Lever Hoists

What is a Lever Hoist?

A ratchet hoist is also often referred to as a lever hoist, and less commonly a “come along” or pull winch. A chain ratchet is a small, portable devices which can be used for pulling, lifting, tension and lowering operations, in a precise manner.

Our range of Lever Hoists, Ratchet Lever Hoists, and Chain Hoists require no power supply, making them a cost-effective solution to lifting. Lifting Gear Direct ratchet lever hoists or pull winches form part of our extensive hoists and hoisting equipment range which includes both manual and electric hoist devices. We also have our own brand LGD pull winch at under £83 with other branded models from Kito, Tractel and Hacketts.

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LGD Lever Hoist

£82.45

More about the LGD Lever hoist Whether you need to lift and lower, add tension ..

Yale UNOplus A-Series Lever Hoist

£122.97

Key Features of the Yale UNOplus-A Series Lever HoistThe UNO plus A series ratc..

Yale Handy Lever Hoist

£77.17

About the Yale Handy Lever Hoist At just 240mm tall this handy ratc..

Yale PT Lever Hoist / Pull Lift

£221.25

About the Yale PT Ratchet Lever Hoist The pressed steel housing makes this a st..

Yale C85 Pul-lift / Lever Hoist

POA

About the Yale C85 Pul-lift This lever hoist incorporates an enclosed cover, le..

Yale D85 Lever Hoist / Pull Lift

POA

About the Yale D85 Pul-lift With a housing cover, lever and bottom block made f..

Yale ERGO 360 Lever Hoist

£273.76

About the Yale ERGO 360 Ratchet Lever HoistThe innovative design of the Ergo 360..

Yale UNO Plus Atex Rated Lever Hoist

POA

About the Yale ATEX Uno Plus Ratchet Lever Hoist The ATEX Uno plus lever hoist ..

Viper Lever Hoist

POA

The Viper Ratchet Lever Hoist at a Glance The GT Viper lever hoist is the ide..

Tiger TLH Lever Hoist

POA

About the Tiger TLH Industrial Lever Hoist Ideal for industrial applications th..

Tiger PROLH Lever Hoist

POA

About the Tiger PROLH Lever Hoist One of the most outstanding features of the P..

Raptor Mini Lever Hoist - Light Duty

£57.20

About the Raptor Mini Lever HoistIf you need a compact, manual hoisting device..

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A wide range of lever hoists

Lifting Gear Direct supplies a number of these hoists; each designed to operate under certain conditions and to support loads of varying weights. From the lower hook block to the chain and supporting mechanisms, all of these level hoists have been manufactured to the most stringent of specifications. This will assure years of reliable and continuous use within even the most demanding of environments.

We supply all the leading brands like Tiger, Kito, Yale, Tractel, Hacketts and GT. Within these ranges there are a number of ATEX rated lever hoists (Yale Atex; Hacketts ATEX; Tractel ATEX and Tiger ATEX) and subsea lever hoists (Tiger subsea hoist & Hacketts Subsea pull winch). We can also now supply our own LGD Lever Hoist Pull Winch which offers a more cost effective alternative

Why Use a Ratchet Lever Hoist

Probably the greatest advantage of using a ratchet lever hoist is that they can be used in virtually any position. They are ideal for exact load positioning in small spaces, and cargo tie down applications. Often available with safe working load capacities ranging from 250kg to 10,000 kg, and with either a standard link chain or a roller chain.

How a Lever Hoist Works

Ratchet lever hoists have a ratchet and pawl system in place; this allows the gear to be rotated to move the load by means of the lever/handle being cranked up and down. A lever hoist incorporates a hook to fix the hoist to a suitable fixing point, and the chain will have some sort of fastener at the end, often a hook with safety catch, to attach to the load.

The handle / lever to operate the hoist also has a pawl system and may have extra gears to increase the power and also the speed of the lever hoist. Every time the lever is cranked forwards and backwards the gear will turn allowing the chain to pass over it to either bring in the chain or advance the chain out, i.e. to lift or lower the load. As soon as you let go of the lever the brake will be applied. This means that the load will stay exactly where it is. The handle of the chain lever hoist may also comprise of a release mechanism.

Operation of a pull winch requires minimum effort because the ratchet and gears do all the hard work. Most models will incorporate a free chaining device. This enables the load chain to be freely pulled out by hand so the load can be reached quickly for attachment.

More about the Pull Winch

A pull winch is often used for positioning heavy plant machinery, tensioning utility lines, down manholes, setting pipe work and also holding objects in place for welding for instance, and even for pulling tree stumps from the ground; they are commonly seen in car garages and are used in most industrial areas for maintenance of machinery and also forestry etc.

Pull winches are probably one of the most versatile and cost efficient piece of lifting equipment available. They can be found in various sizes and capacities, and with no limit to chain length, they can also be easily re-chained. Small versions can often be lifted with one hand. They can be very easily transported in a large tool box or in your van/truck and no maintenance worker should be without one.

Types of Pull Lifts Available from LGD

Lifting Gear Direct can supply a wide variety of pull winches from some of the most recognisable brand names. We can also now supply our own LGD heavy duty pull winch which offers a more cost effective alternative.

Our top branded products include Tractel and Kito. All have a range of models to choose from. The range of Pulllifts from Yale are amongst our best sellers. Their model range includes the compact Handy lever hoist which is great for site work and small workshops. Then you have UNO plus with safe working loads up to 6000kg and also comes in an ATEX model.

The latest addition the the Yale model range is the ERGO 360. The 360 pull winch has an innovative design making it great in tight spaces. It also operates much faster then many other models on the market. This is due to the complete 360 degree rotation of the lever. So the operation action is winding rather then ratcheting/cranking. This alleviates much stress on the arms, particularly the elbows and wrists. In addition this winch can be operated in any position.

Another popular pull winch worth mentioning here is the KitoLX lever hoist. Compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand, transportation is easy. A perfect companion to your everyday tool box. You can lift, pull and tension loads up to 500kg with this great little hoist.

Here is a brief tutorial on how to use a ratchet lever hoist.

First you need to fit the lever hoist to a suitable secure fixing point using its top hook. You should ensure that this anchor point is capable of taking the weight and strain of the load to be handled, and also that it is stable.

Secondly, the load chain will need to be attached to the load, (the free-chaining mechanism will allow you to pull the chain from the ratchet until you have the length you need) making sure it will be evenly balanced about the centre of gravity; this will ensure a safer and easier lift.

Thirdly, the lever on the unit needs to be lifted into the up position then the lever/handle should be pushed all the way forwards, then pull all the way back again, by continuing this movement the load will slowly be moved to the required position.

Fourthly, for lowering the load push the lever on the hoisting unit to the down position, then, just as before, crank the handle forwards and backwards until the load reaches its required position.

Finally, remove the chain from the load, and that’s it, job done.

Here are a few safety tips when using a Pull Winch.

Always follow manufacturer’s instructions, inspect regularly and always check the brake system prior to each use. Always check that the bottom hook will reach the lowest point without the chain reaching the stop. Never extend the lever/handle. Keep the brake free from oil and grease etc, but keep the chain well lubricated. Never replace a chain for a longer one before consulting your supplier. If any wear or damage to hooks and fittings is noticed then do not use until thoroughly inspected by a competent person.

Check for things like; bent, stretched or cracked chain links, damaged suspension hooks, illegible markings and also damaged, bent or cracked operating lever. Always store lever hoists correctly, by hanging them with the hook clear of the ground. As well as your regular check you also need to have all types of lifting gear thoroughly inspected by a qualified person to comply with LOLER regulations. We have our own team of trained engineers who can carry out inspections, do load tests and carry out maintenance and repairs as needed.

Advantages of an ATEX ratchet lever hoist

As mentioned earlier, we stock ratchet lever hoist models that are rated to meet ATEX standards. This includes powerful and productive models like the Tiger PROLH lever hoist, which has both standard and ATEX rated versions on offer according to your needs.

The design of an ATEX ratchet lever hoist will be altered to limit the likelihood of sparks being generated during its operation. This is essential when working in environments with explosive atmospheres, since even the smallest spark can cause a disaster.

In order to achieve an ATEX appropriate rating, a ratchet lever hoist can feature internal components and external connections which are specially coated to prevent excess friction. For typical use, such extras will not be necessary, but in atmospheres that feature combustible gases in significant volumes, they will be vital.

We also stock other ATEX lifting equipment, including Yale chain blocks like the YLLHP/G. Use our search service to pinpoint products that fall into this category, or use our contact details below to ask more information.

Benefits of a subsea lever hoist

The other type of specialised ratchet lever hoist that is worth looking into is that which is designed for subsea use, like the Tiger ssII. Such hoists need to be especially durable and resistant to corrosion, since exposure to moisture and complete immersion are part and parcel of a typical use case. These high end hoists can cope with a variety of loads, with capacities topping out at 20 tonnes in the most sizeable examples.

Of course corrosion resistance is something which many standard ratchet lever hoists provide, but this tends to be limited to the external surfaces and components. In the case of a true subsea hoist, like the SS L5 from Hacketts, protection from rust will be provided internally as well. The type of lubricant used must also be suited to a maritime environment, so there are lots of reasons to choose a specialist lever hoist when appropriate.

Modern features of a ratchet lever hoist

While they may seem fairly simple on a mechanical level, contemporary ratchet lever hoist models have a lot to offer operators that might not be apparent at first glance.

A good example of this is the anti-lock braking systems that are found on some examples. These prevent the kind of jarring lock-ups that could otherwise limit control in emergencies. Other safety solutions focusing on the brakes will limit the chances of unwanted freewheeling and keep cargo and employees out of harm’s way.

Hoisting alternatives

Should a ratchet lever hoist not quite offer the features you need, there are innumerable options available to act as alternatives. Check out our full range of hoisting and winching equipment. A chain block may be more suitable for your needs or perhaps a cable puller or wire rope winch. These are all manually operated so there is no need for a power supply.

Should you be looking for something with more power but less manual effort then take a look at our powered hoists. These include the most popular electric hoists which have an abundance of uses. Our electric hoists are perfect for use in conjunction with the crane and gantry systems we supply. Our scaffold hoists have unique abilities and high capacity limits. In essence, there is almost no piece of lifting equipment that cannot be found on the Lifting Gear Direct site. Our air hoists, for example, offer impressive power using a pneumatic air power supply and have a range of durable designs.

Lifting Accessories

LGD also manufacture jib cranes and mobile gantry systems to your own specifications. These are a great way to provide a lifting frame for your hoisting equipment.

Lifting slings are also made to order and our range includes web slings, round slings and of course chain slings.

Lifting shackles, eye bolts and swivel eye bolts are also readily available as are ropes of all kinds

Get in touch today

Browse our full selection of lever hoists from all the major manufacturers below for full technical details and call our team on 01384 76961 to discuss any requirements; or you can email us your requirements here. We are always happy to offer advice when required to ensure you get the most suitable equipment for your needs. Remember we also supply all your loose lifting tackle like slings and shackles so you can purchase all you need from one trusted supplier.

Commercial D Shackles

Green Pin Bow Shackle with Safety Bolt

2 Tonne Round Sling

2 Tonne Duplex Web Sling