It is suggested to often check the front end of your lift truck as part of your daily or pre-shift inspection, in order to help avoid expensive forklift repairs. By catching any problems in advance or as they arise, you can also help prevent damage to any type of cargo too. The following covers a few of the common guidelines on what specific things to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly checking the forks is important because if these are worn out or cracked, they might fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift must immediately be removed from service until it is repaired and safe once again. Visually inspect your forks for any visible indications of damage or wear. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more indication that you need to replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must tilt forward and back 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 each side. The lift bracket side rollers are another lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. When the lubricating has been done, tilt it backward and forward and also lower and raise the mast several times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection has to involve the checking for damage and oil leaks because an uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result could be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any signs of leaks or damage, you might 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 signs 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 looks rusted or kinked. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers should also be inspected for indications of wear.
Typically, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you discover wear, you could experience chain failure. This can end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you do not have time on hand to perform frequent fleet inspections or if you require help determining what precisely to inspect on your forklifts, simply contact your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections based on your application requirements and scheduling.