It is recommended to frequently inspect the front end of your forklift as part of your pre-shift or daily inspection, in order to help prevent expensive lift truck repairs. By catching any problems in advance or as they occur, you can also help avoid damage to any cargo as well. The following includes several of the common guidelines on what particular things to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly inspecting the forks is key because if these are cracked or worn out, they may fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck should immediately be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once more. Visually check your forks for any noticeable signs of wear or damage. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any type of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more sign that you should 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 located on each side. The lift bracket side rollers are another lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. Once the lubricating has been done, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it forward and backward a few times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked into the fittings properly.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage; thus, your inspection should include inspecting for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result could be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any signs of damage or leaks, you might need to replace just the seals or the entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
Check and make sure that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be sure to check 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 inspected for indications of wear.
The mast lift chain would typically 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 parts. If you require help determining what precisely to check on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections, just call your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections according to your application requirements and scheduling.