3-step Troubleshooting for Reduced Load Capacity of Manual Hydraulic Truck

Manual hydraulic pallet trucks are widely used basic handling equipment in warehouses, workshops and logistics storage sites. They feature simple operation, flexible movement, durable performance and high cost performance. However, after long-term frequent operation, they are prone to faults such as weak lifting, reduced load capacity, failure to lift full loads and automatic sinking after lifting. What causes reduced load capacity of manual hydraulic pallet truck?

In most cases, the equipment is not damaged beyond repair. The problem is usually caused by insufficient hydraulic oil, pressure relief or air entering the hydraulic circuit. Master the three simple inspection and repair steps to quickly restore the normal load capacity.

Check and replace hydraulic oil Insufficient hydraulic oil, deteriorated turbid oil and excessive impurities in the oil circuit are main triggers for insufficient load capacity. Low oil volume directly leads to insufficient pressure, and impurities blocking the oil circuit cause jamming and weak lifting. Open the oil filling port to check oil quality. Add hydraulic oil of the same specification in time if the oil level is low. If the oil turns black, turbid or contains impurities, drain the old oil, clean the oil tank and refill new hydraulic oil to solve insufficient oil pressure fundamentally.

Check seals and pressure relief structure Manual pallet jack relies on oil seals of the cylinder to maintain pressure. Long-term heavy load and frequent pumping will age and wear the sealing rings, resulting in oil seepage and slow pressure relief. The symptoms include inability to lift goods high and automatic falling after lifting. Carefully check whether there is oil seepage or leakage on the outer wall of the cylinder. Replace damaged aging seals promptly. Meanwhile, clear impurities of the pressure relief valve and check tight closure of the valve to prevent continuous pressure relief caused by valve jamming.

Bleed air from oil circuit and calibrate hydraulic pressure Air easily enters the oil circuit after oil replacement, maintenance or long-time idle storage, which brings false pressure, soft lifting and unstable load bearing. Lower the forks completely, release the pressure relief valve, and pump the control handle repeatedly many times to discharge bubbles inside the oil circuit. After air bleeding, test lifting without load first, then run tests step by step from light load to full load until the lifting works smoothly and the load remains stable.

Avoid overloading and rough pumping of the handle during daily use, which can greatly reduce faults and extend equipment service life. If your small manual hydraulic pallet truck is seriously aged and cannot bear weight normally after repeated repairs, you can contact us for professional selection, quotation and maintenance guidance for spare parts replacement or new truck purchase.