It is recommended to frequently check the front end of your lift truck as part of your pre-shift or daily examination, in order to help prevent expensive lift truck repairs. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they happen, you can also help prevent damage to any kind of loads too. The following covers some of the general guidelines on what particular things to check during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently inspecting the forks is key because if these are cracked or worn out, they may fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck should instantly be removed from service until it is safe and repaired once again. Visually check your forks for any visible 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 one more indication that you should 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 might need to lubricate the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. On the inner mast there is a fitting situated on every side. The lift bracket side rollers are another lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. Once the lubricating has been completed, tilt it backward and forward and also raise and lower the mast a few times in order to make certain that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage; thus, your inspection must include checking 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 the entire cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
Inspect and make certain that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be sure to check the chains for signs of damage or wear utilizing a chain wear gauge. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain looks kinked or rusted. Both the chain rollers and the sheave bearings also need to be checked for signs of wear.
Normally, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you notice wear, you could experience chain failure. This can end up damaging the product or front end parts. If you do not have time on hand to carry out regular fleet inspections or if you need help determining what precisely to inspect on your forklifts, simply call your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians will help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks according to your application needs and scheduling.