Searched but did not come up with a answer to my question so here goes. When I bought my truck it came with a hilift. took it apart. cleaned it, put it back together about 3 months ago. Went to use it today and it lifted up all right but I could not got it to go down. I know it needs to be lubed so do you think I need to add some new lube or maybe I put it back together wrong. As I did not get it new I don't have instructions. Oh yeah, what kind of lube are you guys using I think i just used some grease out of my grease gun.

What happens when it won't go down? Are you able to move the little lever into the down position? Does the mechanism click when you move the handle to the bottom of it's travel?

I can move the little lever up and down and the handle will move up and down. The running gear (guess that's what it's called) will move down then pop back up again. Not sure wht's going on. Thanks

Are you sure you're pushing the handle all the way down? when you do it, The jack should lift a little, then one of the climbing pins will pop out of the bar, then the jack will lower a little on the handle's up-stroke. repeat

How much weight is sitting on it?

dump motor oil onto the mechanical part of the hi lift.

Just went and played with it for a hour or so to get it to work. I put some more grease on it and it will go up fine. When you hit the little lever to lower it, it will drop all the way down now. If I put my thumb against the top pin to put some pressure on it, it will ratchet down. Soooo, do you think the springs are worn and I need to replace them?

When I ratched down the top pin will stay out and not go in.

I use WD-40 on mine and have for the last 20+ years:eek: Give it a try;) Give your jack mechanism a good shot before and after any trip and it'll give you years of service;) Nice thing about WD-40 is that it won't build-up and it's a great water dispersant;)

I just finished tearing it down and cleaning it all up. Well, still no luck. The top pin just stays out when I switch the little lever and it drops. Does anyone have a diagram that is better than the one at thehilift web site (http://www.hi-lift.com/jacks_parts-service.htm) ? It seems it's all together the right way, but maybe I have a pin in wrong or somthings in backwards.

try to take a small hammer and tap on the top pin (on the other side of the spring) when jacking downwards. if it works just bring a hammer.... And wd-40 ...

Originally posted by jgilly69
try to take a small hammer and tap on the top pin (on the other side of the spring) when jacking downwards. if it works just bring a hammer.... And wd-40 ...

The side that is all flat? I will give it a try.

Well, I guess there is nothing wrong with my jack. Now that it's lubed it apears to be working fine. I found some instructions on the internet (since I don't have any) and I found the answer.

"The jack must have a load on it (150 pounds or more) to lower step-by-step. Otherwise, the lifting mechanism will slide down to the base plate, "dropping" your load."

Well, I went out and lifted up my truck and lowered it just fine. Wish I knew that before hand. Thanks for everyones input. Mark

If you have a High Lift jack you should also have a can of WD40. I've actually thrown my jack in a creek in absence of WD40:eek: Works pretty well:D (for a while anyway :laughing: )

Originally posted by mark843
Well, I guess there is nothing wrong with my jack. Now that it's lubed it apears to be working fine. I found some instructions on the internet (since I don't have any) and I found the answer.

"The jack must have a load on it (150 pounds or more) to lower step-by-step. Otherwise, the lifting mechanism will slide down to the base plate, "dropping" your load."

Well, I went out and lifted up my truck and lowered it just fine. Wish I knew that before hand. Thanks for everyones input. Mark

Yeah... my question above about how much weight was on it... well, it was leading up to this. :D

I carry WD-40 just for these occations, a little squirt here, a little squirt there, and vola she works.

It's absofawkinglutely amazing how a totally frozen Hi-Lift works after a 3 second shot of PB or WD-40...

It's a testament to the tolerances of our "knock around" jacks, they're so well built, so tight, than the littlest crap will lock them up, and the littlest lube frees them again.

To quote Dan Dibble:

Take it out to the street, throw it as far as you can, and cuss it. Usually works well.

It is supposed to drop with the handle all the way up, the lever set to "lower" and no load on the tongue. It will only ratchet down smoothly with weight on it, or with the lever partway swung open.

[b]UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES[b/] put your head in the arc the handle will swing through while lowering a load, or leave than handle in any position other than all the way up. Treat it like a baseball bat that will try it's damndest to hit you all on it's own unless you keep a firm grip on it. People usually don't learn this until they lose their grip, or just plain let go of the handle, while the jack is lowering a load... they treat it really well after it smacks them in the side of the head four times in a row rapid-fire as the handle ratchets down to the bottom. :laughing: ;)

Split Plate(graphite spray paint sruff) the mechanism and bar(or part of the bar), keeps rust at bay and everythinig moving like it should.......won't blow off or run. I use it on mine every few months.