It is suggested to often inspect the front end of your lift truck as part of your pre-shift or daily examination, in order to help avoid costly forklift repairs. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they arise, you could also help prevent damage to any loads as well. The following covers several of the general guidelines on what specific stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly checking the forks is key because if these are cracked or worn out, they might fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift should instantly be removed from service until it is safe and fixed once again. Visually inspect your forks for any visible signs 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 another sign that you should replace the forks.
Mast
The mast should ideally tilt backward and forward while being able to move up and down. You might have 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 each 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, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it backward and forward a few times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked correctly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check needs to include the checking for oil leaks and damage because an uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result can be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any signs of damage or leaks, you may need to replace the entire 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. What's more, 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. The chain rollers and the sheave bearings should also be checked for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain will usually wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you notice wear. This can end up damaging front end components or even the product. If you need help determining what precisely to inspect on your forklifts or if you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections, just contact your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians will help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections according to your scheduling and application requirements.