The Basic Parts of a Pallet Jack
In general, there are four basic parts of a pallet jack: the load wheels, hydraulic pump, steer wheels and the handle with control lever. Understand how each function to select the right material handling equipment for your needs.
Consider your warehouse environment and typical loads. If pedestrian traffic is common, designate safe routes to reduce injuries.
Manual
This manual hand pallet jack has a heavy-duty frame and hydraulic pump that’s ideal for warehouse use. It can move a load up to 5,500 pounds. It features a three-function control handle with positions for raising, lowering and neutral. It also has a streamlined design for maneuvering through narrow aisles. The non-marking polyurethane wheels help protect the floor from damage and provide a smooth ride.
Before operating a manual pallet jack, review any owner’s manual or other operator documents for specifics about using your model. Stand behind the jack and use both hands to operate the handle. Pump the handle to raise the forks. When the forks reach the desired height, find and push down on the drop lever (it’s usually a small lever in the middle of the rounded handle or otherwise marked). This lowers the prongs back to ground level. Now you can steer the jack to the skid or pallet that needs moving and slide the forks underneath or through openings on the pallet.
Avoid lifting loads above the recommended rated capacity, as this could tip the pallet jack over. Also, it’s best to push loads rather than pull them. This reduces strain on the back and shoulders, which can lead to serious injury. Always inspect the jack before and after each shift for leaks, oil spots, sharp edges, broken parts, and other safety hazards.
Electric
Electric pallet jacks are battery-powered and can lift loads up to 6 inches off the ground. They come in walkie and end-rider models with a maximum load capacity of 4,500 lbs. They’re more expensive than manual models, but they offer several benefits that help offset their cost: Less Physical Strain
An operator can easily maneuver an electric pallet jack with its easy-to-use fingertip raise and lower buttons and safety belly reverse button. There’s a throttle on the handle for forward and pallet jack backward motion and it can run for up to eight hours on a single charge. At 671 pounds, it looks like a tank, but it’s easy to drive and has great traction with its seven-inch moldon polyurethane wheels that won’t mark floors.
The electric walkie pallet jack is designed to be driven by its operator who walks in front of or beside it. It has a maximum speed of 5 mph, but can go much faster if necessary. The electric rider pallet jack is similar but has an integrated platform that the operator can stand on while operating it, allowing them to travel more quickly over long distances. However, these types of trucks have higher maintenance costs than manual models. They also require a bigger workspace because they have more moving parts. They’re best used when an operator needs to move large, heavy or bulky loads over long distances frequently and at high speeds.
Hydraulic
The hydraulic pallet jack, also known as a scissor lift or pump truck, is equipped with a powerful hydraulic unit that allows it to transport and lift loads. They’re often used in warehouses and other industrial settings to move stacked pallets over short distances. This type of pallet jack requires less skill to operate than other powered industrial equipment, and it’s generally safer for employees to use. Like other powered trucks, it’s important for operators to be certified before operating this equipment.
A hydraulic pallet jack has a control lever that’s located on its handle. Moving the lever into a down position activates the hydraulic unit, which extends and raises the forks. Moving the handle back into a neutral or upright position disengages the hydraulic unit and lowers the forks to ground level.
Located underneath the forks are load wheels, which help you ease loads onto the forks during loading and unloading. Depending on the type of hydraulic pallet truck, there may be two to four load wheels.
Another feature of some hydraulic pallet jacks is a weighing scale, which helps you monitor and manage inventory. Usually, the weighing scale is mounted on the hydraulic pallet truck’s forks and can be activated by an operator using the control handle. When you’re done with the pallet jack, always store it with its forks lowered to avoid creating a tripping hazard. Before using it again, check the jack’s manual or other operator documents for detailed instructions on its specific make and model.
Specialty
For heavy-duty applications, a high-lift pallet jack can take the place of some traditional forklifts or reach trucks. This material handling tool can access elevated spaces and complete numerous warehouse tasks that would be challenging for employees to accomplish on their own.
A basic hand pallet jack is made with a small frame that supports two forks. The operator maneuvers the jack with a handle or tiller, pumping it Lifting Equipment Suppliers to lift up the forks when needed. The manual jack can support up to 5,500 pounds and reduce the strain on workers lifting large loads.
Several types of specialty pallet jacks are available to suit various industry and application needs. For example, some jacks have adjustable push rods to accommodate different load sizes and allow one fork to be higher than the other. This reduces the stress on the unit and prevents one fork from becoming warped when lifting or lowering an uneven load.
Other options include a double-length extended hand pallet jack that can move two pallets at once to increase productivity. This jack also features a scissor lift function and allows employees to access hard-to-reach places like double-deep racking without taking up additional space in the warehouse aisle. This feature reduces injury risk by eliminating bending and stretching activities, improving employee health and satisfaction at work.