Posted 2013-12-29 5:20 PM (#156474) Subject: Air in Hydraulic Jack on Trailer
Regular
Posts: 53 Location: Tomball, TX
Had the pump on my trailer's hydraulic jack because it was leaking. Now according to the shop there is air in the lines. The trailer shakes like crazy when you lower the jack. The solution I got was "run it up and down a few times to get the air out." So far I have spent the better part of 3 hours on and off running the jack up and down and it is not any better. Help.
Posted 2013-12-29 7:43 PM (#156479 - in reply to #156474) Subject: RE: Air in Hydraulic Jack on Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 259 Location: Topeka Ks
The shops advice is correct, cycling the jack should remove the air. Support the trailer and run the jack up till it stops. All the fluid will be in the reservoir. Let the air in the oil rise and lower the jack all the way to the top. It should lift the trailer off rhe supports. Most all the fluid will now be in the ram. You may have to cycle it one more time.I would guess if your still having troubles then a trip the the shop is in order. I would drag the trailer in so they can see the whole picture.
Posted 2013-12-29 9:08 PM (#156486 - in reply to #156474) Subject: RE: Air in Hydraulic Jack on Trailer
Regular
Posts: 53 Location: Tomball, TX
Should there be no pressure on the jack when trying to work out the air? At first the trailer was sitting with the jack on a square brick (as in parked, unused) - horrible shaking...then I loaded the trailer onto the truck to take the pressure off the jack - no change.
Posted 2013-12-29 11:12 PM (#156487 - in reply to #156474) Subject: RE: Air in Hydraulic Jack on Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 259 Location: Topeka Ks
I always try to bleed air out of a system without without a load. I wouldn't think air would cause severe shaking it sounds like something else is going on. I would let the shop take a look at it.Jg
Posted 2014-01-01 7:01 PM (#156583 - in reply to #156474) Subject: RE: Air in Hydraulic Jack on Trailer
Regular
Posts: 53 Location: Tomball, TX
Actually the shop was pretty busy when I was there and then there was New Years. Whatever it is they need to fix it as I feel they did not complete the job.
Posted 2014-01-01 9:33 PM (#156589 - in reply to #156474) Subject: RE: Air in Hydraulic Jack on Trailer
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by poshponies on 2013-12-29 5:20 PM
Had the pump on my trailer's hydraulic jack because it was leaking. Now according to the shop there is air in the lines. The trailer shakes like crazy when you lower the jack. The solution I got was "run it up and down a few times to get the air out." So far I have spent the better part of 3 hours on and off running the jack up and down and it is not any better. Help.
Posted 2014-01-02 9:07 AM (#156596 - in reply to #156474) Subject: RE: Air in Hydraulic Jack on Trailer
Regular
Posts: 53 Location: Tomball, TX
Thanks, Paul, that was an interesting read and apparently there is more of a problem with the jack system than just a noise! Hope that they can just bleed the lines and the noise will stop. Never had a problem with this electric jack in the 13 years I've owned the trailer. Shop said the leaking fluid came from the 'bottom' and was an unusual place for a leak to occur. Part was $378 plus labor. Shop foreman didn't seem overly concerned when I picked up the trailer and it sounded like a jackhammer when his assistant tried to load it onto the truck. I will be very picky this time when picking it up.
Posted 2014-01-03 9:29 AM (#156627 - in reply to #156474) Subject: RE: Air in Hydraulic Jack on Trailer
Regular
Posts: 53 Location: Tomball, TX
Hi All: spoke with the shop this morning and they are waiting on a call from Equalizer, makers of the hydraulic jack (hard to contact). Situation is a valve is apparently allowing fluid to run back into the reservoir faster than it should. Cheap fix. Tango97: I use ASAP Trailers for repairs (authorized by 4 Star BTW). In spite of my several posts on the forum re fixing things on my trailer, which I attribute to lack on knowledge on my part and plain age/maintenance on the part of the trailer, ASAP has done a fab job of keeping us on the road. I highly recommend them. They are located a couple miles west of Tomball on FM2920...281-351-7855.
Posted 2014-01-04 2:39 AM (#156650 - in reply to #156627) Subject: RE: Air in Hydraulic Jack on Trailer
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by poshponies on 2014-01-03 9:29 AM
Hi All: spoke with the shop this morning and they are waiting on a call from Equalizer, makers of the hydraulic jack (hard to contact). Situation is a valve is apparently allowing fluid to run back into the reservoir faster than it should. Cheap fix. Tango97: I use ASAP Trailers for repairs (authorized by 4 Star BTW). In spite of my several posts on the forum re fixing things on my trailer, which I attribute to lack on knowledge on my part and plain age/maintenance on the part of the trailer, ASAP has done a fab job of keeping us on the road. I highly recommend them. They are located a couple miles west of Tomball on FM2920...281-351-7855.
Hopefully the questionable valve is a simple replacement effort and all they are waiting on is either the replacement part of what can be a suitable substitute...:)
Air in Hydraulic Jack on Trailer
