It is suggested to frequently inspect the front end of your forklift as part of your daily or pre-shift examination, in order to help avoid costly lift truck repairs. By catching any problems in advance or as they arise, you can also help avoid damage to any type of loads as well. The following includes some of the general guidelines on what specific stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly inspecting the forks is important because if these are worn out or cracked, they might fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift must immediately be removed from service until it is safe and fixed 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 wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more sign that you must replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast should tilt back and forward and be able to smoothly move up and down. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you might have to grease the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. On the inner mast there is a fitting located on every 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 done, lower and raise the mast and also tilt it backward and forward several times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked into the fittings properly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check has to include the checking for damage and oil leaks because an uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result could be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you may have to replace just the seals or the entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
The mast chains need to be checked 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 seems rusted or kinked. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers also have to be checked for signs of wear.
Typically, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you notice wear, you could experience chain failure. This can end up damaging the product or front end parts. If you require help determining what exactly to check on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections, just contact your local lift truck dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections according to your application needs and scheduling.