Hi-Lift Jack wont jack down - WTF?

As per title - I googled it, lot's of forums suggesting that it needed lube on the pins, however, fun fact:

• It's brand new - still had factory lube on it.

WD40 applied anyway - still wont go down, it'll just rock up and then down the same distance for each stroke, no pin action.

It's an interesting mechanism, but a wee bit hard to be sure of what it's meant to do as the issue mean I've never actually seen what it's meant to do

Lucky I had access to a standard LR jack or I'd be kicking the Defender over to get the jack out. :hide:

So, anyways, in a moment of zen-like reflection I notice that a pin- er.. -pin (?) (the pin that goes through the pin) is bent.

Is this normal?

I suspect not...

No, should not be bent, but struggling to see what difference it would make!

Yeah, it was hard to reverse engineer in its faulty state.

Theory is that the plate thing with the angled 'cams' that slides up and down, it won't push out the pin enough to start the next iteration.

Actually, it almost looks like it caused the bend in the first place.

To lever down it needs weight on the lifting pad .. they don't lever down without weight. The bent pin won't make any difference to it. It shouldn't be like that, mind, but mine's also been bent for years, just nowhere near as badly!

Can't hurt straightening it, I guess that with the amount of bend that pin has it could be twisting the large pin so the chamfer that does the locking/sliding is binding ...

Plenty of weight on the jack as a whole each time - almost had a rear wheel off the ground...

I'll straighten it and try lifting something more relaxing (but heavy enough to make it all happen).

Ah right, sorry ..

I did once stand by and watch (laughing) at a mate trying to lower the pad down, stood without any weight on, and him resorting to kicking it all over!

Can't hurt by straightening it and you win if it works. If it's a proper Hi-Lift there are repair kits available with pins, springs and sundries in them, so if it does straighten and works, I'd replace it ASAP.

The picture looks like it has one of those pins in it ... I'd have a look at mine, but lost the packet, and pegs etc long ago!!!

http://www.paddockspares.com/pm688-hi-lift-maintenance-kit.html

If you do try straightening it don't break it

Sorry, missed these replies...

Well, it was bent well into the range of 'bend it back and it'll be f$cked'...

Took one wee tap with a hammer afterwards to break it proper. New one on the way from firstfour.co.uk (the retailer, in this case)