How Regular Inspections Will Reduce Forklift Repairs


Conduct Inspections Before The Problems Happen

Use our regular forklift inspections techniques to help reduce repairs to lift truck components.


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. 

How do you inspect a forklift?

A daily forklift inspection checklist can cover every component of your lift truck. However, the following four components are critical to check on a daily basis:

  • Tilt cylinders
  • Chains
  • Forklift mast
  • Forks

For more info, check out our post on developing a detailed daily forklift inspection checklist.

Tilt Cylinders

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.


For additional information, contact your local dealer. Their trained service technicians can walk you through proper forklift inspection techniques or help your business select the right planned maintenance schedule for your needs.

 

FORKLIFT INSPECTION FAQs

 

WHEN SHOULD A FORKLIFT INSPECTION BE PERFORMED?

We recommend that a forklift inspection be performed every day before the beginning of a shift. A daily checklist can help reduce costs by identifying issues in their early stages and help keep operators safe. 

HOW DO I BECOME A CERTIFIED FORKLIFT DRIVER?

To become a certified forklift driver you’ll need to go through a formal training program. There are many options available including online training and in-person classroom training followed by a written test and an evaluation of the operator’s performance in the workplace. Follow the link to learn more about forklift certification.
 

Additional Resources

 

 
 
 
 
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