It is recommended to frequently inspect the front end of your lift truck as part of your daily or pre-shift inspection, in order to help avoid costly lift truck repairs. By catching any problems as they arise or in advance, you can also help avoid damage to any type of cargo too. The following includes a few of the common guidelines on what particular stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is essential to regularly check the forks because if they are worn out or cracked, they can probably fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck must instantly be removed from service until it is repaired and safe once again. Visually check your forks for any visible signs of wear or damage. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any kind of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more sign that you need to replace the forks.
Mast
The mast must ideally tilt forward and backward while being able to move up and down. You might need 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 located on every 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, tilt it backward and forward 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
Your daily check needs to involve the checking for damage and oil leaks because an uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result can be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you might need to replace the entire cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
Check and make certain that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be sure to check the chains for indications 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 rusted or kinked. Both the chain rollers and the sheave bearings also need to be checked for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain would normally 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 components. If you do not have time on hand to perform frequent fleet inspections or if you require help determining what precisely to check on your forklifts, simply call your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections based on your application requirements and scheduling.