In order to help prevent the requirement for expensive lift truck repairs, it is recommended to inspect the front end of your lift truck frequently as part of your pre-shift and even daily inspection. By catching any problems as they occur or in advance, you can also help avoid damage to any loads too. The following covers several of the common guidelines on what specific stuff to check during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is essential to regularly inspect the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they could potentially fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift will need to immediately be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once more. Visually check your forks for any noticeable indications 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 another sign that you have to 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 may have to grease 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 done, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it forward and backward a few times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check has to involve the checking for damage and oil leaks because an uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage. 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 signs of damage or leaks, you might have to replace just the seals or the whole cylinder assembly.
Chains
Inspect and make certain that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be certain to inspect 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 also need to be inspected for indications of wear.
Typically, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you notice wear, you can experience chain failure. This can end up damaging the product or front end components. If you do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections or if you require help determining what precisely to check on your forklifts, just contact your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks based on your application requirements and scheduling.