It is suggested to frequently inspect the front end of your forklift as part of your daily or pre-shift inspection, in order to help prevent costly forklift repairs. By catching any problems in advance or as they occur, you could also help avoid damage to any kind of loads as well. The following covers some of the general guidelines on what specific things to inspect during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently checking the forks is key because if these are cracked or worn out, they might fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift would need to immediately be removed from service until it is repaired and safe once more. Visually inspect your forks for any noticeable signs of wear or damage. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any kind of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more sign that you must replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must tilt back and forward and be able to smoothly move up and down. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you may have to lubricate the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. 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 completed, lower and raise the mast and also tilt it backward and forward a few times in order to make certain that the lubricant is worked into the fittings properly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection has to include the checking for oil leaks and damage as an uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result may be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you may need 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. What's more, check 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. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers also have to be checked for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain will typically wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you discover wear. This can end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections or if you require help determining what exactly to inspect on your forklifts, simply contact your local lift truck dealer. Their trained service technicians will help your perform planned maintenance or PM checks according to your scheduling and application needs.