Servicing a Venture ball screw actuator

Captain Jack

Captain Jack

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Happy weekend, chaps.

After some advice. Since I (along with others - @moonbase @John) bought a Venture ball screw jack to replace the crappy SuperPooperJacks, I haven't serviced it. At least not the worm part.

In an acme-type jack, it would a simple-ish matter of removing the base unit, pushing the worm out and greasing it all up. Some have a nipple thing to shove some grease in as well.

With this one, I am reluctant to start taking apart in case all the bearing spill out and scatter all over the garage. It certainly needs greasing up as it's making rusty sounding noises, especially on extension operation...

Any tips?
 
Captain Jack said:
Happy weekend, chaps.

After some advice. Since I (along with others - @moonbase @John) bought a Venture ball screw jack to replace the crappy SuperPooperJacks, I haven't serviced it. At least not the worm part.

In an acme-type jack, it would a simple-ish matter of removing the base unit, pushing the worm out and greasing it all up. Some have a nipple thing to shove some grease in as well.

With this one, I am reluctant to start taking apart in case all the bearing spill out and scatter all over the garage. It certainly needs greasing up as it's making rusty sounding noises, especially on extension operation...

Any tips?
Click to expand...
I asked Rick the question...this is his reply...

Hi Chris,

No. It is my understanding that they are sealed with the lubricants already inside to last the life of the arm.

So no lubricating to do to it, like some of the older models of actuator arms.

Thanks,

Rick
 
Best thing - unless you have heard some grinding noises when retracting the arm - is to unscrew by hand, noting where there might be any resistance.

If the arm feels good throughout the undoing then whilst extended, take the gearbox bit off and spray the bottom end with the key liberally with some light liquid grease and stand upside down in a bucket overnight. A warm room helps.

If you do find certain sections are dragging then you will need to dismantle and find out where the corrosion is.

 
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