Jack Failure

[Chewie]

My jack failed this morning, while I was lifting my truck. I have stands, so I wouldn't have been under it, but it was an eye opener. Never had one fail like that. I had to move the truck, so I wasn't laying in the oil. I think it's obvious a seal failed, but having never opened one up, what should I be looking for? Assuming it's serviceable.
It's a Craftsman 3 ton, about 15 years old.

[Gordon Maney]

Do you have a hydraulic repair company near you?

[712edf]

Unless a hydraulic repair place (like Gordon mentioned) is nearby, may be less hassle & cheaper to replace the jack.

I have only seen hydraulic rams in hoists fail, & then it wouldn't lift the load in the first place. Same for floor jacks.

Bumper jacks were a whole different nightmare.

Were you working on the crew cab? glad you used jackstands & weren't under it or in danger.

Bucky

[Steve G]

I had a 2.5 ton craftsman jack fail about 6 years ago. The 0-ring on the fill screw went bad and I had hydraulic fluid squirting out and the jack came down fairly slow. I had jacked up the driver's side front on an E-350 service van. I got a new o-ring and replaced it but it never seemed like it was the same as before.

[Chewie]

Unless a hydraulic repair place (like Gordon mentioned) is nearby, may be less hassle & cheaper to replace the jack.

I have only seen hydraulic rams in hoists fail, & then it wouldn't lift the load in the first place. Same for floor jacks.

Bumper jacks were a whole different nightmare.

Were you working on the crew cab? glad you used jackstands & weren't under it or in danger.

Bucky

Thanks!
It wasn't the crew cab, it was the diesel. I hadn't been under it yet, either. I was still putting the wheel up when it happened. At first I thought I had somehow hit the bleed screw; it came down so fast. No loud noise, either. Just that sick sounding hiss.
I am glad there have been so many warnings posted on this forum and at Joe's, too, about this sort of thing. I have been tempted at times to reach or crawl under a truck unprotected, but always checked myself with 'what would the guys think if something dumb happens'. Well...
On a better note, I got the tranny thing on the diesel worked out, and with the garage empty, the power steering swap on the crew cab is next.