Forklift Maintenance Guide
Forklift maintenance is a huge part of keeping your machine running well and performing as it should. It’s an expensive and vital piece of equipment, so it must be kept in the right condition. Due to wear and tear, the brakes, forks, transmission, and many other areas can begin to falter.
When you purchase forklifts, you have to understand that there are lots of areas to cover regarding their maintenance. Each year, there are more and more aspects of forklift maintenance that have to be considered. The importance and priorities change after the likes of accidents, breakdowns, faults, and other significant incidents.
Forklift Maintenance Checklist:
Have a plan for maintenance
Having a maintenance plan for your forklift can allow you to guarantee maintenance for your machine. Knowing that daily maintenance will take place will allow you the comfort of knowing things will be fine. You’ll be able to improve the lifespan and remove any unwanted faults. Having a forklift preventative maintenance contract will make this kind of planning a lot more reliable.
Inspect the machine daily
Daily inspections will ensure that the forklift is in the best possible condition. You’ll be able to identify all kinds of problems with the likes of the brakes or the hoses. This kind of diligent process and mentality will save plenty of time and money in the long term as you may avoid significant forklift repair. While the forklift is not operating, check the fluid, any signs of damage, the tyres, the fork, the brakes, and the safety devices.
Listen to the manufacturer
If you’re maintaining a forklift, you should stick to the advice of the manufacturer. Whether it’s an outright purchase or a forklift hire, you’ll want to work with the information given by the manufacturer. They’ll provide in-depth servicing after a period of time or usage.
Keep an eye on the tyres
Forklift tyres wear out just like any other tyre. This will happen when it travels regularly and through the same journey over and over again. Repeating the same things will often mean they wear out faster. Tyres should, of course, be a part of a regular inspection. The pressure should be checked as well as visual inspections.
Keep it clean
It sounds like common sense, but it’s something that should be reiterated. It’s more than just a cosmetic thing here. Cleaning your forklift will allow you to prevent the build-up of materials that could cause damage to the machine. When you hire forklifts, you have to remember to look after them daily and keep them as clean as possible. Focus on the radiator, wiping down dirt, and changing the filters.
Sort out problems immediately
There will be times when forklifts fail out of the blue. Don’t leave these issues until the day after or even the week after. Deal with them right away so that you may prevent even worse issues.
Why Is Regular Forklift Maintenance Important?
Regular Forklift Maintenance is important for a number of reasons:
- It helps to prevent small problems from turning into big ones.
- It can help you catch problems before they become expensive to fix.
- It can extend the life of your Forklift and help you avoid having to buy a new one prematurely
Forklift Maintenance: Time Vs. Operating Hours
How often you should perform Forklift Maintenance depends on a number of factors, including how much you use your Forklift and what kind of conditions it's subjected to. In general, though, it's a good idea to do some form of Forklift Maintenance at least once a year. If you use your Forklift heavily or subject it to harsh conditions, you might need to do Forklift Maintenance more often.
How To Perform Forklift Maintenance?
If you choose to do Forklift Maintenance yourself, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind:
- Make sure that you have the right tools and supplies.
- Be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
- Take your time, and don't rush through the process.
AtlasForklift carries out forklift repairs as part of their forklift hire service and is available to take out maintenance contracts for your own forklift fleet.
If you want to know more about what Atlas Forklift could do for your business then call us today on +44(0)121 500 5009, email info@atlasforklift.co.uk or fill in our online enquiry form here.
