HWH 6000lb leveling Jack won't flip down - actuator change or repair.

[eXodus]

Hey there,

first I did use the search, and I found a manual, and did the troubleshoot.
My right front jack just extends horizontally and has no interest in swinging down - per hand - it's very easy- cables are there, everything is lubricated.

The manual states: Change the Actuator. But how ? and could this part be repaired ? The actuator is about $ 200 for this price I could get a new used complete jack.

Thanks
Sebastian

[Stripe]

Can you take a pic of the jack for me, I believe I have the same system.  I might have a fix for you..

[eXodus]

Hello Frederic,


I've got a AP7164 Jack, also know as AP12447


[smg id=6729]


[smg id=6730]


and I made a pic of the actuator for you:


[smg id=6731]

[circleD]

Don't you have hydraulic jacks Stripe?

[Stripe]

cD, Yes, I do..

eXodus, unless I miss my mark, I believe if it is the actuator, then you can in most cases rebuild it.  I'll see if I can find a seal kit for that model..

[eXodus]

Stripe, that would be very cool.

As I understand the what the actuator does in this jack - it extends first, after full extension - the hydraulic fluid is routed to the jack itself.
So there must be some kind of valve inside that actuator.

When removing the pressure the actuator holds the pressure until the jack is fully retracted and after this it retracts and the jack swings up.

What happens if this system fails - I can see it now - the jack and the actuator are getting pressure to the same time - but the jack has much more surface so all fluid is going there.
And probably a mechanism prevents the actuator to get more fluid after the jack starts moving. Just tried it and after removing the pressure the jack itself not moving back anymore.
But after moving the jack down (this extends the actuator) the jack itself retracts a little.

[pvoth1111]

I had issue with mine too.....lube all rotating points.....make sure in the retracted (all) postion that your fluid level is correct......and side point changing those springs is a real mother.....I carry spares....and note the back one may be a different models.....over all they are real simple and there should be info in the members area and tons of stuff at their website......oh and if the fluid level was low there could be air in the system.....fill it and exercise everything ....not using them like most things causes them not to work well. 

[eXodus]

so yesterday after two weeks of being extend my left rear jack doesn't want to go up either. I decided to change the leveling fluid.
Has anybody every did this before ? I want to flush the lines to each and every jack somehow. The manual states: "Change the fluid in the Reservoir every 36 months. "

Dexron IV should be done in the system.
Or should I just add the new fluid then exercise the whole extending and getting back procedure and then change again ? Hopefully it's just dirt.

[circleD]

My thinking is if you drain it all then refill it air bubbles would be everywhere. If you add new to the old and work it through the system till its clean. It'll take more fluid but that's how I do brake bleeding. So when all clean fluid shows I know its flushed.

[eXodus]

this is probably the best way to go. Different then in the manual my reservoir has no drain plug, so they only way I can get the fluid out would be - sucking it somehow or let the pump run and bleed it out.  Bleed it out is better, because the last amount which is in the jacks it self is only moving back and forth. This fluid would never go to the pump/reservoir.

Hopefully my jack will retract when I open the lines. Are there any washers or seals which need to be replaced when opening the connection ?

[eXodus]

so today I fixed it.

I got a completely new Jack for less then $180 one AP0991.  It works very good, but it seems like it is a whole lot shorter then the ram on the other side.
Don't know yet. Maybe it is still air in the system.

I did bleed about half of the fluid and topped with new Dexron.
I discovered that the ram on the drivers site is a completely different model then on the other side which I replaced.  Sure i did only look at the broken jack not on the other side... maybe the PO did already changed this ram to a wrong one... lol 

Worst case I have always to carry some wood to get it under the jack before I start leveling. Not to bad for a Friday.