It is suggested to often inspect the front end of your lift truck as part of your pre-shift or daily inspection, in order to help avoid expensive forklift repairs. By catching any problems as they happen or in advance, you can also help prevent damage to any type of loads too. The following covers a few of the general guidelines on what specific stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is essential to regularly 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 will have to instantly be removed from service until it is safe and repaired once again. Visually inspect your forks for any visible indications 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
Ideally, the mast should tilt forward and back and be able to smoothly move down and up. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you might need to lubricate the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. 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 every side roller. When the lubricating has been done, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it backward and forward several times in order to make certain that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage; hence, your inspection must include inspecting for damage and for oil leaks. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result may be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of damage or leaks, you might 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. What's more, inspect 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 looks kinked or rusted. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers must also be checked for indications of wear.
Typically, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you notice wear, you could experience chain failure. This could end up damaging the product or front end parts. If you do not have time on hand to perform frequent fleet inspections or if you need help determining what exactly to inspect on your forklifts, just call your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians will help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections based on your application requirements and scheduling.