In order to help prevent the requirement for expensive lift truck repairs, it is recommended to inspect the front end of your forklift regularly as part of your pre-shift and even daily examination. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they arise, you can also help prevent damage to any cargo too. The following includes some of the general guidelines on what specific stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is vital to regularly inspect the forks because if they are worn out or cracked, they could potentially fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck will need to immediately be removed from service until it is safe and repaired 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 type of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another sign that you should replace the forks.
Mast
The mast should ideally tilt forward and backward while being able to move down and up. You may need to grease the mast strip sliding surfaces and fittings if you find that the sliding surfaces are binding. On the inner mast there is a fitting situated on every 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, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it forward and backward several times in order to make sure that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage; thus, your inspection should involve inspecting for oil leaks and for damage. 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 signs of leaks or damage, you might need to replace the entire cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
Inspect and make sure that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be sure to check the chains for indications of damage or wear utilizing a chain wear gauge. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain appears kinked or rusted. Both the chain rollers and the sheave bearings also have to be inspected for indications of wear.
The mast lift chain will normally wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you notice wear. This can 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 precisely to inspect on your lift trucks, just call your local lift truck dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections according to your scheduling and application needs.