It is recommended to frequently check 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 in advance or as they happen, you could also help avoid damage to any type of cargo as well. The following includes several of the general guidelines on what specific things to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is important to frequently check the forks because if they are worn out or cracked, they could probably fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck must instantly be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once more. Visually check your forks for any noticeable 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 another sign that you must replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast should tilt forward and back and be able to smoothly move up and down. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you might have to lubricate the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. On the inner mast there is a fitting situated on every side. The lift bracket side rollers are another lubrication point and there is also one on each side roller. When the lubricating has been completed, tilt it forward and backward and also raise and lower the mast several times in order to make certain 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 can be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result could be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any signs of leaks or damage, you may have 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. What's more, inspect the chain wear guage or check the chains for signs of damage. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain looks rusted or kinked. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers also have to be checked for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain would usually wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you notice wear. This can end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you do not have time on hand to perform frequent fleet inspections or if you require help determining what exactly to check on your lift trucks, just call your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM checks according to your application requirements and scheduling.