How to Fix a Pallet Jack That Won’t Go Down
The most important piece of equipment in your warehouse is the pallet jack. Its job is to move heavy loads from one place to another, and without it, your business would be crippled. If your pallet jack doesn’t go down, it could be a simple fix. Here are a few tips to help you get your pallet jack moving again.
First, check the battery to make sure it’s charged. If the battery is fine, try pressing the down button on the jack handle several times. If that doesn’t work, release the parking brake and try pushing the truck forward or backward. If you want to know more about how to fix a pallet jack that won’t go down, then read this full blog post.
10 Ways on How to Fix a Pallet Jack That Won’t Go Down
1. Check the Battery
The pallet jack might not be going down because of a problem with the battery. However, if the battery is dead or low, the pallet jack will not work. Try replacing the battery to see if that fixes the issue.
2. Check the Fuses
The pallet jack might not be going down because of a problem with a fuse. However, if all of the lights are not working, there might be a problem with the fuse. Try replacing it to see if that fixes the issue.
3. Check the Tires
The pallet jack might not be going down because of a tire issue. However, the tires might have low air pressure, which would cause them not to grip the ground properly. Try filling up the tires with air to see if that fixes the issue.
4. Check the Motor
If the motor has power but is not spinning, there may be a chance of a bad switch. A common issue with many machines and tools is that people replace the machine or tool entirely when they begin to malfunction. This usually makes the problem worse and causes more money than if you had just taken the time to troubleshoot it.
5. Check the Gear Box
The gears in the gearbox might be stripped, which would cause the pallet jack not to go down. This would require disassembling the gearbox and re-packing the gears to fix the issue.
6. Check for Overload:
The overload protector might be tripped, which would cause the pallet jack not to work properly. Disconnecting the battery will reset this override switch so that you can proceed with using your pallet jack again.
7. Check the Lead Wire
If there is no power to the pallet jack, check if the lead wire is plugged in properly on both ends of the cord. Often, people accidentally unplug cords or break them by tripping over them or running into objects attached to.
8. Check the Limit Switches
The limit switches might be dirty or sticky, which would prevent them from triggering and telling the pallet jack to stop lowering. Cleaning the switches should fix this issue.
9. Check the Pump
If the hydraulic fluid is low, it will not raise or lower the pallet jack. Adding hydraulic fluid should fix this issue.
10. Check the Overhead Guard
If any cables are loose or broken, it will prevent the overhead guard from lowering correctly when in use. Tightening up all of the cables and replacing any damage would fix this issue.
Instructions: How to Fix a Pallet Jack That Won’t Go Down
If your pallet jack doesn’t go down, don’t panic! There are a few things you can do to fix the issue.
Step 1: Make Sure the Emergency Shut Off Switch is Not Pushing
You should check when your jack won’t go down if the emergency shut-off switch has been pushed. You can find this on the underside of most pallet jacks, and it looks like a red triangle pointed downwards. This switch will stop all movement of the jack immediately, so it’s important not to push it by accident. However, sometimes it will be pushed down when the jack is dropped, so all you need to do is pull it back up.
Step 2: Check the Cable Connection
Next, check your cable connection. You can usually find where this connects underneath or behind the pallet jack, and you may need to remove some panels to get access. The most common issue is that the cable has come loose, so make sure it’s properly connected. If it’s loose, you can try to tighten it up yourself or take it to a professional to do it for you.
Step 3: Check the Cable and Wiring
If your cable connection is correctly set up, your jack may still not go down. If this is the case, check where the wire connects to ensure it’s firmly attached. You may need to take off some panels or remove bolts to get access (for example, you can open up the housing on the bottom of the jack). If it’s loose, tighten it up and see if that solves the issue.
Step 4: Clean Out Debris
If you’ve tried all of these steps and your pallet jack still won’t go down, there may be debris caught in the gears. You can clean this out by using a lubricant or WD40 to free up the movement.
Step 5: Replace the Cable
If you’ve tried all of these options and your pallet jack still won’t go down, it’s time to replace the cable. If you have some decent experience with tools and car parts, you can do this yourself or take it to an expert.
Some Tips and Suggestions
If your pallet jack doesn’t go down, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot and fix the issue. Here are some tips:
1. Make sure the safety release is engaged. The safety release is the red lever on the side of the pallet jack. Make sure it’s in the “up” position.
2. If the safety release is engaged, try pushing down on the handle of the pallet jack to force it down. You should hear a click when you’ve reached the end of its travel path.
3. Check to make sure the foot lever is not stuck. The foot lever should quickly push down and lift smoothly.
4. If the foot lever is stuck, you can try spraying graphite or some other lubricant into where the foot lever meets the track of the pallet jack to see if that loosens it up.
5. Try pushing down on the handle while someone else tries lifting to see if they can get it to go down.
6. If all else fails, you may need to take the pallet jack to a repair shop to have it fixed.
Conclusion
It is essential to take care of your pallet jacks by regularly checking them for obstructions. If the jack doesn’t go down, something in it may need to be cleared out or removed. You can do this with a broom handle and some WD-40 oil.
Wipe the area around where you think an object is located with WD-40 oil before using the broomstick on it again. We hope that these tips on how to fix a pallet jack that won’t go down were helpful, and we’d be happy to help with any questions or issues you may have.
We’ve also included some links below if you would like more information about pallet jacks, how they work, what can go wrong etc. If not, feel free to let us know!
