Is Your Pallet Jack Workhorse Ready For Retirement?
Your pallet jack, whether it’s manual or electric, is a key element of your material handling operation. It’s such a basic tool that we tend to take it for granted. But providing day in and day out service takes a toll on any machine, and at some point, you have to send your beloved pallet jack out to pasture. This blog addresses the signs that it’s time to replace your pallet jack or upgrade to a more powerful pallet mover.
Sign #1: Your Pallet Jack Can’t Keep Up With Increased Demand
At one point, your operation was small, and your pallet jack was perfectly capable of handling whatever loads you asked it to handle. That was five years ago. In the meantime, your company has grown, your plant or warehouse has expanded, and now you need to move more pallets, heavier loads, and move them greater distances more quickly.
It may be time to upgrade from a manual to an electric pallet jack or from an electric walkie truck to an electric rider, such as the Linde Series 1101 or 1103. These trucks have a platform for the operator to stand on, and allow the operator to move heavier loads and drive at a faster clip. What’s more, by upgrading from manual to powered operation, there’s less chance of worker injury from trying to push or pull heavy loads.
Sign #2: Your Workhorse Spends More Time in The Barn Than in the Corral.
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| Manual Pallet Jack | Electric Pallet Jack |
Everything that moves eventually wears out. You may have a crack maintenance department that can creatively keep almost any machine in use, but eventually, stuff happens to your pallet jack that can’t be effectively repaired.
For a manual pallet jack, the key element is the hydraulic system.
Do you notice:
- Difficulty lifting heavy loads
- Jerky lifting
- Hydraulic fluid leaks (even post replacing seals and gaskets)
- Excessive handle play
These signs signal that it’s time to look for a replacement for electric pallet jacks.
- Lifting difficulties with loads within its capacity
- Driving difficulties while loaded
- Hesitant or intermittent movement
Like with any of your material handling equipment, if replacing a worn-out drive or hydraulic motor approaches the cost of a new unit, it’s time for a change. Ditto if the electronic controls fail and can’t be repaired.
Sign #3: You Bought Your Pallet Jack When Nirvana Was Popular
You may use and maintain your pallet jack like a vintage car, but at some point, spare parts for your old pallet jack may no longer be available. Worn-out wheels and forks can usually be replaced… until they can’t. You may have a couple of old pallet jacks lying around that you can cannibalize for spare parts, but eventually, you’ll exhaust even that resource. Then you have no choice.
If the battery in your electric forklift requires frequent charges or you keep needing to replace it, the age of the pallet jack may be the culprit. Older motors lose efficiency and require higher current draw to meet performance specs. As we saw in the first section, consider using that situation as an opportunity to upgrade, anticipating greater capacity needs in the future.
Common Replacement Signs: Manual vs. Electric Pallet Jacks
| Issue/Sign | Manual Pallet Jack | Electric Pallet Jack | |
| Frequent Repairs | Leaking hydraulic fluid, bent handle, or forks | Battery or motor failures, faulty controls | |
| Decreased Efficiency | Slow operation, increased operator fatigue | Reduced battery life, slower lift/lower/drive speeds | |
| Poor Maneuverability | Difficult to turn when loaded, stiff steering | Jerky acceleration, inconsistent braking | |
| Observable Wear | Cracked wheels or chassis, rusted components | Burning smell, damaged electrical connections | |
| Outdated Features | No ergonomic support, limited to short distances | Lacks regenerative braking, onboard diagnostics, ergonomic controls | |
| Safety Concerns | No braking mechanism, sudden loss of hydraulic control | Faulty emergency stop, unresponsive controls | |
| Doesn’t Match Current Load Demands | Struggles with heavier or more frequent loads | Inadequate battery capacity or lifting power, slow transport |
Next Step: Call Apex for Immediate Relief
When you finally decide it’s time to make a change, let your Apex expert help you make the choice. We can run down a list of models and their capabilities. You can choose from a wide lineup of Linde, Clark, Big Joe, or BYD forklifts to pinpoint the model that best suits your facility’s needs.
And you can finance your cool new truck in whatever format best suits your budgetary parameters–buy, lease, or rent. We may even have a capable pre-owned unit available at an attractive price.
Consider our cost-effective and reliable forklift service and maintenance program for your new pallet jack or forklift. We take the headache out of ownership. Our technicians are available 24/7 to repair or replace your forklift in the field.
Remember, too, that if you upgrade, your operators will need to be trained on your nifty new device. Apex can set up training so that your operators realize the greatest productivity from your investment.
I only takes one call to Apex to solve most material handling problems. Is that pallet jack on its last legs? Contact the Apex team today for personalized support.