7. Remove the 1/2” top mounting bolt at the top of the cylinder and slide out the square
key tube. Put a finger against the white piston to prevent its sliding out with the square
key tube. If it does slide out, simply slide it back inside, being careful not to damage the
black seal.
8. Remove the four bolts at the bottom of the cylinder. Pull the piston rod assembly
out of the bottom of the cylinder. (Be certain that the valve has been removed (Step 6.)
before pulling the piston rod assembly out of the cylinder.) Be prepared for some water to
spill out as the bottom guide and seal exit. Sometimes the white bottom guide at the
bottom of the piston rod and the white piston attached to the top of the piston rod may
have swelled slightly (if they have been subject to high water pressure for a long time)
and as a result it will be difficult to get them out of the bottom of the cylinder. If this
happens, pull the piston rod out as far as it will go, then pull quickly several times, forc-
ing the white spacer tube to act as a hammer on the bottom guide until it exits. Slip the
bottom guide and seal off the piston rod, and continue to pull. If the piston gets stuck in
the bottom of the cylinder, push the piston rod back into the cylinder and remove it (with
the piston, seal, and spacer tube still attached) through the top of the cylinder.
9. Place the piston rod assembly on a CLEAN surface as dirt and debris will adversely
affect the lift’s performance. Handle the piston rod carefully. Any scratches on the piston
rod’s surface can cause a leak.
10. If the piston is to be replaced, use a 3/16” Allen wrench to unscrew the 4 socket cap
bolts in sides of the piston. It isn’t necessary to totally remove the bolts from the piston.
Put your fingers inside the top of the piston rod to feel when the bolts disengage from the
piston rod. Then remove the piston and seal from the top of the piston rod. If you don’t
have a 3/16” Allen wrench, you may carefully slide the top seal off the bottom of the pis-
ton rod while leaving the piston attached. If piston is not to be replaced, skip to step #
11. Inspect both top and bottom seals for any tears or cuts by bending the seal to stretch
the inner and outer lips. The seal should be soft and rubbery, not hard and stiff. Clean
the seals with a damp cloth and lightly clean the edges with a Scotchbrite® plastic pad.
Do not use steel wool or other abrasives on this or any other part of your lift. If the
seals are not damaged, place the top one back on the piston in the same manner it was
removed, fitting it into the groove on the underside of the white piston with the open side
down.
If the seals are not damaged, place the top one back on the piston in the same manner it
was removed, fitting it into the groove on the underside of the white piston with the open
side down.
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