In order to help avoid the need for expensive lift truck repairs, it is suggested to inspect the front end of your lift truck regularly as part of your pre-shift and even daily examination. By catching any problems ahead of time or as they arise, you can also help avoid damage to any loads too. The following covers 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 repaired and safe once more. Visually check your forks for any visible signs of wear or damage. 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 forward and backward while being able to move down and up. 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 done, tilt it backward and forward and also raise and lower the mast several times in order to ensure that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage; therefore, your inspection must involve checking for oil leaks and for damage. Whether the leaks are situated inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result may be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any signs of leaks or damage, you might have to replace just the seals or the whole cylinder assembly.
Chains
The mast chains have to be checked to see if they are being stretched beyond their acceptable limits. Furthermore, check 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 kinked or rusted. Both the sheave bearings and the chain rollers also have to be inspected for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain will usually wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you discover wear. This can end up damaging the product or front end parts. If you do not have time on hand to perform regular fleet inspections or if you require help determining what exactly to inspect on your lift trucks, simply call your local lift truck dealer. Their skilled service technicians will help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections according to your scheduling and application needs.