It is suggested to frequently check the front end of your forklift as part of your pre-shift or daily inspection, in order to help avoid expensive forklift repairs. By catching any problems as they arise or ahead of time, you can also help avoid damage to any loads too. The following includes some of the common guidelines on what specific things to check during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly checking the forks is vital because if these are worn out or cracked, they may fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your forklift must instantly be removed from service until it is repaired and safe once again. Visually inspect your forks for any noticeable 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 one more sign that you should 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 need to grease the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. On the inner mast there is a fitting situated on every 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 forward and backward and also lower and raise the mast a few times in order to make certain that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection needs to involve the checking for oil leaks and damage because an uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result may be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any signs of damage or leaks, you may have 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. What's more, check the chain wear guage or check the chains for signs of damage. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain looks kinked or rusted. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers must also be inspected for signs of wear.
Typically, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you discover wear, you can experience chain failure. This could end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you need help determining what exactly to check on your lift trucks or if you do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections, just call your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians will help your perform planned maintenance or PM checks according to your scheduling and application needs.