In order to help prevent the requirement for expensive forklift repairs, it is recommended to inspect the front end of your forklift regularly as part of your daily and even pre-shift examination. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they arise, you can also help avoid damage to any kind of cargo as well. The following includes several of the common guidelines on what specific stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is vital to regularly inspect the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they can potentially fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift will need to instantly be removed from service until it is safe and repaired once again. Visually check your forks for any visible signs of wear or damage. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any type of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more sign that you must replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must 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 every side. The lift bracket side rollers are a different lubrication point and there is also one on every side roller. When the lubricating has been completed, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it backward and forward a few times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check needs to include the checking for damage and oil leaks since an uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result can 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
The mast chains need to be checked to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. In addition, check the chain wear guage or check the chains for signs of damage. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain looks kinked or rusted. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers also have to be checked for signs of wear.
Typically, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you notice wear, you could experience chain failure. This could end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections or if you require 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 checks according to your application needs and scheduling.