It is suggested to frequently inspect the front end of your lift truck as part of your pre-shift or daily examination, in order to help avoid expensive forklift repairs. By catching any problems as they arise or ahead of time, you could also help avoid damage to any kind of loads too. The following covers several of the common guidelines on what specific things to inspect 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 type of fork damage means that your forklift should instantly be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once more. Visually check your forks for any visible signs of damage or wear. 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 must 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 need 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. When the lubricating has been done, tilt it forward and backward and also raise and lower the mast a few times in order to ensure 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 checking for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are external or are located inside of the cylinder, the end result could be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of damage or leaks, you might 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 certain to inspect the chains for indications of wear or damage utilizing a chain wear gauge. 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 also have to be inspected for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain will 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 do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections or if you need help determining what precisely to check on your forklifts, just contact your local lift truck dealer. Their trained service technicians will help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections according to your application needs and scheduling.