It is recommended to often inspect the front end of your forklift as part of your pre-shift or daily examination, in order to help prevent expensive forklift repairs. 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 common guidelines on what specific things to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is essential to frequently inspect the forks because if they are worn out or cracked, they could potentially fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your forklift should instantly be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once more. Visually check your forks for any visible indications 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 one more indication that you must replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must tilt forward and back and be able to smoothly move up and down. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you might need to grease 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 each side roller. Once the lubricating has been completed, tilt it backward and forward and also raise and lower the mast a few times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked correctly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage; thus, your inspection should involve inspecting for damage and for oil leaks. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result can be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any signs of damage or leaks, you might have to replace just the seals or the entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
The mast chains have to be checked to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Additionally, check 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 looks rusted or kinked. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers also have to be inspected for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain will usually wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you notice wear. This can end up damaging the product or front end parts. 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, simply contact your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians will help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks based on your scheduling and application requirements.