It is suggested to often inspect the front end of your lift truck as part of your pre-shift or daily examination, in order to help avoid costly lift truck repairs. By catching any problems as they arise or in advance, you can also help avoid damage to any kind of loads too. 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 vital to regularly check the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they could probably fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift should instantly be removed from service until it is safe and fixed once more. Visually check your forks for any noticeable signs of damage or wear. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another indication that you should replace the forks.
Mast
The mast should ideally tilt forward and backward while being able to move down and up. You may have 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 another lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. When the lubricating has been completed, tilt it backward and forward and also lower and raise the mast a few times in order to make certain that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection needs to involve the checking for damage and oil leaks because an uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result may be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any indications of damage or leaks, you may need to replace the whole cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
Check and make certain that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be sure to inspect the chains for signs of wear or damage using a chain wear gauge. 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 also have to be inspected for indications of wear.
The mast lift chain would usually wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you discover wear. This can end up damaging front end components 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 lift trucks, just contact your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks according to your scheduling and application requirements.