Floor jack release valve has play in its travel/wobbles?
Hello and thanks for any help. I've got an older craftsman 3.5 ton floor jack. I recently drained the jack oil, refilled and bled it. It seems to be working fine in the little bit I've used it since.
The thing I'm wondering about is the release valve. It seems to wobble a bit as it travels up and down. As in I can see that the center of the star gear doesn't stay centered as the release valve goes up and down thru its travel.
Not sure if it has always been this way or if I somehow caused this while I was draining and filling the oil. I didn't really use this jack much and it's been a while since I used it last so it is possible it's always been like this. But should it be? Maybe I never noticed it before and I'm only noticing it now after poking around and working on the unit.
Should the release valve be seated such that the star gear will stay centered thru its travel? There's not too much wobble, maybe a couple millimeter worth of difference measured at the center
It is enough play that as I spin the handle to tighten/loosen the release valve I notice a difference in engagement between the two stars of the universal joint. I can feel a tight spot where the star gear of the release valve strays far enough from center that it slightly binds against the star gear of the handle.
So, wondering if that play/wobble in the release valve is normal. The jack does operate well enough to use normally. Just annoying to feel that slight binding.
Thanks for your time. 🤙