It is suggested to frequently inspect the front end of your lift truck as part of your pre-shift or daily inspection, in order to help prevent costly lift truck repairs. By catching any problems as they arise or ahead of time, you can also help prevent damage to any cargo as well. The following covers some of the common guidelines on what specific things to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly inspecting the forks is key because if these are cracked or worn out, they may fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift should instantly be removed from service until it is repaired and safe once again. Visually check your forks for any visible signs 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 another indication that you need to replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must tilt back and forward and be able to smoothly move up and down. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you may need to grease the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. On the inner mast there is a fitting situated 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 completed, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it backward and forward a few times in order to make certain that the lubricant is worked into the fittings properly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check has to involve the checking for damage and oil leaks since an uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage. Whether the leaks are situated inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result may be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any signs of damage or leaks, you may have to replace just the seals or the entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
The mast chains need to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Furthermore, 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 appears rusted or kinked. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers should also be checked for indications of wear.
The mast lift chain would normally wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you discover wear. This could end up damaging front end components or even the product. If you require help determining what exactly to check on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections, just contact your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance checks according to your application requirements and scheduling.