In order to help prevent the need for costly forklift repairs, it is recommended to check the front end of your lift truck frequently as part of your daily and even pre-shift examination. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they happen, you could also help avoid damage to any cargo as well. The following covers several of the common guidelines on what specific things to check during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly inspecting the forks is vital because if these are worn out or cracked, they may fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift should immediately be removed from service until it is safe and fixed once again. Visually inspect your forks for any noticeable indications of wear or damage. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another indication that you should replace the forks.
Mast
The mast should ideally tilt forward and backward while being able to move up and down. 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 located on every 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, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it forward and backward several times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage; thus, your inspection should include inspecting for damage and for oil leaks. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result could be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any indications of damage or leaks, you may have to replace the whole 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. What's more, 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 kinked or rusted. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers should also be inspected for signs of wear.
Normally, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you discover wear, you can experience chain failure. This could end up damaging the product or front end parts. If you need help determining what exactly to check on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections, simply call your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks based on your application needs and scheduling.