It is suggested to often check the front end of your forklift as part of your daily or pre-shift inspection, in order to help avoid costly lift truck repairs. By catching any problems as they occur or in advance, you can also help prevent damage to any loads too. The following includes some of the general guidelines on what particular things to inspect during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is essential to regularly check the forks because if they are worn out or cracked, they could probably fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck would need to instantly be removed from service until it is repaired and safe once again. Visually check your forks for any noticeable indications of damage or wear. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another sign 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 have to lubricate 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 each 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 guarantee that the lubricant is worked correctly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection needs to involve the checking for damage and oil leaks since an uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result can be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any signs of leaks or damage, you may need to replace just the seals or the entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
Check and make certain that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be sure to inspect the chains for indications of wear or damage using a chain wear gauge. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain appears rusted or kinked. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers also need to be checked for indications of wear.
The mast lift chain will typically wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you discover wear. This can 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, just call your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks based on your application requirements and scheduling.