It is suggested to regularly inspect the front end of your lift truck as part of your pre-shift or daily inspection, in order to help avoid costly lift truck repairs. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they happen, you can also help avoid damage to any loads too. The following covers several of the general guidelines on what particular things to check during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is important to frequently inspect the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they could probably 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 check your forks for any noticeable signs of damage or wear. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more indication that you should replace the forks.
Mast
The mast must ideally tilt backward and forward while being able to move down and up. You might 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 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, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it backward and forward several times in order to make sure that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check needs to involve the checking for oil leaks and damage since an uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result can be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any indications of damage or leaks, you might have to replace just the seals or the entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
Inspect and make sure that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be certain to inspect the chains for indications of wear or damage using a chain wear gauge. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain appears kinked or rusted. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers also need to be checked for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain would usually wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you notice wear. This could end up damaging the product or front end components. If you need help determining what precisely to inspect on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to carry out regular fleet inspections, simply call your local forklift dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM checks based on your application needs and scheduling.