It is recommended to frequently inspect the front end of your lift truck as part of your daily or pre-shift inspection, in order to help avoid expensive lift truck repairs. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they happen, you could also help avoid damage to any loads too. The following includes several of the general guidelines on what particular things to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is important to frequently check the forks because if they are worn out or cracked, they can potentially fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift must instantly be removed from service until it is fixed 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 wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another indication that you have to replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast should tilt forward and back and be able to smoothly move down and up. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you may have to lubricate 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 each side roller. When the lubricating has been done, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it forward and backward a few times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection has to include the checking for oil leaks and damage since 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 may be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you might need to replace the entire cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
The mast chains need to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Also, 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 looks rusted or kinked. The sheave bearings and the chain rollers also have to be inspected for indications of wear.
Normally, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you discover wear, you could experience chain failure. This could end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you need help determining what precisely to inspect on your lift trucks or if you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections, just call your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections based on your scheduling and application needs.