In order to help prevent the requirement for costly forklift repairs, it is recommended to check the front end of your lift truck regularly as part of your pre-shift and even daily inspection. By catching any problems as they arise or ahead of time, you can also help avoid damage to any cargo too. The following covers some of the common guidelines on what specific stuff to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently checking the forks is vital because if these are cracked or worn out, they may fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your forklift must instantly be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once again. Visually check 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 have to replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must tilt forward and back and be able to smoothly move up and down. 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 every side. The lift bracket side rollers are a different lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. When 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 into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage; hence, your inspection must involve checking for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result may be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any signs of damage or leaks, you may have to replace just the seals or the whole cylinder assembly.
Chains
Check and make certain that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be certain to check the chains for signs of wear or damage using a chain wear gauge. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain seems kinked or rusted. Both the chain rollers and the sheave bearings also need to 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 could end up damaging the product or front end parts. If you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections or if you require help determining what precisely to inspect on your lift trucks, simply contact your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections based on your scheduling and application requirements.