In order to help avoid the need for costly forklift repairs, it is recommended to inspect the front end of your lift truck regularly as part of your daily and even pre-shift inspection. By catching any problems as they arise or ahead of time, you can also help avoid damage to any type of loads as well. The following includes several of the common guidelines on what specific things to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is essential to regularly check the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they could potentially 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 repaired once again. Visually inspect 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 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 up and down. 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 situated on each side. The lift bracket side rollers are another lubrication point and there is also one on every side roller. Once the lubricating has been done, tilt it forward and backward and also raise and lower the mast several times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked correctly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check needs to include the checking for oil leaks and damage since an uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are situated inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result could be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you may need 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 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 rusted or kinked. Both 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 can end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you need help determining what precisely to check on your lift trucks or if you do not have time on hand to carry out regular fleet inspections, simply call your local lift truck dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM checks according to your scheduling and application requirements.