How to Operate Electric Scissor Lift Like a BOSS !!

Do not have enough money for one-day electric scissor lift training course?
Want to learn how to operate an electric scissor lift? Step by step? Do you want a reliable and complete source to guide you to the right procedures and instructions?

Congratulations, you are in the right place. At the end of this post you will know - as an operator - the right procedures in order to operate an electric scissor lift efficiently, so make sure to fully understand the following lines to remain in the safe zone.

Meet the Skyjack, one of the most beloved, popular and simple electric scissor lifts in the world, and our friend through this journey.

Skyjack and most electric scissor lifts have two main units in order to control and operate, Base Control and Platform Control. In this post I'll provide you the necessary information needed to operate any scissor lift through these units and it is important to carefully read and completely understand the operating steps and instructions, so let's dive deeper.

Base Control Unit

This control unit is located at the base of the scissor lift which contains the following controls:

1. (Lower-Neutral-Raise) Switch

This switch controls raising or lowering of the platform.

2. (Off-Platform-Base) Key Switch

This three-way switch allows you to turn off power to the platform or to activate either platform control or base control.

3. Emergency Stop Button

This button, when being pressed, disconnects power to the control circuit.

Before operating, you should activate base control console by pulling out the emergency stop button from base control unit and platform control unit. Also, you have to turn main power disconnect switch to on position.

Attention Please!
The Main Power Disconnect Switch does not exist in all scissor lift brands and models, but if it exists, you should find it at the base of your scissor lift. This switch, while being in off position, disconnects power to all circuits. The switch must be in on position to operate any circuit. When transporting the scissor lift it's recommended to turn the switch off.

So, How to Raise and Lower the Platform Using Base Control Unit ?!

To raise or lower the platform using base control Unit, select and hold (off-platform-base) key switch to the base position using your left hand. 

Then select and hold (lower-neutral-raise) switch to either raise or lower position using your right hand. And release switch to stop using. 

If you are a left-handed person you can use your hands in opposite way. And be careful, do not lower the platform unless the area is clear of personnel and obstructions.

Platform Control Unit

This removable control unit is mounted at the right front of the platform. It contains the following controls:

1. (Lift-Drive-Steer) Enable Trigger Switch

This momentary switch energizes the controller. It must be held pressed continuously while engaging either the lift, drive or steer functions.

Without activating enable trigger switch, try to activate any platform function and you will find that all platform functions will not response.

2. (Lift-Drive-Steer) Controller joystick

This one-hand lever controls lift, drive and steer motions. Internal springs return it to neutral when the controller is released.

3. (Inclined Drive-Level Drive) Switch

This switch selects inclined drive (low speed-high torque) or level drive (high speed-low torque).

Basically, you should keep it on level drive position unless when you are climbing or descending a ramp.

Note that (inclined drive (low speed-high torque)) may be not available on all models.

4. (Lift-Off-Drive) Switch

Selecting off position disconnects power from both lift and drive circuits. Selecting lift position energizes the lift circuit. Selecting drive position energizes the drive circuit.

5. Emergency Stop Button

This button, when pressed, disconnects power to the control circuit.

Push in emergency stop button and try to activate any platform function, in this case, all selected platform function should not response.6. Horn Push Button

This push button sounds an automotive-type horn. Push the horn push button and the horn will sound. You can use it while driving the scissor lift through a busy work site.

Before starting to operate your scissor lift, you need to activate platform control unite by turning main power disconnect switch to on position in the base control unit, pulling out emergency stop button and selecting (off-platform-base) key switch to platform position.

Use the ladder of the scissor lift to access platform, close the gate, and finally, pull out emergency stop button on platform control console, then get ready for the fun.

🚨 Make sure that you maintain three points of contact when using the ladder to mount / dismount the platform.

How to Raise and Lower the Platform Using Platform Control Unit ?!

To raise or lower platform using platform control unit, activate platform control unit by pulling out emergency stop button. 

Select (lift-off-drive) switch to lift position then activate and hold enable trigger switch. 

Pushing controller joystick forward should rise the platform to desired height. Pull controller joystick backward should lower the platform. Finally, return the controller to the neutral center position to stop and release enable trigger switch.

To prevent unintended movement of the scissor lift, you can push the emergency stop button after you have arrived at your desired location or height.

🚨 Be aware of overhead obstructions or other possible hazards around the scissor lift when lifting and Don't lower the platform unless the area below is clear of personnel and obstructions. 

Also, if the platform does not, or only partially raises, immediately lower the platform completely and ensure that the aerial platform is on a firm level surface.

How to Drive Forward or Backward ?!

To drive forward or backward, make sure that the platform control unit is activated, select (lift-off-drive) switch to drive position, activate and hold enable trigger switch, move controller joystick forward or backward to desired speed and direction of scissor lift travel.

Slowly push controller joystick in forward direction then the scissor lift will start moving slowly. Full forward push for controller joystick makes the scissor lift go with its full speed.

Slowly pull controller joystick in the backward direction then the scissor lift will start moving slowly in reverse direction. Full backward pull for controller joystick makes the scissor lift move with its full speed.

Finally, return the controller to the neutral center position to stop, and release enable trigger switch.

🚨 Fast and sudden push or pull makes the scissor jerk like cars, so make sure to start slowly and smoothly.

Be aware of blind spots when driving the scissor lift and make sure that there are no personnel or obstructions in the path of driving, including blind spots. And remember to push the emergency stop button after arriving your desired location to protect against unintended movement of the scissor lift.

How to Steer the Wheels ?!

For wheel steering, select (lift-off-drive) switch to drive position, activate and hold enable trigger switch, then press rocker switch on top of controller joystick in either direction to steer.

Press rocker switch on top of controller joystick to right and steer wheels will turn right. Press rocker switch on top of controller joystick to left and steer wheels will turn left.

And Of course, driving and steering may be activated at the same time.

Scissor lifts are to be operated from the operator’s position on the platform with the control box secured on the mounting bracket at the front right portion of the platform. 
But you can also operate the scissor lift from the ground while maintaining the lift, driving through a doorway or in any other circumstances like an obstruction precludes the operation of the lift from the operator’s position on the platform.

How to drive the Scissor Lift through a Doorway PROPERLY ?!

Before driving, perform a job site inspection to operate the scissor lift and identify potential hazards in your work area. Also, make sure that this is no one in the intended path of travel. If there is, notify those around the pathway that you will be moving the scissor lift.

To drive the scissor lift through a doorway you need to confirm that the height and width of the doorway are sufficient to allow the scissor lift to pass through, then position the scissor lift to allow future motion through the doorway, to be in a forward direction, then disconnect and remove platform control unit from the platform. 

On base control unit, pull out emergency stop button, select (base-off-platform) key switch to platform position. On platform control unit, pull out emergency stop button, select (lift-off-drive) switch to drive position. 

Beware of driving the scissor lift toward yourself. Using as low speed as possible with your position behind the scissor lift, drive forward through the doorway.

After reaching the desired location, take platform control unit and return it to the platform. And note that this operation is more suitable for level ground.

Fold the guardrails if necessary. After finishing, return guardrails to the upright position and check the guardrail system for loose or missing locking pins. The guardrail system must be upright and all pins must be locked in place. 

Death or serious injury could result if the guardrail system is not upright or properly locked.

Once the platform control unit is securely reconnected and guardrails up, normal operation may continue.

How to Fold Guardrail System ?!

Guardrail system, when folded down, reduces the height of the platform of the scissor lift for transporting and traveling through doorways.

Be careful, lowering guardrail will create a fall hazard so, be careful of the side of the platform guardrails to avoid falling.

At first, you should recognize the Guardrail Locking Pin with Lanyard. This pin is used to lock the guardrail in place. 

The scissor assembly must be fully lowered before raising or lowering the guardrails. Before operating your scissor lift, check the guardrail system for loose or missing locking pins.

To fold the guardrail system down, ensure that the scissor lift is on level ground, the emergency stop button is pressed and extension platform is fully retracted.

Use the ladder of the scissor lift to access platform, close the gate, remove the platform control console and lay it down on the platform.

Remove left and right side pins, Remove remaining pins from all sides and carefully fold all guardrails.

To raise the guardrail system up, ensure that the scissor lift is on level ground, the emergency stop button is pressed and extension platform is fully retracted.

Remove locking pin from mounting post and carefully raise extension guardrail up and lock into place with locking pins ensuring that the detent ball of each pin is all the way through then Mount the platform control console at the front right of the platform.

Loading and Unloading

Be sure vehicle capacity and loading equipment hoists, chains, straps, etc., are sufficient to withstand the maximum weight of the platform. 

It is important to remember that the load should be evenly distributed on the platform. The load should be placed near the center of the platform as possible as you can.

How to Extend and Retract Scissor Lift Extension Deck ?!

It's easy, remove locking pins and push extension platform using the push bar or sliding handrails.To retract manual extension platform, remove locking pins and pull extension platform.

Upon extension or retraction, reinsert locking pins to prevent accidental movement of extension platform during travel or transport. And note that it is not recommended to retract extension platform from the ground.

How to Shut down the Scissor Lift ?!

Completely lower the platform, on platform control unit, push in emergency stop button then use the ladder to dismount from the platform. 

On the base control unit, select (off-platform-base) key switch to off position and remove the key. Then turn main power disconnect switch to off position if equipped. 

Last Words

Some believe that the reason behind making some companies require documented training certificate before using the scissor lift is to keep you away from danger, others believe that they do not want to be a chance of 1% to accident or injury occurrence because the you in case of injury - God forbid - can prosecute them demanding millions of dollars as compensate, which was a great loss for certain companies. 

But all of them agree that any electric scissor lift is so easy to operate. What do you think? Tell me your opinion in comments below.