In order to help prevent the need for expensive lift truck repairs, it is recommended to inspect the front end of your lift truck frequently as part of your daily and even pre-shift examination. By catching any problems in advance or as they happen, you could also help avoid damage to any type of cargo too. The following includes a few of the general guidelines on what particular things to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly inspecting 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 should instantly be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once again. Visually check your forks for any noticeable indications of damage or wear. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another sign that you should replace the forks.
Mast
The mast must ideally tilt backward and forward while being able to move up and down. You might need to lubricate 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 each side roller. Once the lubricating has been done, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it backward and forward several times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked correctly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection needs to include the checking for oil leaks and damage because an uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are external or are located inside of the cylinder, the end result could be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you might need to replace just the seals or the entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
The mast chains have to be checked to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Additionally, inspect 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 rusted or kinked. Both the chain rollers and the sheave bearings must also be inspected for signs 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 could end up damaging front end components or even the product. If you require help determining what precisely to check on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to carry out regular fleet inspections, just contact your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections according to your application requirements and scheduling.