It is recommended to often check the front end of your forklift as part of your daily or pre-shift examination, in order to help prevent costly lift truck repairs. By catching any problems as they happen or in advance, you can also help prevent damage to any type of loads too. The following includes several of the common guidelines on what particular stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly inspecting the forks is vital because if these are worn out or cracked, they might fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck must immediately be removed from service until it is repaired and safe once again. Visually check 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 should tilt back and forward and be able to smoothly move up and down. 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 another 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 guarantee that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check has to involve the checking for oil leaks and damage since an uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage. Whether the leaks are external or are located 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 have to replace just the seals or the whole cylinder assembly.
Chains
Check and make certain that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be sure to check the chains for indications of wear or damage utilizing a chain wear gauge. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain seems kinked or rusted. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers must also be inspected for indications of wear.
Typically, 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 do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections or if you need help determining what precisely to check on your lift trucks, just call your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks based on your application needs and scheduling.