Hydraulic Hand Pumps

Hydraulic hand pumps do not need electric power to operate, meaning you can work independently from a power source, making them extremely portable. These manual hydraulic pumps transfer fluids by hand and are a practical, cost-effective solution for various applications including filling, pressure testing and hydro testing. A high pressure hand pump can deliver working pressures suited to demanding industrial tasks, with single-acting or double-acting configurations available depending on the flow requirements of the job.

RS Australia stocks a wide range of hydraulic hand pumps to suit a variety of requirements, offering variations in liquid volume displaced versus the measured effort of operating the handle. Our range covers different pump styles, flow rates and pressure options from leading brands including Enerpac, SKF, Hi-Force and our own quality RS PRO line.

How Hydraulic Hand Pumps Work?

A hand operated hydraulic pump works by manually displacing fluid from an internal reservoir into the connected hydraulic circuit. Pulling the lever upward draws a metered volume of oil from the reservoir through an inlet check valve into the pumping chamber. Pushing the lever downward then forces that pressurised oil out through an outlet check valve and into the connected cylinder, tool or test circuit.

The check valves act as safeguards, holding the pressurised oil in the outlet line and preventing backflow into the reservoir between strokes. A double acting hydraulic hand pump improves efficiency further by displacing fluid on both the upward and downward strokes of the lever, delivering roughly twice the flow of a single-acting design for the same operator effort.

Benefits of a High Pressure Hand Pump

• Utility-Free Operation: Requires no mains electricity, compressed air or fuel, making it well suited to remote sites and off-grid maintenance.
• Ruggedness and Low Maintenance: Simple mechanical design with few moving parts translates into long service life with minimal upkeep in demanding environments.
• Cost-Effective Ownership: Lower purchase price and ongoing running cost compared to powered alternatives, particularly for intermittent-use tasks.
• Single-Speed vs Two-Speed Options: Single-speed pumps deliver a consistent flow rate throughout the stroke. Two-speed pumps automatically shift from high-flow, low-pressure delivery for initial cylinder movement to low-flow, high-pressure delivery under load, minimising operator fatigue by reducing the number of strokes needed to complete a lift or press.
• Integrated Reservoir Design: A hydraulic hand pump with reservoir provides a fully self-contained fluid supply, eliminating the need for external tanks or supply lines in mobile applications.

Applications of Hydraulic Hand Pumps

Hydraulic hand pumps are essential wherever hydraulic force is needed away from mains power, or where a simple, dependable manual pump is preferred over a powered alternative.

Industrial Construction

On construction sites, a hydraulic cylinder hand pump provides the manual power source for heavy structural lifting, jacking, tensioning and alignment work. The pump drives portable cylinders and rams used to position steel members, tension bolts on tower cranes and precast structures, and lift equipment during installation and rigging operations.

Maintenance Workshops

In maintenance and repair workshops, hydraulic hand pumps power hydrostatic pressure testing on pipework, pressure vessels and hydraulic circuits, providing the controlled, incremental pressure needed to verify system integrity. They are also widely used to press-fit and remove bearings, bushings and shaft components on the bench.

Emergency Vehicle Recovery

Emergency services and vehicle recovery teams rely on portable hand-pumped hydraulic power to drive rescue cutters, spreaders and clamping tools where no vehicle-mounted power source is available. Independence from electricity or engine power makes hand pumps essential first-response equipment.

Utility and Field Maintenance

Utilities, telecoms crews and remote-site maintenance teams use portable pumps to drive cable cutters, crimping tools and pipe-bending equipment during infrastructure work in the field, well away from mains supply.

Manual Hydraulic Pump Types

Manual hydraulic pumps are categorised by pumping action, fluid compatibility and physical scale. The right type depends on the required flow rate, working pressure and operating environment.

Single-Acting Pumps

Single-acting pumps offer the lowest purchase cost and the simplest mechanical layout of any manual hydraulic hand pump. They suit occasional-use tasks, smaller cylinders and applications where operator speed is not a primary concern.

Double-Acting Pumps

Double-acting pumps are the productivity choice for longer duty cycles, larger cylinders and applications where completing the task quickly matters. The higher effective flow rate makes them the preferred specification across most professional maintenance and construction work.

Media-Specific Pumps

A hydraulic oil hand pump is designed for standard mineral hydraulic fluid and is the most common configuration across industrial applications. Water-glycol and fire-resistant fluid variants are available for environments where hydraulic oil poses a fire or contamination risk, such as steel mills, mining and food-adjacent processes.

Compact and Heavy-Duty Options

A small hydraulic hand pump suits tight installation spaces, hand-carried field work and lower-volume applications, offering a lighter, more portable format. At the other end of the scale, heavy-duty multi-stage pumps deliver higher output for large-cylinder work, extended-duty operation and industrial press applications.

How to Choose Hydraulic Hand Pumps

Selecting the right hydraulic hand pump comes down to matching the pump specification to the connected tool, the media and the operating environment. Use the checklist below to guide your selection.

• Maximum Pressure Rating: Match the pump's rated pressure (in bar or PSI) to the working pressure of the connected cylinder, tool or test circuit. Most industrial hand pumps deliver up to 700 bar.
• Reservoir Capacity: Confirm the usable oil capacity is greater than the volume required to fully extend the external cylinder, allowing headroom for return fluid and cylinder stroke.
• Displacement per Stroke: Higher displacement (cc per stroke) reaches working position faster with fewer lever strokes, reducing operator fatigue on repetitive tasks.
• Speed Architecture: Choose two-speed pumps for lifting and pressing applications with distinct low-load and high-load phases, where the automatic shift point delivers a meaningful time saving.
• Port Thread Connection: Confirm the outlet port thread size and standard, typically 3/8-inch NPT or BSP, matches the connected hose or fitting to avoid adapter losses.
• Pump Action: Choose a single-acting pump for lower cost and simple duty, or a double-acting pump for higher flow efficiency and longer duty cycles.
• Physical Format and Weight: Consider the pump's overall size, weight and handle length in relation to how and where it will be transported and operated.

Buy Hydraulic Hand Pumps Online from RS

RS Australia is a trusted supplier and distributor of hydraulic hand pumps, stocking leading brands includingEnerpac, SKF,Hi-Force andRS PRO. Our range covers single-acting, double-acting, single-speed and two-speed pumps in a variety of reservoir capacities, pressure ratings and port configurations to suit industrial, workshop and field applications. Browse the full RS Australia range online, alongside our hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic hose assemblies and pressure gauges categories to support complete fluid power installations. Benefit from our expert technical support and seamless online ordering with fast delivery. To get complete details on our delivery services and charges, please visit ourDelivery Page.