Conduct Inspections Before the Problems Happen
Did you know that you can increase efficiency and profitability of your operation by regularly inspecting the forklifts in your fleet? Doing so can help you identify preventative or routine maintenance needs before they become a larger concern.
Here are a few of the critical lift truck components to check:
Tilt Cylinders
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- Look for oil leaks or damage; leaks can be external or inside the cylinder.
- If you see signs of leaks or damage, you need to either replace the seals or the lift truck’s entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
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- Check for signs of wear or damage.
- Use a chain wear gauge – if wear is beyond 2%, replace the chain.
- Replace kinked or rusted chains.
Forklift Mast
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- Make sure the mast moves up, down, forward and back smoothly.
- If the sliding surfaces are binding, you may need to lubricate. After lubricating, raise and lower the mast and tilt it forward and back a few times to get lubricant into the fittings.
Forks
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- Look for cracks, damage and wear.
- Replace forks if there is wear beyond 10%. Bent forks, uneven fork tines or indications that the forks have been modified by cutting or welding near the tip indicate that the forks should also be replaced.
Our trained service technicians can walk you through proper forklift inspection techniques or help your business select the right planned maintenance schedule for your needs.