In order to help prevent the requirement for costly lift truck repairs, it is suggested to inspect the front end of your forklift regularly as part of your pre-shift and even daily examination. By catching any problems in advance or as they arise, you could also help prevent damage to any cargo too. The following covers some of the common guidelines on what particular stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is vital to regularly check the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they can potentially fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck must immediately be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once again. Visually inspect your forks for any visible 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 one more sign that you must replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast should tilt forward and back and be able to smoothly move down and up. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you might have to lubricate the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. On the inner mast there is a fitting situated on each side. The lift bracket side rollers are another lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. Once the lubricating has been completed, tilt it forward and backward and also lower and raise the mast several times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked into the fittings properly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection needs to involve the checking for oil leaks and damage as an uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result can be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any indications of damage or leaks, you may need to replace just the seals or the whole cylinder assembly.
Chains
The mast chains have to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. What's more, check the chain wear guage or check the chains for indications of damage. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain seems rusted or kinked. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers also have to be checked for signs of wear.
Normally, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you discover wear, you can experience chain failure. This could end up damaging front end components or even the product. If you need help determining what precisely to inspect on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to carry out regular fleet inspections, simply call your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians will help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections according to your application needs and scheduling.