hydraulic motorcycle lift bleeding

[johnny340]

Hello,
I have this motorcycle lift table that needs bleeding and I can't figure out where to bleed it from. Can anyone tell from these pictures where to start? I don't see a port on the red cylinder and figure there must be a way with the caps on the black valve part but so far I've had no luck.
Thanks in adavance!

 

[RLGL]

Why do you think it needs bleeding? Check with the manufacturer for troubleshooting instructions. If it is leaking down, the cylinder needs repair.

 

[jmagg]

https://www.google.com/search?q=Ble...ome..69i57.16528j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[mindless1]

Best guess is you're going to have to rotate the cylinder so the nipple for the red striped hose is facing up, have that end level or slightly higher, then take that hose off at the other end.

I'd expect you then still need to bleed the valve portion, or maybe once the nipple is facing upwards, just one of the caps on the valve body needs to come off instead of the hose.

However I agree with RLGL, that if it was formerly working and now can't hold weight, or is leaking fluid onto the floor, it needs seals replaced.

I'd ask in a motorcycle-centric forum, providing the make/model of lift if you know, and search for youtube videos if that doesn't pan out.

 

[johnny340]

I think it needs bleeding/filling because only that last part of the pedal stroke provides pressure plus it doesn't want to go all the way up. I did find a label on it but the company is out of business. (Hydraulique Lift G Jepsen International Ltd. Imported by Lift Buddy Canada Distributors Ltd.)

Yes, the seal at the release valve needs to be replaced. I'd like to get a seal kit for it.

So far I have attempted to open the large black hex nut on the valve body but it was not a fill hole.
So if I remove the hydraulic cylinder and position the fitting to the top and above the valve body, remove the red line, then maybe I should be able to fill it from there?

 

[mindless1]

^ I only gave you my best guess. I would seek someone familiar with that jack first, or for that matter any similar jack... even something newer could be a Chinese clone of a major brand with the same procedure.

On that thought you might seek a similar motorcycle lift jack and check the owner manual PDF to see what it states.

However, if no fluid has leaked out, no air should have gotten in, so it seems unlikely that a bleed alone will matter until after the seals are replaced.

 

[johnny340]

Good ideas, thanks. I have not seen a video on bleeding this type of valve body and was expecting to see a fill port but there isn't one. I think that large hex nut is a bleeder though so that's a start.
Yes fluid has leaked out that seal on the valve body where the release actuator is. I'll need to figure out the size and replace that for a proper fix.

 

[johnny340]

So, I have it figured it out now. That hex nut is a bleeder and that other silver stud is a check valve that can removed to fill the reservoir. This was missing a copper crush washer and fluid leaked from here. All good now.