It is recommended to frequently check the front end of your lift truck as part of your daily or pre-shift inspection, in order to help prevent costly forklift repairs. By catching any problems in advance or as they arise, you can also help avoid damage to any cargo too. The following includes several of the general guidelines on what specific stuff to check during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is essential to frequently check the forks because if they are worn out or cracked, they could potentially fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck must immediately be removed from service until it is safe and repaired once more. Visually check your forks for any noticeable signs 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 must ideally tilt backward and forward while being able to move down and up. You might 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 located on each 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, lower and raise the mast and also tilt it backward and forward a few times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked correctly 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 located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result could 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
The mast chains need to be checked to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. In addition, check the chain wear guage or check the chains for indications of damage. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain appears kinked or rusted. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers should also be inspected for indications of wear.
Usually, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you notice wear, you can experience chain failure. This could end up damaging the product or front end components. If you need help determining what precisely to inspect on your lift trucks or if you do not have time on hand to perform frequent fleet inspections, just contact your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM checks based on your application requirements and scheduling.