Manual Pallet Jack

A manual pallet jack is an essential piece of equipment in retail and warehouse facilities. Its simple design and maintenance requirements make it a less expensive option than electric models.

Pallet jacks have a control lever that, when pumped in a lifting motion, activates a hydraulic pump to raise the forks or prongs. Keep the load centered and avoid raising it higher than the maximum capacity rating to prevent injury or damage.

Control Lever

A manual pallet jack’s handle has a control lever that can be moved into the up, down or neutral position. It controls the pallet jack’s hydraulic pump to raise and lower the forks. The handle also controls steering the truck in a specific direction. If the handle is pumped up, it is in the drive position and can be used to move the jack from place to place. When lowered, it is in the neutral position and can be used to steer the jack around obstacles or into designated storage areas.

Ideally, you should push a manual pallet jack rather than pulling it. Pulling can strain your back and make it difficult to maneuver the truck through tight spaces. Pushing also reduces your risk of injury by allowing you to use your legs for foundation instead of your arms. If you must pull, however, be careful to steer clear of slopes and inclines that can cause the jack to tip over.

Some manual pallet jacks have manual pallet jack forks that are specially designed for rolling or spooling materials such as paper, sheet metal and wire. These jacks are called roll-and-reel pallet jacks and have triangular forks that slant down toward their inside edges to hold these rolled or coiled materials.

Hydraulic Pump

Pallet jacks are often the workhorses of warehouses, transporting loads across warehouse floors from loading dock stations to storage areas or shelves. Manual pallet jacks are less expensive than electric forklifts and require no special licensing to operate. They’re also smaller and can maneuver in tight spaces where larger equipment cannot go.

The hydraulic pump on a manual pallet jack is located under the steer wheels and is used to move the forks up and down. When the handle is in the drive position, the forks are lowered and can be used to pick up pallets. The handle can be moved into the “Jack” or “Up” position, which raises the forks to allow the jack to climb over or through openings on pallets. Once the load is picked up, the handle can be moved back into the drive position and the forks can be lowered to the ground for transporting.

When operating a manual pallet jack, it is important to use the handle with both hands and move slowly. Forceful movements can cause accidents and injuries, such as sprains and strains. It is also a good idea to wear steel-toed shoes to protect your feet from shifts in the load. In addition, make sure you’re not exceeding the load capacity and steer clear of inclines and slopes — the jack could tip over.

Forks

Manual pallet jacks use human power to lift, lower and steer loads. They are typically used in retail, cold storage and general warehousing applications that require tight movements and short distances of travel. Electric models may be better suited for larger facilities or those that require heavy lifting and long runs because they reduce operator fatigue.

The handlebar has a control lever that moves into different positions to operate the hydraulic pump and forks. The pump position raises the forks off the ground and the neutral position lowers them back to the ground. The steer wheels are located below the handlebar to maneuver the pallet jack where it needs to go.

Some jacks have adjustable fork lengths, which allow them to fit in multiple types of pallet stringers. Others have fixed forks that are designed to be used with a specific pallet size. Be sure to select the right fork length for your applications, as using the wrong one can cause damage to the jack or load.

Before using a manual pallet jack, inspect it for signs of wear or any other problems. Check the steering and controls, as well as the forks, to pallet truck supplier ensure they are in good working order. It is recommended that employees walk the path they will be taking with the jack to make sure it can maneuver through the entire area and avoid obstacles such as rocks, cracks or divots in the floor surface.

Wheels

The wheels are what enable manual pallet jacks to move around and carry loads. Located at the base of the unit, these wheels have two parts: steer wheels and load wheels. Steer wheels are typically 7-8″ in diameter and swivel to enable the operator to maneuver the jack. They’re made of nylon or polyurethane. The hub at the center of each wheel contains bearings that reduce friction and allow the wheels to spin easily. A steel axle fits through the bearings and mounts to the fork linkages.

Unlike the steer wheels, the load wheels are not swivel. Also called load rollers, they’re positioned beneath the forks and help ease loads onto the forks. Depending on the model, a single fork may rest on one or two load wheels.

When the control lever is shifted into the drive position, it allows the operator to use the hydraulic pump to raise and lower the forks. Squeezing the handle in the lowered position causes the piston in the hydraulic pump to rise, which in turn raises the forks proportionally.

It’s important to regularly inspect the wheels to ensure they’re in good condition. Worn or damaged wheels can cause damage to the pallet jack and pose safety risks for employees. You should replace the wheels whenever they wear down a quarter inch or more.