Manually operated pumps
Manually Operated Pumps – fail-safe and flexible in use
Manually operated lubrication pumps are the straightforward solution for centralized lubrication wherever reliability matters and a power supply is not necessarily available. Each lever stroke builds up a defined pressure that feeds oil or fluid grease to the lubrication points. The process is precise, repeatable, and always under direct control. This makes hand pumps ideal for small to medium-sized machines, retrofit projects, and applications that are deliberately lubricated “on demand.”
Why use a manual lubrication pump?
Choosing a manual pump means choosing robust technology with a clear benefit. No cables, no controller, no complex setup: installation and commissioning can be done quickly. Dosing is achieved via the lever stroke, so you always see and control how much lubricant is delivered and can adapt it to the actual demand. A hand pump is also perfect as a backup system whenever electric units fail or are undergoing maintenance. In many plants this leads to less downtime, predictable lubrication cycles, and increased operational safety.
Where do manual pumps fit?
Manual pumps work with oil or fluid grease, depending on the version. In single-line systems they supply injectors or metering devices, which divide the total delivery volume into defined portions for each lubrication point. In progressive systems they drive piston distributors, which discharge step by step until the entire cycle is complete. Both principles run reliably with a hand pump as the pressure source, as long as pressure level, lubricant viscosity, and line lengths are designed accordingly. This allows efficient lubrication of machine tools, conveyors, packaging equipment, woodworking and metalworking machinery, or special-purpose machines – even at remote stations without mains power.
Product and brand expertise
In our “Manually operated pumps” category you’ll find proven solutions from well-known manufacturers for both oil and grease. Oil hand pumps are the right choice when low to medium system pressure is sufficient and you are working with low-viscosity media. For fluid grease, variants with higher pressure capability are used to reliably drive progressive distributors. You can choose between reservoirs in different volumes for short or extended refill intervals, as well as versions with visual level indication or with electrical level monitoring. The range covers compact single-point supply as well as small distribution circuits with multiple lubrication points.
Key advantages at a glance
• Independent of power supply and control system: ideal for mobile machinery, retrofit, or emergency supply.
• Controlled dosing per stroke: reproducible lubrication quantities, easy to document and verify.
• Robust, low-maintenance design: few wear parts, long service life, straightforward spare part supply.
• Flexible integration: suitable for single-line and progressive systems, can be combined with established distributor technology.
• Broad choice of variants: different reservoir sizes, monitoring options, and connection layouts.
How to select the right manually operated pump
Good system design starts with a few clear questions:
- Lubricant: Is it oil or fluid grease? The medium defines the viscosity range, operating temperature window, and required pressure.
- System principle: Single-line with injectors or progressive distributor? Depending on the distributor concept, you’ll see different minimum pressure requirements, return behavior, and permissible line lengths.
- Delivery volume per stroke: How much lubricant should one pump stroke deliver, and how many strokes per lubrication cycle are practical? This directly affects both operator workload and total cycle time.
- Reservoir size and refill interval: Select the reservoir volume so it matches your maintenance windows and machine uptime.
- Monitoring and handling comfort: Is a visual level check enough, or do you want a switch contact to send a warning to your control system?
- Connections and mounting: Check thread types, mounting position, and fastening points. Stress-free routing of the lines increases service life and tightness.
Working through these points helps ensure the pump matches the medium, the distributor, and the environmental conditions – and keeps daily operating effort reasonable.
Technical fundamentals – what really matters
Pressure and viscosity: Oil typically requires lower pressure than grease, but flows more easily through long or narrow lines. Fluid grease needs higher pressure, but in return builds a very stable lubricating film and offers long-lasting protection at friction points. Match the pressure demand of the distributor (single-line or progressive) to the pump so the lubrication cycle completes reliably.
Delivery volume per stroke: The volume delivered per lever stroke determines how many strokes are needed for a full lubrication cycle. If the volume per stroke is too small, the operator spends too long pumping. If it’s too large, fine dosing becomes difficult. A sensible middle ground keeps dosing precise while keeping effort manageable.
Temperature and environment: Cold environments increase viscosity, so the pump has to work harder. Long lines and tight cross-sections amplify that effect. Plan around that with suitable lubricants, short line paths, and a protected mounting position. Simple measures like a filler screen at the reservoir opening and clean containers during refilling prevent contamination and increase system life.
Accessories that make the difference in practice
The setup becomes truly reliable with matched accessories: distributors (single-line or progressive) for defined quantity control, tubing and fittings for leak-tight connections, pressure gauges for quick pressure checks, visual or electrical level indicators for clear maintenance signals, and filter elements to keep the medium clean. For new installations you benefit from pre-assembled line kits; for retrofits you focus on compatible threads and the available mounting space. The result is a well-thought-out system that works reliably in daily use and is easy to service.
Installation, commissioning, and maintenance
Mounting is straightforward: secure the pump, respect the specified mounting orientation, route lines without mechanical stress, and group lubrication points logically. After filling the reservoir, bleed the line until lubricant reaches the distributor. A short trial run confirms that all points are being supplied and that the return flow to the reservoir works as intended. During operation you document the number of strokes per cycle and regularly check for leaks, fill level, and filter condition. These few steps create transparency, improve repeatability, and reduce wear on bearings and guides.
Typical use cases
• Machine tools: interval lubrication of guides and spindles, aligned with shift changes or maintenance breaks.
• Packaging and conveyor systems: reliable base lubrication at changing cycle times, without any electrical interface.
• Special-purpose machinery: tailored, space-saving solutions with minimal installation effort, even in tight machine envelopes.
• Maintenance and retrofit: simple upgrade of older systems, backup supply for critical axes or stations.
More value in daily operation
A manual lubrication pump is more than a “hand-driven unit.” It’s a planning tool. The operator decides deliberately when and how much lubrication is applied. This prevents both over-lubrication and under-lubrication, reduces lubricant consumption, and extends the service life of bearings, rails, and joints. Together with basic documentation – for example a simple stroke-per-cycle log – you get a transparent, audit-ready lubrication concept that is preferred in many industries.
Manually Operated Pumps in the Sinntec Web shop
From compact oil hand pumps with small reservoirs to high-pressure grease pumps for progressive distributors, our shop offers suitable models in various reservoir sizes, with optional level monitoring and common connection interfaces. On request, you can also get matching distributors, line kits, and measuring devices. If you need a replacement for an obsolete series, we check the interfaces and suggest a compatible alternative that is technically sensible, available, and future-proof.