It is suggested to regularly check the front end of your lift truck as part of your daily or pre-shift inspection, in order to help prevent costly forklift repairs. By catching any problems as they occur or in advance, you can also help avoid damage to any type of loads as well. The following includes some 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 cracked or worn out, they might fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck should instantly be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once again. Visually inspect 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 need to replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast should tilt back and forward and be able to smoothly move down and up. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you may need 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 a different lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. When the lubricating has been completed, lower and raise the mast and also tilt it forward and backward several times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked correctly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage; thus, your inspection should include inspecting for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are situated inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result can be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you may have to replace just the seals or the whole cylinder assembly.
Chains
Inspect and make sure that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be sure to inspect the chains for indications 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 seems rusted or kinked. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers also need to be checked for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain would normally wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you notice wear. This could end up damaging front end components 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 perform regular fleet inspections, simply contact your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians will help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections according to your application requirements and scheduling.