Parts of a Pallet Jack – Handle, Pump, Forks and Rollers

All 16 parts on the diagram

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The whole jack 8

Forks They slide into a pallet. They rise just far enough to lift it clear of the floor.
Handle It steers the jack. Pumping it works the pump that raises the forks. Also called the tiller.
Control lever It has three positions. They are raise, a middle one for moving the load, and lower.
Hydraulic pump Each stroke of the handle pumps oil. The oil pushes the forks up.
Steering wheels They sit right under the handle. They turn with it to steer the jack.
Load rollers They carry the fork tips. When the jack lifts, they swing down and the forks rise above them.
Push rods One runs under each fork and pushes the load rollers down. It starts at the rocker arm.
Rocker arm It turns the lift at the pump end into a push. That goes along the push rods.

The pump end, cut open 8

Handle bracket It pivots on the pump. So each downstroke of the handle presses the pump piston.
Pump piston The handle pushes it down. It forces oil under the big piston that lifts the forks.
Reservoir It holds the hydraulic oil. Lowering the forks lets the oil flow back into it.
Piston rod Oil pushes it up out of the pump. It lifts the frame and the forks. Also called the ram.
Chain It joins the control lever to the pump's lever plate. The lever is at the top of the handle.
Lever plate The chain pulls it. It opens the valve that lets the forks down.
Thrust bearing It carries the weight while letting the wheels below swivel to steer.
Axle The two steering wheels turn on it, one each side.

How this list was compiled: Every name checked on 2026-09-30 and kept only where at least two of these use it. (1) Wikipedia, Pallet jack, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallet_jack : the tiller-like handle that works the pump piston, the small lever that lowers the forks, the steering wheels under the handle, the push rods and linkages to the front wheels. (2) A maker's pallet jack instructions with parts lists, full text at https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-7037606 : handle, control lever with three positions, handle bracket, chain, lever plate, forks, steering wheels, rocker arm, push rod, loading roller, piston rod. (3) A second maker's pallet jack manual with parts lists, full text at https://archive.org/details/manualsbase-id-15899 : handle, chain, lever plate, pump plunger, piston rod, thrust bearing, rocker arm, fork wheel, axle. (4) A third maker's hand pallet truck operating instructions, full text at https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-6896554 : control lever, load roller, hydraulic reservoir, lowering valve. (5) A hand pallet truck operating instruction handbook, full text at https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-5940742 : tiller arm, hydraulic pump, steering wheels, load wheels, control lever, lever plate, chain, axle, pump reservoir, piston rod. (6) A pallet jack service manual, full text at https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-6039274 : load rollers, steer wheels and axle, push rods, lifting link, thrust bearing, handle bracket, pump piston, ram, entry rollers. Licence: own work

The drawing: Drawn for this site on 2026-09-30 from plain geometry; no maker's drawing, nothing traced. Licence: own work

How it works

A hand-pumped pallet jack, also called a pallet truck, from the side with its forks raised. The second drawing cuts the pump end open to show how the handle, the chain and the oil do the lifting.

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From the handle to the fork tips

The handle steers the jack and works the hydraulic pump, which sits over the steering wheels. A rocker arm at the pump end turns the lift into a push along the push rods. The rods run under the forks to the load rollers and force them down, so the forks rise above them.

Inside the pump end

The handle bracket pivots on the pump and presses the pump piston. Oil from the reservoir pushes the piston rod up. A chain runs from the control lever down the handle to the lever plate, which lets the forks back down. A thrust bearing lets the steering wheels swivel on their axle.

The control lever has three positions: one to raise, a middle one for moving the load, and one to lower.

Questions and answers

What are the parts of a pallet jack called?

The handle with its control lever, the hydraulic pump, the steering wheels, the two forks, a push rod under each fork, the rocker arm and the load rollers. Inside the pump end: the pump piston, reservoir, piston rod, chain and lever plate.

What is the handle of a pallet jack called?

Makers' manuals call it the handle, the tiller or the tiller arm. It does two jobs: it steers the jack and it pumps the forks up.

What are the wheels on a pallet jack called?

The large pair under the handle are the steering wheels. The small wheels under the fork tips are the load rollers, which some makers call load wheels.

How does a pallet jack lift?

Pumping the handle forces oil under the piston rod, which rises and lifts the frame. Linkages and push rods force the load rollers down, so the forks rise level, just far enough to clear the floor.