It is suggested to frequently inspect the front end of your lift truck as part of your daily or pre-shift inspection, in order to help avoid costly lift truck repairs. By catching any problems as they happen or in advance, you can also help prevent damage to any cargo as well. The following includes several of the common guidelines on what specific stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently checking the forks is important because if these are worn out or cracked, they may fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck should immediately be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once more. Visually inspect your forks for any visible 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 one more indication that you must replace the forks.
Mast
The mast should ideally tilt backward and forward while being able to move up and down. You might need 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 a different 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 a few times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage; thus, your inspection must include inspecting for oil leaks and for damage. 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 damage or leaks, you might have to replace just the seals or the entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
The mast chains have to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Furthermore, 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 looks kinked or rusted. Both the chain rollers and the sheave bearings should also be checked for indications of wear.
Usually, 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 do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections or if you require help determining what precisely to check on your lift trucks, simply contact your local forklift dealer. Their skilled service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections based on your application requirements and scheduling.