Lift truck driver safety and operational readiness begins with well maintained forklifts. Like your personal vehicle, there are parts on your forklifts that need regular attention to maintain performance and prevent mechanical failures.
Some lift truck components naturally receive unrelenting wear, or are more vulnerable to degradation over time. All rubber components and hoses should be preemptively replaced on a regular basis in order to avoid problems with leakage or failure.
Swapping out lift truck parts before they weaken or break down can prevent far more expensive maintenance down the road. As the adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Lift truck parts that need to be replaced on a regular schedule are:
- Power Steering Hoses & Rubber Parts: Every 2 years, or 4,000 hours
- Reservoir Tank Hose: Every 2 years, or 4,000 hours
- Wheel Cylinder Rubber Parts: Every 1,000 hours or annually
- Master Cylinder Rubber Parts: Every 1,000 hours or annually
- Hydraulic Hose: Every 2 years, or 4,000 hours
- Lift Chain: Every 3 years, or 6,000 hours
- Swing Lock Cylinder: Every 10,000 hours
There are other parts that may also need regular replacement, including:
- Forklift batteries: lead acid batteries generally have a lifespan of at least 5 years, and given adequate management they can last much longer. However, from time to time they may need replacement.
- Forklift tires: once tires go under the 50% line, have shredding or general disintegration problems, or form flat points, they should be replaced immediately.
- Bearings: any failing bearings need to be replaced quickly to maintain unimpeded operation of the lift truck.
Forklift Maintenance
Regular forklift maintenance plans should address the following:
- Lubrication: the joints and moving parts of a forklift should be greased on a regular basis.
- Fluids: Battery water and fluids for hydraulic systems should be monitored regularly.
- Charging: A systematic charging routine is imperative for your forklift’s battery life and efficiency.
- Instrument Inspection: for safety, all instruments and gauges must be checked on a regular basis. Not only is this a good idea, it’s also mandated by OSHA under Section 1910.178(q)
Lift Truck Safety
The federal government has a number of rules related to forklift upkeep, and any vehicle that is found to be noncompliant must be sidelined until all issues can be resolved. How do you know when a vehicle is not safe to operate? These are some of the conditions that could easily justify removing a lift truck from service:
- Tires with gouges or missing chunks
- Weld failures on the mast or truck frame
- Missing fasteners or bolts on any part of the forklift
- Compromised instruments or gauges
- Overhead guard damage
Forklift Parts Near Me
If you’d like assistance in sourcing forklift parts or need forklift service, contact a parts technician at Welch Equipment today.
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
(719) 599-4497
Serving Air Force Academy, Black Forest, Cimarron Hills, Colorado Springs, Fort Carson, Fountain, Gleneagle, Manitou Springs, Monument, Palmer Lake, Security-Widefield, Stratmoor, Woodland Park, Woodmoor and surrounding areas.
