In order to help avoid the need for expensive forklift 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 as they occur or in advance, you could also help avoid damage to any loads too. The following covers a few of the general guidelines on what particular things to inspect during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently checking the forks is important because if these are cracked or worn out, they may fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck must instantly be removed from service until it is safe and repaired once more. Visually inspect your forks for any noticeable signs 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 sign that you should replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must tilt back and forward 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 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 completed, tilt it forward and backward and also lower and raise the mast several times in order to make sure that the lubricant is worked into the fittings properly.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage; therefore, your inspection should include inspecting for damage and for oil leaks. Whether the leaks are situated inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result could be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any signs of leaks or damage, you may have to replace the entire cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
The mast chains need to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Furthermore, check the chain wear guage or check the chains for signs of damage. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain looks kinked or rusted. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers also need to be inspected for indications of wear.
The mast lift chain will typically wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you discover wear. This can end up damaging the product or front end components. If you need help determining what precisely to inspect on your lift trucks or if you do not have time on hand to perform frequent fleet inspections, just contact your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks according to your application requirements and scheduling.