It is suggested to frequently inspect the front end of your lift truck as part of your daily or pre-shift inspection, in order to help avoid expensive lift truck repairs. By catching any problems in advance or as they occur, you can also help avoid damage to any cargo too. The following covers some of the general guidelines on what specific stuff to inspect during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is important to frequently inspect the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they can probably fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your lift truck will have to instantly be removed from service until it is safe and fixed once more. Visually inspect your forks for any visible signs of damage or wear. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any kind of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another sign 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 may have to lubricate the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. On the inner mast there is a fitting located on each 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 a few times in order to make sure that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Uncontrolled mast movement could be caused by oil leakage; hence, your inspection should include inspecting for damage and for oil leaks. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result could be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any signs of damage or leaks, you may need to replace just the seals or the whole 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 damage or wear using a chain wear gauge. 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 indications of wear.
The mast lift chain would normally wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you discover wear. This could end up damaging the product or front end components. If you require help determining what exactly to check on your lift trucks or if you do not have time on hand to perform frequent fleet inspections, just contact your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections according to your application needs and scheduling.