It is recommended to frequently check the front end of your lift truck as part of your daily or pre-shift examination, in order to help prevent expensive lift truck repairs. By catching any problems in advance or as they happen, you can also help prevent damage to any cargo too. The following includes a few of the general guidelines on what specific stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently checking the forks is key because if these are worn out or cracked, they may fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck would need to instantly be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once more. Visually inspect your forks for any visible indications of damage or wear. 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 have to replace the forks.
Mast
The mast must ideally tilt forward and backward while being able to move up and down. You may have to grease the mast strip sliding surfaces and fittings if you find that the sliding surfaces are binding. On the inner mast there is a fitting located on every side. The lift bracket side rollers are another lubrication point and there is also one on every side roller. When the lubricating has been completed, tilt it backward and forward and also lower and raise the mast several times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked into the fittings properly.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage; thus, your inspection must involve inspecting for damage and for oil leaks. Whether the leaks are situated inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result can 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 need to be checked to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Moreover, check 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 also need to be checked for signs of wear.
Typically, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you notice wear, you can experience chain failure. This can end up damaging the product or front end components. 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, just contact your local forklift dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM checks according to your scheduling and application requirements.