How To Use Hydraulic Jacks Safely

Hydraulic Jacks are now commonplace in several industries such as the motor industry and the construction industry as well as being popular with individuals. There are, as a general rule 2 types of hydraulic jack and they are bottle jacks and floor jacks. They both work in a similar way but the difference is that the floor jack is arranged in a slightly different way. There are usually six parts to the jacks, there is a reservoir which contains fluid, a pump which pumps the fluid, a valve which makes sure the fluid flows into a chamber in the main cylinder, there is the ram piston and release valve which allows the fluid to return to the reservoir. They work by having the fluid or oil pumped into the chamber in the cylinder which then raises the jack and allows the object to be lifted. These hydraulic jacks are very robust and will last for years providing they are properly looked after. One thing you should always consider before using a hydraulic jack is the weight of the item you wish to lift. There are hydraulic jacks of varying sizes and that are suitable for different jobs and lifting different weights, so you should always choose one that is capable of lifting the weight you require and that it is suitable for the object you wish to lift.

It is always a good idea to familiarise yourself with your hydraulic jack. Read the instruction manual so that you know how to operate it safely before you begin. When you do make use of it, always ensure that it is secure on a level hard surface. This is important because the jack may sink in soft ground or could even fall over if the ground is unlevel. Such an event would be highly dangerous if you happened to be underneath the raised structure at the time. Hydraulic bottle jacks are now commonly used by motorists to change a wheel or to do maintenance underneath the vehicle. These are remarkably strong for their size and providing they are used correctly, will safely lift the vehicle whilst work is carried out. As you might imagine, lifting a vehicle and going underneath it is hazardous and this is why a solid and level surface is vital.

A has already been mentioned, there are a number of different types of jack which has been developed for different purposes. It is very important that you never overload the jack because if the internal seal is damaged, the jack will fail which could lead to disaster. Before using your jack, you should check it for fluid leaking as this can be an indication that the seal may have been damaged. Throughout most of its life, you should not need to add any fluid or oil to the jack but there may be occasions when this is necessary. If you do need to add oil or fluid, refer to your owners handbook for advice on how to do this. As a general rule though, you will need to find the 3 screw heads, 2 of which are for checking valves and the third is for adding the hydraulic oil or fluid. Never open the 2 valve screws as you could compromise the integrity of the jack. When you are looking for the oil screw, it will generally have 'oil' written on it and this is the only place you should attempt to add any fluid. Fluid should be added slowly and allowed to settle for a few moments and once the reservoir is full, secure the screw back in place.

Hydraulic jacks have made life much easier for those working in the industries in which they are employed. Providing safety precautions are observed, they are very safe to use and every effective at lifting heavy items. As with any equipment, the correct training should be taken beforehand so that those using it can do so safely.

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