It is recommended to often check the front end of your lift truck as part of your pre-shift or daily examination, in order to help prevent costly forklift repairs. By catching any problems as they arise or in advance, you can also help prevent damage to any type of loads too. The following includes several of the common guidelines on what particular things to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly inspecting the forks is vital because if these are worn out or cracked, they might fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck would have to immediately be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once more. 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 another indication that you should replace the forks.
Mast
The mast should ideally tilt backward and forward while being able to move down and up. You might have 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 each side. The lift bracket side rollers are another lubrication point and there is also one on every side roller. When the lubricating has been done, lower and raise 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
Uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage; thus, your inspection should include inspecting for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are situated inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result can be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any signs of damage or leaks, you might 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. Additionally, check the chain wear guage or check the chains for indications of damage. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain seems rusted or kinked. Both the chain rollers and the sheave bearings must also be checked for indications of wear.
The mast lift chain would normally wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you discover wear. This could end up damaging the product or front end parts. If you require help determining what precisely to inspect on your lift trucks or if you do not have time on hand to perform frequent fleet inspections, simply call your local forklift dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks based on your application needs and scheduling.