In order to help prevent the requirement for expensive lift truck repairs, it is recommended to check the front end of your forklift regularly 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 cargo too. The following includes some of the general guidelines on what specific things to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently inspecting the forks is vital because if these are cracked or worn out, they may fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck will have to instantly be removed from service until it is safe and fixed once again. Visually check your forks for any noticeable signs of wear or damage. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more 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 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 each side. The lift bracket side rollers are another lubrication point and there is also one on every side roller. Once the lubricating has been done, tilt it backward and forward and also lower and raise the mast several times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage; thus, your inspection should include checking for damage and for oil leaks. Whether the leaks are situated inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result could be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any signs of leaks or damage, you might need to replace the whole cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
The mast chains have to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. In addition, inspect 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. 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 discover wear, you can experience chain failure. This can end up damaging front end components or even the product. If you do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections or if you require help determining what exactly to check on your lift trucks, simply call your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections according to your application needs and scheduling.