In order to help prevent the need for expensive forklift repairs, it is recommended to check the front end of your lift truck frequently as part of your pre-shift and even daily examination. By catching any problems in advance or as they happen, you can also help prevent damage to any kind of cargo as well. The following includes several of the common guidelines on what particular things to check during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly inspecting the forks is vital because if these are cracked or worn out, they may fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck should instantly be removed from service until it is fixed and safe 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 kind of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more indication that you need to replace the forks.
Mast
The mast should ideally tilt backward and forward while being able to move down and up. You may need 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 a different lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. When the lubricating has been done, lower and raise the mast and also tilt it forward and backward several times in order to make sure that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage; therefore, your inspection should involve checking for oil leaks and for damage. 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 signs of leaks or damage, you might have to replace the entire cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
The mast chains need 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 indications of damage. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain looks rusted or kinked. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers should also be inspected for indications of wear.
Usually, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you notice wear, you could experience chain failure. This could end up damaging the product or front end components. If you do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections or if you need help determining what exactly to inspect on your lift trucks, just call your local lift truck dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks according to your scheduling and application requirements.