaked out.

So question is, which oil to refill with ( will any oil do?) also how to refill it?

Comma Jack oil or hydraulic oil. Should be a small filler plug on it somewhere:)
 
Yep I have some transmission fluid left over, so I will use that. How do I purge any air out?
I am assuming the rubber plug is the filler? And I fill it up on it's side?
 
Yep I have some transmission fluid left over, so I will use that. How do I purge any air out?
I am assuming the rubber plug is the filler? And I fill it up on it's side?

It's the filler/level plug. The jack should be self bleeding.
If you know an engineering workshop locally, see if you can scrounge half a pint of light Hydraulic oil such as Mobil DTE light.
 
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Yep I have some transmission fluid left over, so I will use that. How do I purge any air out?
I am assuming the rubber plug is the filler? And I fill it up on it's side?

It will purge itself just put a little at a time in and pump up, keep filling untill it fully extends. If you put a little to much in it will eject it from filler when jack is retracted.
 
Thanks for the advice, still scratching my head over how to actually get the oil in to the jack , do they make funnels this small?
 
Not the easiest thing to get spares for or repair.
When I bought my Disco, admittedly a good few years ago, the jack (Same as the RR & P38) was missing. Bought one from Equicar, Wolverhampton (By far not the cheapest breakers) for £20 including the handles. It looked as though it had never been used and was in pristine condition.
For reasons of safety, if it doesn't work after filling it or shows signs of leakage past any seals.....bin it !!
Are you sure the pressure release screw is working properly ?
 
So I filled it up with transmission fluid via the fill/level plug, pumped the handle, nothing.
The jack looks like new, can't think why it has failed. I maybe think that the oil might be too thin. I will drain and refill with thicker oil.

The pressure release valve looks ok to me , I did remove it to check the seal and seems fine.

What else can check or test?
 
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