In order to help prevent the requirement for costly lift truck 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 as they occur or in advance, you can also help avoid damage to any kind of cargo too. The following includes a few of the general guidelines on what particular stuff to inspect during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is important to frequently inspect the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they can potentially fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck would have to instantly be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once again. Visually inspect your forks for any visible indications of wear or damage. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more sign that you should 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 might have to lubricate 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 a different lubrication point and there is also one on every side roller. When 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 into the fittings properly.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage; therefore, your inspection should include checking for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result can be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of damage or leaks, you may need to replace the entire cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
The mast chains have to be checked to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Moreover, check 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 appears kinked or rusted. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers should also be checked for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain would normally wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you notice wear. This could end up damaging front end components or even the product. If you do not have time on hand to carry out regular fleet inspections or if you need help determining what exactly to inspect on your lift trucks, simply call your local forklift dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks according to your application needs and scheduling.