Lift Solutions-6 Signs Your Forklift Needs Attention

If you operate a warehouse and you rely on the use of a forklift, then you know how important it is to ensure it operates at or near its top condition. Knowledge of the signs your forklift needs attention can help you maintain it. In this blog post, we will discuss six signs that your forklift has issues you must address to restore its functionality.

1. Damaged Chain

A broken chain might result in unforeseen stops and halts during operation, which can increase downtime and expenditures for your company. Corrosion, rust, kinking, or an excessively extended chain are indications of a damaged chain. If you detect any of these symptoms, you should halt operations right away and consult a forklift specialist.

Damaged chains can also negatively impact the object transported by the forklift, which might cost your company money from inventory damages. An abrupt stop might also throw the operator off balance, which can be dangerous.

Watch out for deteriorated pinheads and link plates with an excessively extended chain to guarantee that your forklift operates smoothly and safely. You must get your forklift inspected and the chain replaced immediately if any of these symptoms are present.

2. Oil Leaks

Lack of oil can increase friction and cause gears to grind, which disrupts the machinery's ability to operate smoothly. Your forklift's various moving parts require oil for lubrication to run as smoothly as possible.

Act immediately and fix the problem's primary source as soon as you can if you see any indications of oil leakage. Further oil leaks, if not fixed, might result in hydraulic system failure and engine seizure.

3. Grinding Noises

A forklift mast that generates grinding noises may indicate that the mast needs repair or replacement. Due to their continual contact, the metal-on-metal pieces that make up the mast often wear out quickly. The grinding sound can also indicate a more serious problem, like a twisted mast or deteriorated pulley.

4. Battery Drainage

Increased battery drainage highlights that the battery does not use energy as efficiently as expected during regular operation. Assess the battery's status and keep an eye on the battery's charge levels. Also, compare the current battery usage to historical data to determine if the efficiency has reduced significantly.

The battery needs replacement if it depletes more quickly than usual. You must routinely do battery maintenance and replace the battery as necessary because older batteries might eventually become less dependable and less able to retain a charge. Battery maintenance is also probably necessary if it does not charge as quickly as it should.

5. Worn Out and Deteriorated Forks

Worn or broken forks can cause several issues, such as reduced lift capacity and the possibility that the lift will topple over and cause someone to get hurt or property to get damaged. You can visually inspect the forks, use calipers to measure the forks' breadth, or determine the decline in lift capacity to spot worn-out or damaged forks.

6. Degraded Tires

You may discover that your tires have deteriorated severely if they exhibit tears or uneven wear. Tire wear can affect the traction and wheel axles, which makes the forklift hazardous to operate. Worn-out tires will make the load on the machine imbalanced, which can affect the forklift's performance. Additionally, worn tires can increase the likelihood of slippage, which raises the danger of falling loads or equipment instability.

A proficient spare part supplier can help you acquire any spare parts you need to replace worn-out or damaged components. Reach out to us at Lift Solutions, Inc., if you need spare parts for your forklifts.