In order to help prevent the requirement for expensive lift truck repairs, it is recommended to check the front end of your forklift regularly as part of your daily and even pre-shift inspection. By catching any problems in advance or as they arise, you could also help prevent damage to any loads too. The following covers some of the general guidelines on what specific things to check during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly checking the forks is vital because if these are cracked or worn out, they may fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck will have to immediately be removed from service until it is safe and fixed once more. Visually check your forks for any noticeable indications of damage or wear. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any type of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another sign that you must 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 every side. The lift bracket side rollers are a different lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. Once the lubricating has been completed, tilt it backward and forward and also raise and lower the mast a few times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check has to include the checking for oil leaks and damage because an uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage. Whether the leaks are situated inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result can be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you might need to replace the whole cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
The mast chains have to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. In addition, inspect the chain wear guage or check the chains for indications of damage. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain looks rusted or kinked. The chain rollers and the sheave bearings also have to be inspected for indications of wear.
The mast lift chain will typically wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you discover wear. This could end up damaging the product or front end parts. If you require help determining what exactly to inspect on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to carry out regular fleet inspections, simply contact your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians will help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks according to your application requirements and scheduling.