It is suggested to frequently inspect the front end of your forklift as part of your pre-shift or daily inspection, in order to help prevent expensive forklift repairs. By catching any problems as they occur or in advance, you can also help avoid damage to any kind of cargo too. The following includes several of the common guidelines on what specific things to inspect during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly inspecting the forks is key because if these are worn out or cracked, they might 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 inspect 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 sign that you must replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must tilt back and forward and be able to smoothly move down and up. 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 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, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it backward and forward several times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage; thus, your inspection should involve checking for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are situated inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result may be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any signs of leaks or damage, you might need to replace the whole cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
The mast chains have to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Moreover, inspect the chain wear guage or check the chains for indications of damage. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain appears rusted or kinked. The chain rollers and the sheave bearings must also be inspected for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain will usually wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you discover wear. This could end up damaging front end components or even the product. If you need help determining what exactly to inspect on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections, simply call your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections according to your application needs and scheduling.