D.L. Martin Co. - FAQs
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Click on a Problem below to jump to the Possible Cause(s) and Solution(s). Or scroll through the page to view all Problems, Possible Causes and Solutions.

Problem: Jack "bumps" when joints pass through head.
Possible Cause: Most likely cause is a tight wear band.

Solution: Request that D.L.M. send a new wear band with thickness at low limits.

Possible Cause: Joint blended too abrupt (can be checked with micrometers, or a straight edge and feeler guages-record results on D.L.M. chart)

Solution: A wear band with thickness at the low limit may help. A joint with too abrupt a blend can be corrected by filing. Filing must not remove material away from the joint. Send Instructions.

Possible Cause: Load ring for seal may be pinched, due to running upside down.

Solution: Check seal to make sure load ring is installed correctly. The tapered end of the ring should rest against the chamber of the actual seal.

Possible Cause: Joint blended too deep. If this is the case, slight leakage may be noticed as joint passes through head. (Can be checked with micrometers, or a straight edge and feeler gauges-record results on D.L.M. chart.)

Solution: New Plunger sections may be needed if problem is severe.

Possible Cause: Joint area has "ripples" (waviness that can be seen and/ or felt), or a "hump" right at the joint.

Solution: Send D.L.M. instructions for filing joint. A sanding sleeve is available from Texacone Company (may be rented) for smoothing the plunger surface.

Possible Cause: Joint not blended in field. (If fingernail catches on joint, additional sanding is needed.)

Solution: Sand joint smooth with supplied sandpaper.

Possible Cause: Wrong seal used (Use only Schindler or D.L.M. supplied seals. Texacone seals may be over-sized.)

Solution: Request new seal.

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Problem: Ride is rough (not just at the joints)
Possible Cause: Jack not plumb. (Jack must be plumbed using plumb wire supplied in plunger sections.)

Solution: Re-plumb using plumb wire.

Possible Cause: Wrong seal used (Use only Schindler or D.L.M. supplied seals. Texacone ran rougher when tested.)

Solution: Request new seal.

Possible Cause: Load ring for seal may be pinched, due to running upside down.

Solution: Check seal to make sure load ring is installed correctly. The tapered end of the ring should rest against the chamber of the actual seal.

Possible Cause: Tight wear band

Solution: Request that D.L.M. send a new wear band with thickness at low limit.

Possible Cause: Plunger has "ripples" or "waviness" which can be seen and/or felt.

Solution: If problem is not severe it may be possible to smooth it using a Texacone sanding sleeve (may be rented from the Texacone company.) If severe, a new plunger or plunger section is needed.

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Problem: Jack squeals
Possible Cause: Tight wear band

Solution: Request that D.L.M. send a new wear band with thickness at low limit. A low friction oil additive could also be tried. Schindler spec. 54605ME

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Problem: Scribe lines at plunger joint do not line up.
Possible Cause: Joint may have seized just before being fully tightened.

Solution: Lines should come within 1/8" of meeting up. If lines are past meeting up, do not back off joint (this may cause joint to loosen and come apart).

Possible Cause: Damaged thread on plunger coupling

Solution: Dress threads using thread file designed for 8-pitch UNC thread. Tool TD338 available.

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Problem: Plunger scored vertically
Possible Cause: Plunger not plumb in cylinder, causing plunger to bind in the head.

Solution: Make sure both cylinder and plunger are plumb (at least aligned with each other).

Possible Cause: Chip or other debris caught in head

Solution: Remove head, check oil for contamination (use pump and filter if necessary as well as magnet to fish for chips). Chips may come from field installed hatch pipe and fittings, always clean pipe thoroughly before installing.

Possible Cause: Wear band too thin (correct thickness is .124"/. 127")

Solution: Replace wear band

Possible Cause: Plunger joint was run through head prior to field blending.

Solution: Always blend joint before running jack.

Possible Cause: Plunger joint was run through head prior to field blending.

Solution: If damage is not sever, plunger may be repaired by smoothing with sandpaper or Texacone sanding sleeve (may be rented from Texacone company). If scoring is deep, new plunger section(s) will be needed, as well as a new sleeve and seal kit.

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Problem: Jack is too long.
Possible Cause: Ordering error

Solution: Order a stop sleeve to reduce overtravel.

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Problem: Jack is too short.
Possible Cause: Ordering error

Solution: First, check to see if a plunger extension would solve the problem. (Need to be sure over- travel and undertravel would still be sufficient.) If extension won't work, then either a new jack section (for multi-pc) or a new jack (for a one-pc) must be ordered.

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Problem: Banging noise (always occuring at same point in travel every trip)
Possible Cause: Plunger plug hitting cylinder joint.

Solution: Rotate plunger to locate "flat spot" on plunger plug next to cylinder wall.

Possible Cause: Plunger plug hitting cylinder joint.

Solution: Make sure plunger and cylinder are both plumb, and in alignment with each other.

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Problem: Cylinder coupling can not be removed from jack shipping ass'y.
Possible Cause: Threads seized

Solution: Cut coupling off. Request new coupling from D.L.M.

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Problem: Cylinder coupling doesn't turn freely when assembling sections.
Possible Cause: Split ring sections may not have proper curvature.

Solution: Slide coupling away from joint, and test fit split ring sections against the cylinder wall (in their normal location) if the split ring does not fit snugly along its entire length, its shape may be corrected by tapping with a mallet.

Possible Cause: Split ring sections may not have proper curvature.

Solution: If the condition is too severe to be corrected in the field, request D.L.M. to send a new pair of split ring halves.

Possible Cause: Damaged thread

Solution: If coupling can be backed off, do so, and repair thread with a thread file. Also inspect for debris which may be contributing to the problem.

Possible Cause: Damaged thread

Solution: If coupling seized up when partially engaged, it should be cut apart to remove. in this case, request D.L.M. to send a new coupling.

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Problem: Unsure if cylinder joint is correctly assembled (completely together)
Possible Cause: Possible incorrect assembly

Solution: See orange warning label near cylinder joint - gap between male and female couplings should be about 1/8" and wide yellow painted line segments should line up within 1/2" when fully tightened.

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Problem: Mounting feet in wrong location.
Possible Cause: Jack ordered for incorrect pit depth.

Solution: If feet are located to high on cylinder, an additional set can be welded on in the field by a certified welder. In this case order new feet and gussets from D.L.M.

Possible Cause: Jack ordered for incorrect pit depth.

Solution: If the current feet are in a location which would prevent new feet from being welded on correctly, the field may choose to use a spacer block between the footer channel and the feet.

Possible Cause: Jack ordered for incorrect pit depth.

Solution: If the feet are too low on the cylinder, they will need to be removed by grinding, before welding new feet on.

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Problem: Unsure how stop ring is installed on plunger.
Possible Cause: Possible stop ring installation error.

Solution: The purpose of the stop ring is to limit current travel. typically it is to be located at the lowest plunger joint, and is sometimes used together with a stop sleeve which further limits travel.

Possible Cause: Possible stop ring installation error.

Solution: After determining which joint the stop ring should be placed at, slip the ring over the male coupling at that joint so that the 15 ° bevel on the underside of the ring matches the 15 ° bevel on the plunger.

Possible Cause: Possible stop ring installation error.

Solution: The mating plunger section can be lowered into position and assembled with the stop ring sandwiched between the two sections.

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Problem: Difficulties assembling the 300A plunger joint.
Possible Cause: Nut installed incorrectly.

Solution: Check that the nut cannot be rotated in the female coupling. also check that the nut cannot be pushed up into the plunger more than about 1/16". Call 800 or 888 number stated on the jack if either of the two tests above indicate problems.

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Problem: Vibrating noise in the car. Vibrating noise at leveling speed, up or down.
Possible Cause: 1. Leveling speed is too low. 2. Oil viscosity is too low. 3. Oil temperature is high. 4. Guide arms tight on the rails.

Solution: 1. Adjust. 2. Find means to reduce the temperature. 3. Add anti-chatter additive. exp max glide. make sure additive is safe for o-rings.

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