It is suggested to frequently inspect the front end of your forklift as part of your pre-shift or daily inspection, in order to help prevent expensive forklift repairs. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they occur, you could also help prevent damage to any kind of loads too. The following covers several of the common guidelines on what specific things to inspect during frequent 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 must instantly be removed from service until it is repaired and safe once more. Visually inspect your forks for any noticeable 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 one more indication that you must 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 every side. The lift bracket side rollers are another lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. Once the lubricating has been completed, tilt it forward and backward and also lower and raise the mast a few times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage; hence, your inspection should include checking for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are external or are located inside of the cylinder, the end result may be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you might have to replace the entire cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
The mast chains have to be checked to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Also, 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 appears rusted or kinked. Both the chain rollers and the sheave bearings should also be checked for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain will normally wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you notice wear. This could end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you require help determining what precisely to check on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections, just call 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.