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When Is
Fork Lift Maintenance Necessary?
Is your lift truck operating properly? One small repair today can
cost much less than the consequences tomorrow.
Like most lift truck owners, you realize just how essential your truck
is to your operation and how necessary it is for your truck to be up and
running. You also want to get the most working hours out of each lift
truck before its economic life wanes. The answer to all these problems
is simple: maintenance.
Some lift truck owners choose to repair their trucks when something
goes wrong, others employ periodic maintenance, hoping to avoid breakdowns
before they occur. As long as you recognize the importance of maintenance,
the choice is yours.
What does it matter if I let things go a while?
Worn forks, oil leaks or improperly functioning brakes can pose much
greater hazards than are apparent.
Say your truck has a worn fork. The potential for an accident amplifies
with each load that is lifted. What if the fork breaks? You could be headed
for much greater expenses than a set of new forks.
If the load comes crashing to the ground, you may find yourself liable
for an injured employee. In addition, product damage is inevitable. Then
there's the resultant unscheduled truck downtime. And, lost production
time. Maybe the unexpected cost of a rental truck, etc., etc., etc.
The list of potential consequences, if maintenance is ignored, may also
include: increased operating expense, maintenance expense, operator fatigue
and personnel cost. Also, less efficient equipment, increased operating
cost and reduced resale value.
What should I do?
Pre-shift
Inspections
A pre-shift inspection is one significant way To locate conditions that
can affect the overall operation of your lift truck and is required by
OSHA. It saves you a lot of money and time if you are able to have a problem
diagnosed and repaired quickly. Just think, 10 minutes a day can help
stop a little problem before it becomes a big, costly one.
The following should be checked on each truck before its use, either
every eight hours or daily.
- Fuel level (trucks with a diesel engine: drain the water from the
primary filter).
- Electrolyte level of the battery (unless maintenance-free).
- Oil level in the engine, and hydraulic tank.
- Coolant level in the cooling system and condition of the drive belts.
Condition of the radiator. Clean if necessary.
- Condition of the forks, carriage, chains, mast and overhead guard.
- Leaks from the engine, transmission, hydraulic system and fuel system.
- Condition of the wheels and tires, and air pressure of pneumatic tires.
- Seat belt; be sure it latches properly.
- Seat is secure and latched to the hood (on some trucks with an
LPG fuel
tank, the seat is hinged and must be latched to the hood).
- Hood; make sure it is securely latched. Simple, daily checks can help
identify any problems, which should be repaired quickly.
Routine
Maintenance
Routine maintenance can help keep your trucks up and running:
Battery
Keep the battery clean and inspect the battery and power cables for
any visual signs of damage.
Remember to keep the battery in electric-powered lift trucks charged
at regular intervals.
Discharge to 80 percent, then recharge. By keeping your battery in top
shape, you can actually help the battery to run longer between charges
You can also ensure a longer, more productive cell-life by maintaining
your battery's electrolytes.
Less down time for battery charges and the less money spent on new battery
installments means more uptime and productivity for your company.
Lubrication and hydraulics
Make sure to wipe any dirt or grime from grease fittings. By using a
grease gun on fittings that are not cleaned, you can actually force dirt
and other contaminants down into the fittings, shortening their life span.
Make sure that all the grease fittings have been checked and lubed if
one or two of the key grease fittings are missed on a regular basis, you
could find your lift truck out of service.
In addition to the daily checks of hydraulic fluid level, replacement
of the hydraulic fluid and filter according to the manufacturer's schedule
can reduce damage due to contamination and increase your lift truck's
uptime.
Filters
Make sure the air and oil filters are cleaned or changed on a routine
basis. By following the manufacturer's suggested timetable, you can help
keep your lift truck running cool and strong. A filter is much more affordable
than an entire engine.
Tires
If you have lift trucks with pneumatic tires, you should have your service
technician or operator check the air pressure daily. The correct tire
pressure in all four tires will significantly increase the tire life and
is essential for truck stability.
Periodic Maintenance
You can schedule your downtime by arranging for periodic maintenance
(PM), which includes regular lubrication of the truck to keep wear to
a minimum, inspection for irregularities and maintenance as recommended
by the manufacturer.
If you choose to have a Hyster lift truck dealership perform your PM
program, you will benefit from the following:
- Major services performed by a trained and experienced technician.
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Capability for mixed fleet coverage.
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Customized maintenance intervals tailored to individual machine requirements.
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Convenient service plan.
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Flexibility to meet customer schedules.
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Complete record keeping system.
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Peace of mind from a well-maintained truck.
Everything's Clear Now.
Is the potential of that little oil leak more clear now? No matter how
you choose to maintain your lift trucks, hopefully you recognize just
how important attention to that little detail is.
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