It is recommended to regularly inspect the front end of your lift truck as part of your pre-shift or daily examination, in order to help prevent costly forklift repairs. By catching any problems in advance or as they occur, you could also help prevent damage to any kind of loads as well. The following covers some of the general guidelines on what specific things to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently inspecting the forks is vital because if these are worn out or cracked, they may fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift must immediately 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 type of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more indication that you should replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast should tilt back and forward and be able to smoothly move down and up. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you might need to lubricate the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. 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 each side roller. Once the lubricating has been completed, lower and raise the mast and also tilt it backward and forward a few times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked into the fittings properly.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage; hence, 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 could be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any signs of leaks or damage, you may have to replace the whole cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
The mast chains have to be inspected to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Moreover, inspect the chain wear guage or check the chains for indications of damage. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain seems rusted or kinked. Both the chain rollers and the sheave bearings also need to be checked for signs of wear.
Typically, mast lift chains wear at the pin-to-link connections. If you discover wear, you can experience chain failure. This could end up damaging front end components or even the product. If you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections or if you require help determining what exactly to check on your lift trucks, just contact your local forklift dealer. Their skilled service technicians will help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections according to your scheduling and application needs.