It is suggested to frequently check the front end of your forklift as part of your pre-shift or daily examination, in order to help prevent costly forklift repairs. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they occur, you could also help prevent damage to any type of cargo as well. The following covers a few of the common guidelines on what specific things to check during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently checking the forks is important because if these are worn out or cracked, they may fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck should immediately be removed from service until it is safe and fixed once again. Visually check your forks for any visible 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 indication that you must replace the forks.
Mast
The mast should ideally tilt forward and backward while being able to move down and up. You may have 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 every side. The lift bracket side rollers are another 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 ensure that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection needs to include the checking for damage and oil leaks because an uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are external or are located inside of the cylinder, the end result may be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you might have to replace the whole cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
Inspect and make sure that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be certain to check the chains for signs of damage or wear using a chain wear gauge. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain appears rusted or kinked. Both the chain rollers and the sheave bearings must also be inspected for indications of wear.
Typically, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you notice wear, you could experience chain failure. This can end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you need help determining what precisely to inspect on your lift trucks or if you do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections, just call your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians will help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections according to your scheduling and application requirements.