In order to help prevent the requirement for costly forklift repairs, it is suggested to inspect the front end of your lift truck frequently as part of your daily and even pre-shift inspection. By catching any problems in advance or as they happen, you could also help prevent damage to any cargo as well. The following includes a few of the general guidelines on what specific things to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently checking the forks is important because if these are cracked or worn out, they might fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck will have to immediately be removed from service until it is repaired and safe once more. Visually check your forks for any visible signs of wear or damage. 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 must 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 another lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. Once the lubricating has been completed, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it backward and forward a few times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked into the fittings properly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection has to involve the checking for oil leaks and damage as an uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result could be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any indications of damage or leaks, 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 sure to check the chains for signs of wear or damage using a chain wear gauge. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain appears rusted or kinked. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers must also be inspected for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain would normally wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you notice wear. This could end up damaging the product or front end parts. If you require help determining what exactly to inspect on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to perform frequent fleet inspections, simply contact your local forklift dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections based on your application requirements and scheduling.