It is recommended to often check the front end of your lift truck as part of your pre-shift or daily examination, in order to help avoid costly forklift repairs. By catching any problems as they happen or ahead of time, you could also help prevent damage to any kind of cargo too. The following includes a few of the common guidelines on what particular stuff to check during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is important to regularly check the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they could potentially fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck must instantly be removed from service until it is safe and repaired once again. Visually inspect your forks for any noticeable signs of wear or damage. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another sign that you should replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must tilt back and forward and be able to smoothly move down and up. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you may have to lubricate the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. On the inner mast there is a fitting located on each side. The lift bracket side rollers are a different lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. When the lubricating has been done, tilt it backward and forward and also lower and raise the mast a few times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked correctly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage; thus, your inspection must involve inspecting for damage and for oil leaks. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result could be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you might need to replace just the seals or the whole cylinder assembly.
Chains
Inspect and make certain that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be sure to check the chains for indications of damage or wear utilizing a chain wear gauge. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain appears kinked or rusted. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers should also be inspected for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain will normally wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you discover wear. This could end up damaging the product or front end components. If you do not have time on hand to carry out regular fleet inspections or if you need help determining what exactly to check on your lift trucks, simply contact your local forklift dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections based on your application requirements and scheduling.