Ratchet Lever Hoists are a brilliant tool for pulling and lifting of loads, these tools serve many industries that deal with lifting of heavy products and materials. Due to the multitude of applications possible for lever hoists, many variants have been developed and are on the market. This can make it confusing as to which product may best suit your needs, when it comes to pulling or lifting materials.

Lever hoists come in a range of sizes and lifting capacities from 150 kg up to 10,000 kg, offering easy pulling and compact designs. In this post I will look at their various construction material and what their uses are to get a better understanding of the lever hoists we have to offer.

WHAT ARE RATCHET LEVER HOISTS?

Ratchet lever hoists are a standard and well known lifting product in the industry, featuring designs from basic models to more advanced designs which are optimized for efficiency and safety in mind.

The lever hoist is manually operated and simple to use with a lever handle for the operator to grip and move, lifting is an easy task once the right ratchet and set up has been implemented. Lever hoists are used when moving items which are too awkward, heavy or unsafe for one person to lift and there compact design allows them to be used in areas with little headroom.

The load is attached to the end hook which does the lifting and the top hook is used for holding the ratchet in position which is attached to the mounting point and above the load. Ratchet hoists can be used horizontally, vertically or inverted when needed, with both hooks tide at either end giving more pulling applications. This is ideal where there is limited lifting space.

Ratchets hoists can serve in a wide array of industries lifting objects as heavy as 10,000 kg, they are sometimes used for pulling tree stumps out of the ground, this landscaping work is notoriously difficult as root structures can become quite large in some cases but never the less, with the correct capacity lever hoist and careful planning these tools can complete the task. Care should be given when lifting large loads and safety precautions should always be implemented.

CURRENT RATCHET LEVER HOISTS ON THE MARKET

• ‘Yale Handy’ A Small but sturdy Ratchet Lever Hoist

 

Ranging from a capacity of 250 kg up to 500 kg the Yale Handy is certainly a handy and compact sized lever hoist, due to its size and multitude of industry application possibilities, this ratchet lever hoist is indispensable. This is an easy to use hoist with extremely low tare weight, with the standard free chaining device which serves to quickly attach a load and to pull along the chain in either direction.

• ‘UNO plus’ Economy Ratchet Lever Hoist

 

Going a level up with this Yale UNOplus ranging from 750kg capacity up to 6000kg lifting weight capacity. This is a versatile lever hoist that is designed for lifting those awkward loads but still at an affordable price, with a compact design and with construction material of very robust steel this is a long lasting product that will easily lift many loads for you at an economic price. This ratchet hoist also comes with the standard free chaining device which serves to quickly attach a load and to pull along the chain in either direction.

 

• ‘PT’ Pressed Steel Ratchet Lever Hoist

 

This ratchet lever hoist is probably the most universal of Yales lever hoists as its range goes from 800 kg up to 6300 kg. With its pressed steel housing and extremely low weight this ratchet offers reliability and sturdiness from within its strong build. Its low operating effort and low overall height give it even further outstanding features.

• ‘D85 PUL-LIFTS’ Zinc Chain Hoist

 

The D85 is Yale's original ratchet lever hoist, the unit on which Yale was founded from the beginning. The housing on this ratchet is an enclosed cover constructed from high tensile cast iron, providing a strong and durable construction. It’s range goes from 750 kg up to 10,000 kg.

The cast iron load sheave for the link chain is built with precision machined chain pockets that accurately fit the chain giving it more durability. This ratchet lever hoist is a quality choice for heavy lifting industry or for tool hires. It is designed for heavy lifting work in mind, and is suitable for many applications in mining, maintenance, construction, shipbuilding, steel fabrication, utility work and especially within the rail industry.

The zinc chain offers further corrosion resistance which makes it a long lasting quality product.

• ‘D85 PUL-LIFTS’ Roller Chain Hoist

 

Yale’s C85 is ideal for use in the electricity supply industry, working well with overhead line work as it offers lightweight yet heavy lifting capabilities. It’s range goes from 750 kg up to 10,000 kg. This ratchet lever hoist is basically the same as Yales D85 but instead of the link chain it comes with a roller chain fitted.

The roller chain sprocket on this ratchet is built from a heat treated chromium-molybdenum steel that has precision machined teeth ensuing only the smoothest of chain movement happens.

 

• ‘Yale ERGO’ Ratchet Lever Hoist

 

Lastly in our list is the Yale ERGO it is named so because of its design, which has been changed greatly improving the useability from an operators perspective with a newly designed lever handle that can be used from either side with its foldable arm. The revolutionary new crank arm can be moved around 360 degrees for easier and faster lifting. This feature makes it more productive when it comes to cranking the lever to lift. It’s range goes from 750 kg up to 6,000 kg.

Ergonomically designed, lifting needs less effort than with conventional ratchet lever tools. The directional indicator on this product is easy to use on the handle and easily shows operating direction as lifting, lowering or when at neutral.

This product from Yale is built to last, it's lightweight strong aluminium construction offers a lot of durability and strength. The chain stripper is constructed from cast steel and zinc-plated for excellent corrosion protection.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A HOIST LEVER

Considering the load you must lift is important when choosing the right ratchet hoist for the job, as some ratchet hoists are designed only to lift smaller objects they will simply be dangerous to use when lifting heavier objects that are above its weight capacity. This should not be done as it puts you and other people in danger when lifting.

When you buy a hoist you obviously don’t want to under size your hoist, or get a hoist that will not be able to lift the load safely. Another issue that can happen is not an obvious one but when you buy a hoist and choose a hoist that is larger, you should remember that with a larger hoist comes more weight and is a bigger size, so it may become an obstacle if the area it will be used is not that large or is tight for space. It is usually recommended to go a size above your needs but the overall sizing should be kept in mind.

SAFELY OPERATING RATCHET LEVER HOISTS

Care should be given operating ratchet lever hoists when lifting heavy objects or machinery, proper procedures for setting up the lifting hoists should be implemented. Knowledge of the weight of the load to be lifted should be determined and the appropriate hoist then set up.

Checking the area to make sure it is clear for lifting an object in is very important. Once the item has been lifted and is suspended in the air, the area underneath should be kept clear so as to avoid any accidents.

  

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING A RATCHET LEVER HOIST?

EASE OF USE AND FLEXIBILITY

Ratchet lever hoists are known for ease of use and great flexibility, they can easily be set up by one person, this feature alone makes it ideal on many work sites. It's also a flexible tool in terms of being able to use it for more than one job or function, it suits many areas of lifting and a range of environments where it excels as a lifting tool.

COMPACT DESIGN AND MOBILITY

Ratchet lever hoists can come in a fairly compact size for the smaller capacity hoists, this compact design lets operators use these hoist in very confined spaces. Its mobility allows the ratchet lever hoist to be used in many locations, and on many worksites these tools are a product that are in high demand as a tool to hire out.

COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION

As a lifting solution they are ideal not only for there compact size and sturdiness but as a cost effective solution. Alternatives would be using a small crane or large chain blocks which need to be fixed in position. 

 

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR RATCHET LEVER HOISTS

STORAGE

As these tools work equally well indoors or outdoors care should be given when storing them when not in use, to ensure they are kept free from rusting or getting damaged, these tools are best stored in a dry place away from any corrosive material. Some of the products are constructed with strong aluminium and some have zinc covered parts this is a great feature to ensure longevity of the product.

MAINTENANCE

These tools don't require a lot of maintenance and some of the cheaper products can not be repaired if they do break or get damaged, then they must simply be thrown away. The better quality ratchet hoist can be repaired, if parts need replacing as it is normal for moving parts to wear over time. Inspecting for damage before use is key to getting the most out of your product, and buying a product from a reputable source that can easily get spare parts and replacement parts is a smart decision.

 

CONCLUSION

Ratchet Lever Hoists have many additional features and functions but the core principles are pulling and lifting, knowing how high and what weight you need to be able to lift will guide you into finding the right product for you. They are an essential product in the lifting industry with a wide range of capacities making light work of heavy loads, many operators have there personal choice when it comes to the best products and brands, it usually comes from experience of dealing hands on with the products and seeing what works best.

We have a range of ratchet lever hoists here and we encourage you to take a look at them to find what suits you best.