It is suggested to regularly inspect the front end of your forklift as part of your pre-shift or daily inspection, in order to help prevent expensive lift truck repairs. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they arise, you could also help prevent damage to any kind of cargo as well. The following includes some of the common guidelines on what particular things to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly checking the forks is important because if these are cracked or worn out, they might fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck must instantly be removed from service until it is repaired 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 backward and forward while being able to move down and up. You may need to lubricate the mast strip sliding surfaces and fittings if you find that the sliding surfaces are binding. 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 every side roller. Once the lubricating has been done, lower and raise the mast and also tilt it forward and backward several times in order to make sure that the lubricant is worked correctly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage; therefore, your inspection should involve inspecting for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are external or are located inside of the cylinder, the end result can be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any signs of leaks or damage, you might have to replace just the seals or the entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
Inspect and make sure that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be sure to check the chains for signs of wear or damage utilizing a chain wear gauge. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain looks rusted or kinked. The chain rollers and the sheave bearings also need to be checked for signs of wear.
Usually, 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 parts. If you do not have time on hand to carry out regular fleet inspections or if you need help determining what precisely to check on your forklifts, just contact your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections based on your scheduling and application requirements.