In order to help avoid the requirement for costly lift truck repairs, it is suggested to inspect the front end of your forklift frequently as part of your pre-shift and even daily examination. By catching any problems as they occur or ahead of time, you could also help avoid damage to any type of loads as well. The following covers several of the common guidelines on what specific stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly inspecting the forks is key because if these are worn out or cracked, they may fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your forklift must immediately be removed from service until it is safe and repaired once more. Visually inspect your forks for any visible indications of damage or wear. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any kind of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more sign that you need to 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 may need to grease 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 another lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. Once the lubricating has been done, lower and raise the mast and also tilt it forward and backward several times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage; hence, your inspection must involve checking for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result may be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you may need to replace the entire cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
Check and make sure that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be certain to check the chains for indications of wear or damage using a chain wear gauge. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain appears kinked or rusted. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers also have to 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 can end up damaging the product or front end components. If you do not have time on hand to perform frequent fleet inspections or if you require help determining what exactly to check on your lift trucks, just call your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections according to your scheduling and application needs.