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Hydraulic lift won't lower?

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DRZ4Hunned
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PostPosted: 01:22 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Hydraulic lift won't lower? Reply with quote
I've got a lift similar (could be the same) to this one:

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cml5-hydraulic-motorcycle-and-atv-lift/?da=1&TC=GS-020110194&gclid=CJaMhoex8NICFcEp0wodGfIAag

Ever since buying it second hand, it hasn't lowered past about 2/3 of what it should. This means that I have to lift my bike off which is a bollock ache.

If I stamp on it it will lower about a few millimetres, but nothing substantial. Any idea what could be the issue?
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RhynoCZ
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PostPosted: 01:25 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
Are you sure you fully open the release valve when lowering it? Also, are the springs still there? Something bent, perhaps?
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DRZ4Hunned
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PostPosted: 01:29 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
RhynoCZ wrote:
Are you sure you fully open the release valve when lowering it? Also, are the springs still there? Something bent, perhaps?


Yeah, there's a pedal release valve that I'm standing on and it only partially lowers. I think you could be on to a winner with the spring though... I don't recall seeing one, but I'll have to double check tomorrow. Thumbs Up
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ZebraDriver
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PostPosted: 11:30 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
You have pulled out the locking pin when your trying to lower it?


Mine has a two position pin (about 13mm dia and 400mmlong) that goes through two holes in the frame as a safety device - to prevent it lowering when it shouldn't (in the event of hydraulic failure or someone pressing the down pedal accidently). The pin has two sets of holes that lock it fully up and about three quarters up.

If this is in place the lift will not lower.
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iansoady
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PostPosted: 11:46 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
You have made sure those little sprag bars on either side (black diagonal things on the pic) aren't locking it? I always nip up the nuts slightly on those so I can move them but they don't just drop into position.
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DRZ4Hunned
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PostPosted: 21:20 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
ZebraDriver wrote:
You have pulled out the locking pin when your trying to lower it?


Mine has a two position pin (about 13mm dia and 400mmlong) that goes through two holes in the frame as a safety device - to prevent it lowering when it shouldn't (in the event of hydraulic failure or someone pressing the down pedal accidently). The pin has two sets of holes that lock it fully up and about three quarters up.

If this is in place the lift will not lower.


The one in the link doesn't have a locking pin though does it? Mine is the same design as that.

[/quote]
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DRZ4Hunned
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PostPosted: 21:20 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
iansoady wrote:
You have made sure those little sprag bars on either side (black diagonal things on the pic) aren't locking it? I always nip up the nuts slightly on those so I can move them but they don't just drop into position.


Yeah they're definitely up whilst I'm trying to lower it.

Could there be some sort of hydraulic lock preventing it from lowering?
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pepperami
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PostPosted: 21:33 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
Silly question: have you over filled the oil reservoir ?
Meaning when you press the release pedal the oil returns to the reservoir and the excess can't go into the reservoir and the lift stays partially up.

Just an idea?
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DRZ4Hunned
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PostPosted: 21:37 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
pepperami wrote:
Silly question: have you over filled the oil reservoir ?
Meaning when you press the release pedal the oil returns to the reservoir and the excess can't go into the reservoir and the lift stays partially up.

Just an idea?


I thought the bottle jack was a sealed unit, so I haven't added any oil to it. It used to work (but was very creaky), now it just won't lower past a certain point at all. Neutral
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andym
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PostPosted: 21:40 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ignore me, I'm tired.... but maybe a little spray of WD40 or something around the piston seal?
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DRZ4Hunned
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PostPosted: 22:11 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
andym - the bastard wrote:
Ignore me, I'm tired.... but maybe a little spray of WD40 or something around the piston seal?


Tried that with some 3 in 1 oil Crying or Very sad
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RhynoCZ
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PostPosted: 23:33 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
DRZ4Hunned wrote:
pepperami wrote:
Silly question: have you over filled the oil reservoir ?
Meaning when you press the release pedal the oil returns to the reservoir and the excess can't go into the reservoir and the lift stays partially up.

Just an idea?


I thought the bottle jack was a sealed unit, so I haven't added any oil to it. It used to work (but was very creaky), now it just won't lower past a certain point at all. Neutral


Change the oil in it. Motorcycle fork oil should be alright (I used fork oil in my hydraulic lift. The original oil leaked out, worn seal.). Thumbs Up

If it's empty and still doesn't go all the way down, then there's something really fecked up.
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DRZ4Hunned
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PostPosted: 23:35 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
RhynoCZ wrote:

Change the oil in it. Motorcycle fork oil should be alright. Thumbs Up

If it's empty and still doesn't go all the way down, then there's something really fecked up.


Awesome, will try figure out how to do it and report back Thumbs Up
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RhynoCZ
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PostPosted: 23:45 - 25 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
My lift had just a rubber plug in the reservoir. There's no pressure in the reservoir, so I guess there's no need for a bolt. Thumbs Up

Not enough oil = lift won't go as high as it could.
Too much oil = can never happen, because of the way you fill the reservoir up.
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pepperami
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PostPosted: 10:41 - 26 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
RhynoCZ wrote:

Too much oil = can never happen, because of the way you fill the reservoir up.

Hmmm. Maybe, depends on what model/make of lift you have.
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DRZ4Hunned
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PostPosted: 18:05 - 26 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
Fixed it! The pole to move it around had slipped down and was blocking it from lowering, feel thick that it took me so long to realise Shocked
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sickpup
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PostPosted: 08:07 - 27 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
RhynoCZ wrote:
Change the oil in it. Motorcycle fork oil should be alright (I used fork oil in my hydraulic lift. The original oil leaked out, worn seal.). Thumbs Up


Living in a first world country we have access to hydraulic oil which is gerenerally cheaper then fork oil.

HTH Thumbs Up
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iansoady
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PostPosted: 10:22 - 27 Mar 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well done.

I don't use that pole on mine as it looks too unstable but just grab the top of the lift to shuffle it around.
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