It is suggested to frequently check the front end of your lift truck as part of your daily or pre-shift examination, in order to help prevent expensive lift truck 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 some of the general guidelines on what particular stuff to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is essential to frequently check the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they can probably fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your forklift will need to instantly be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once more. Visually check your forks for any noticeable indications 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 another sign that you should replace the forks.
Mast
The mast should ideally tilt backward and forward while being able to move up and down. You might need to grease 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 every side. The lift bracket side rollers are a different lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. When the lubricating has been done, tilt it forward and backward and also lower and raise the mast a few times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked correctly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check has to include 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 could be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any signs of damage or leaks, you may 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 sure to check the chains for signs of wear or damage utilizing a chain wear gauge. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain seems rusted or kinked. The chain rollers and the sheave bearings also need to be checked for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain will normally wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you discover wear. This can end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections or if you need help determining what precisely to check on your lift trucks, just contact your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections according to your application requirements and scheduling.