Frequently asked questions
Q: What do "single-acting" and "double-acting" mean?
A: "Single-acting" refers to a hydraulic cylinder or system that only supplies power one way, such as to raise a hydraulic cylinder. "Double-acting" would be a hydraulic cylinder or system that supplies power two ways, such as to extend and retract a hydraulic cylinder.
Q: Can I use a double-acting cylinder with a single-acting power source (pump)?
A: Yes you can, but you have to open the other side of the piston to allow the fluid or air to escape from the cylinder.
Q: What is a "UnifiedTM Jacking Machine?
A: A UnifiedTM Jacking Machine has a mechanism that automatically synchronizes the travel of the jacks to prevent damage to the structure being raised or lowered, and will jack a building level regardless of how the weight is distributed, as long as no jack(s) are overloaded.
Q: How do Power Packs differ from a UnifiedTM Jacking System?
A: Power Packs rely on the appropriate positioning of the jacks and supporting steel to be able to lift a load without distortion or damage. This is done by either jacking a building up one side at a time, one end at a time, or jacking on three points. Power Packs do not automatically synchronize the jacks to come up evenly like a UnifiedTM Jacking System.
Q: What oil(s) do you recommend for your equipment?
A: For Power Packs and UnifiedTM Jacking machines we recommend Mobil DTE 24 or Mobilfluid 350. For operation in very cold weather DO NOT thin the oil with ATF or diesel fuel. We recommend Mobil DTE 13M instead. ATF has almost ZERO lubricating qualities and the seals in the jacks and the machines will wear out very quickly if you use it.
If you cannot purchase the recommended Mobil products locally see if your local lubricating oil supplier can cross reference them to another product, or consult a local implement dealer to see what they recommend as a "hydrostatic transmission fluid" for use in a front end loader or similar equipment.
Q: What is the recommended procedure for changing the oil in a UnifiedTM Jacking System?
A: Follow these steps...
Start the engine and let it run for 30 minutes to warm
and circulate the oil
Operate the machine so that the main unit is at the
0 mark
Stop the engine and drain the oil via a fitting in the
bottom of the tank, or connect a hose from one of
the helper outlets, close the needle valve between the two large gauges, start
the engine and operate the main control valve as though you were moving the main
ram forward until the stream of oil exiting the hose is no longer a solid stream
but has air in it. Direct the
drained oil into a suitable container for recycling.
After the oil has finished draining from the tank or
the oil from the hose is full of air, put the tank plug back in and stop the
engine, disconnect the hose from the helper jack outlet
Fill the tank with fresh Mobil DTE 24 or Mobilfluid 350
so that the oil level is above the top of the window on the side of the tank,
making sure that the gasket on the filler cap is intact
Start the engine and allow it to run for 10 minutes
Connect hoses to the unified outlets and the helper
outlets and direct them into a suitable
Close the unified valves and open the outlet needle
valves, but keep the helper outlet valves closed
Operate the main control valve to move the main ram
forward all the way to the 14 mark.
When the 14 mark is reached, center the main control valve lever,
open the helper outlet valves, and move the
main control valve lever over as though you were lifting a load to purge the oil
from the helper outlets. Do this for
2 minutes
Center the main control valve, open the unified needle
valves, close all of the outlet needle valves including the helper outlet
valves, and operate the main control valve lever to return the main unit to the
0 mark
When the main unit is back at the 0 mark, check
the oil level and refill the tank if needed to keep the oil above the top of the window in the side of the tank
Close the unified needle valves, open the outlet
valves, keep the helper outlet valves closed, and operate the main control valve
lever to move the main unit forward to the 14 mark and again purge the oil
out of the hoses
Upon reaching the 14 mark, open the helper outlet
valves and operate the main control valve for about 1 minute to purge the old
oil
Close the helper outlet valves, close the unified
outlet valves, remove the hoses from the
Check the oil level and refill if necessary to bring
the oil level to a point where it is visible in the window on the side of the tank
Contact a recycling service to take your old oil
Youre done!