It is suggested to often inspect 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 could also help prevent damage to any type of cargo as well. The following covers some of the common guidelines on what particular stuff to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently inspecting the forks is key because if these are worn out or cracked, they may fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift should instantly be removed from service until it is safe and repaired 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 type of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another sign that you must replace the forks.
Mast
The mast must ideally tilt forward and backward while being able to move down and up. You might have 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 another lubrication point and there is also one on every side roller. When the lubricating has been completed, lower and raise the mast and also tilt it forward and backward several times in order to make sure that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage; thus, your inspection must involve inspecting for damage and for oil leaks. 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 signs of damage or leaks, you might need to replace just the seals or the entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
The mast chains have to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Also, check the chain wear guage or check the chains for signs of damage. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain seems kinked or rusted. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers must also be checked for signs of wear.
Normally, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you discover wear, you could experience chain failure. This could end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections or if you require help determining what exactly to check on your lift trucks, simply contact your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians will help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections according to your application needs and scheduling.