It is suggested to frequently check the front end of your forklift as part of your pre-shift or daily examination, in order to help prevent costly forklift repairs. By catching any problems as they happen or ahead of time, you could also help avoid damage to any cargo too. The following covers some of the general guidelines on what particular things to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently inspecting the forks is key because if these are cracked or worn out, they might fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your forklift will need to instantly be removed from service until it is safe and fixed once more. Visually inspect 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 should replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must tilt back and forward and be able to smoothly move up and down. 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. When the lubricating has been done, tilt it backward and forward and also lower and raise the mast several times in order to make sure that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage; thus, your inspection must involve inspecting for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result may be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of damage or leaks, you may need to replace the entire cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
The mast chains need to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Also, 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 kinked or rusted. Both the chain rollers and the sheave bearings must also be inspected for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain would usually wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can 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 perform regular fleet inspections or if you require help determining what precisely to check on your forklifts, just call your local forklift dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks based on your scheduling and application requirements.