In order to help prevent the need for expensive forklift repairs, it is recommended to inspect the front end of your lift truck regularly as part of your pre-shift and even daily inspection. By catching any problems as they occur or ahead of time, you could also help prevent damage to any cargo as well. The following covers several of the general guidelines on what specific things to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is important to frequently inspect the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they could probably fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck will have to instantly be removed from service until it is safe and repaired once again. Visually check your forks for any visible signs of damage or wear. 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
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 situated on each side. The lift bracket side rollers are a different lubrication point and there is also one on each 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 guarantee that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check needs to include the checking for oil leaks and damage since an uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are external or are located inside of the cylinder, the end result can be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any signs of leaks or damage, you may need to replace the entire cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
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 appears rusted or kinked. The chain rollers and the sheave bearings also need to be inspected for indications of wear.
The mast lift chain will typically wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you discover wear. This can end up damaging the product or front end components. If you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections or if you need help determining what precisely to inspect on your forklifts, just contact your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections according to your application needs and scheduling.