Add Forklift Preventative Maintenance to Your Spring Cleaning list

After months of snow and harsh temperatures, it's good practice to inspect your forklifts. As you look forward to the warmer days ahead, ensure your forklifts and all other material handling equipment are running at peak performance by checking a few simple things on your forklift preventative maintenance checklist. 
 

Here are a few simple things to include on your forklift preventative maintenance checklist:

• Check your batteries, cables, electric wires, and spark plugs for wear and tear
• Inspect hoses and valves for leaks or breaks in sealing
• Check fluids for proper levels, color and odd odor 
• In addition to checking for current issues, it is also important to consider preventative forklift maintenance. This will help avoid the loss of production caused by summer weather failures.

You can also consult your local forklift service technician how to best address your warm weather maintenance needs.
 

Here are some things your forklift service technician will check for: 

• Hoses - to make sure there are no splits or cracks
• Engine coolant - to see if the correct coolant is used
• Thermostat - to be sure it is working properly
• Fan and fan belt - to remove any debris and replace if worn or broken
• Radiator screen - blowout any built-up debris
• Fluids and filters - top off and change if needed
• Wiring - replace and damaged wires and clean corrosion that can build up
• Hydraulic system - including the pump, cylinders, hoses and valves for any leaks and wear

Don’t forget your tires, steering and brakes.

• Forklift tires - Check your front & rear tire pressure. Note any cuts, chunking, or shredding
• Steering - No binding, no excessive play
• Brakes - Ensure the brake pedal does not fall to the floor and has enough resistance to create a safe stopping distance.