A manual pallet jack is usually bled by pumping the handle up and down the hydraulics with the jack unloaded and the control in the lower position until all air is purged and the lift becomes firm.
Why would I need to do this?
Air can seep into the hydraulic system. This could be caused by improper handling, such as tilting the pallet jack. When air gets into the system, it hinders the hydraulics from working and the pallet jack won’t lift anymore. Bleeding your jack releases the air.
And how do I bleed my jack?
Safety and prep
Park the pallet jack on a flat, stable floor and block the wheels so it won't roll.Remove any load.
Bleeding
- Set the operating lever to “lift.”
- Push the handle all the way down until it stops.
- Move the lever to “lower.”
- With the lever held in “lower,” pump the handle up and down vigorously 10–20 times.
- Return the lever to “neutral” or “lift” and test lifting the empty forks. If lift has improved, test with a light load.
Repeat the sequence several times if the first cycle only partially improves lift.
What do I do if the jack still will not lift?
Set the lowering valve to its lowest setting, remove or open the reservoir fill plug, and verify the fluid is up to the correct level; top up if low.
After refilling, cycle the handle 10–20 times with the control in “lower” to purge any remaining air.
If it still won't lift, you may have worn seals, a faulty valve, or internal damage that requires a new seal kit or professional service: Email your pallet jack brand and model, and an outline of your problem, to csinfo@genericparts.com and we will provide technical help.
