Pump jack crank and method

An apparatus for cranking a shackle of a pump jack comprising:

• a shaft which fits through the shackle of the pump jack;
• a handle for cranking the shaft, the handle having a locked state in which the handle is unable to rotate the shaft, and an unlocked state in which the handle is able to rotate the shaft;
• and
• a locking mechanism engaging the handle at a pivot point and the shaft, the locking mechanism placing the handle in the locked state or the unlocked state by moving the handle about the pivot point to a first position where the handle extends inward toward the shackle or a second position where the handle extends outward away from the shackle, respectively, the locking mechanism includes a plate having a plurality of a first set of teeth, attached to the shackle, the locking mechanism includes a pin which holds the handle to the shaft, the pin extending into the shaft and handle, the locking mechanism having an axis 1 corresponding to a long axis of the shaft, and an axis 2 which corresponds to a long axis of the pin, when the handle is rotated about the axis 1, the handle causes the shaft to rotate with the handle, when the handle is turned about the axis 2, the shaft does not rotate, the locking mechanism includes a spacer, a spring, and a collar that are a sliding fit over the shaft, the collar has fingers, and the handle has two legs, with the fingers on the collar fitting between the collar having a second set of teeth which mate with the first set of teeth attached to the plate, to prevent the handle from rotating.