It is recommended to regularly check the front end of your forklift as part of your daily or pre-shift inspection, in order to help prevent costly lift truck repairs. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they happen, you can also help prevent damage to any loads as well. The following includes several of the general guidelines on what particular things to check during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly 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 instantly be removed from service until it is safe and fixed once more. Visually inspect your forks for any visible indications 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 another sign that you have to replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must tilt forward and back and be able to smoothly move up and down. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you may have to grease 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. Once the lubricating has been done, tilt it forward and backward and also raise and lower the mast several times in order to make certain that the lubricant is worked into the fittings properly.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage; therefore, your inspection should include inspecting for damage and for oil leaks. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result may be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any signs of leaks or damage, you may have to replace just the seals or the whole cylinder assembly.
Chains
The mast chains need to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Furthermore, check the chain wear guage or check the chains for indications of damage. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain appears kinked or rusted. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers also have to be checked for indications of wear.
The mast lift chain will usually wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you discover wear. This could end up damaging the product or front end components. If you do not have time on hand to carry out regular fleet inspections or if you need help determining what exactly to check on your forklifts, simply call your local lift truck dealer. Their trained service technicians will help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections based on your application needs and scheduling.