When we read articles on forklift security alerts, we often encounter suggestions for preventive measures, such as regular maintenance, operator training, speed control and maintenance of truck cleaning, to extend the useful life of forklifts and to prevent potential damage and accidents。
Forklift maintenance
However, in addition to the answers provided by the data, can we understand in depth the reasons behind these recommendations
To answer that question, we decided to enter into a dialogue with specialized technical staff in the area of forklift maintenance。
We asked these forklift maintenance specialists two key questions:
1 what were the three forklift repairs they often performed in 2023
2. What are their recommendations for keeping the forklift working
Through our interaction with these professionals, we will gain insight into the practical basis of the recommendations and reveal the key elements of the maintenance of the forklift。
Question
“in the past year i have seen a lot of common cases: broken hydraulic hoses, broken tires, burned light bulbs, non-functional horns, and motorers that need adjustment. Many damage was also observed, such as damage to the light support frame and damage to the sideboard.”
Recommendations:
“professional inspection of forklifts and arrangements for routine maintenance. It is also necessary to ensure that the operator not only carries out routine checks, but also tracks and repairs any items found to be defective.”
Question
“one of them is that there are many problems with hoses. There are a lot of battery maintenance problems. For example, batteries are not regularly watered, they are not kept clean or corrosive. A large number of pedals have also been replaced, which is a significant security problem. As soon as the foot slips, the forklift runs out of the dock or hits the pedestrians. In addition to this, a large number of stationary brakes were adjusted and horn contact points were replaced. I note that many of the reasons for changing horn contact points are that they are not lubricated. They need to be lubricated often, otherwise they will wear faster.”
Recommendations:
“quality preventive maintenance (pm) screening is of great assistance. If it continues, the forklift will be available for a long time. Of the equipment i'm repairing, there are seven forklifts with a mileage of over 160,000 kilometres! They last long because i have been keeping them regularly since they were brand new. All of this depends on regular liquid replacement and keeping clean. This would not create serious and expensive problems, such as the burning of electric power.”
Question
Overall, the problem is destruction. We have replaced two of the destroyed roofs, many with broken forks, several torn-up tilt tanks, and one that was directly fractured from the seat. A large part of the problem is that operators drive too fast and bend too fast. Forklifts usually operate eight hours a day, but now operate 14-16 hours. This makes maintenance very difficult. In addition, because of the shortage of labour, the company hired new forklift drivers to take up their duties without training. So, it caused a lot of damage.”
Recommendations:
“train forklift operators and allow them to conduct routine checks. Make sure they know how to do simple but helpful things, such as opening the hood and checking the oil table. Consideration could also be given to retaining commonly used parts at the location. In this way, if parts cannot be provided immediately, you need not be too worried that the forklift cannot be used.”
Question
“the more prominent thing for me last year was the growing concern for security. I replaced a large number of worn seat belts, torn seats, back-of-the-car alarms, flashlights and other security items. I think it's because many operators have been receiving our updated forklift operator training."
Recommendations:
“this in fact starts with operators: better operator training will make managers more aware of security issues, thereby empowering our technicians to solve problems. Besides this, good pm services are essential. Speed control does help in preventing damage. I know that many companies believe that reducing the speed of forklifts will reduce productivity. But that is not the case. A study a few years ago showed the opposite result: forklifts with speed control actually perform better than forklifts without speed control.”
Question
“damage. I have two forklifts falling from behind the docks and trailers. Other damage is minor, such as the break-up of the support and minor damage to the top guard.”
Recommendations:
Better operator accountability and good pm services. It is important not to lose sight of the repairs noted on pm. If ignored, they would only become more expensive and serious。
Question
I often deal with minor problems, such as broken or old hoses that need to be replaced, as well as torn chairs. Frequently worn objects need to be replaced, including power switching and hydraulic contact points。
In addition, i replaced panels on at least three order selections. I also noted some damage to the protective gear on the top of the head, mainly due to the inadequacy of the frame。
Recommendations:
Ensure effective project management while following the advice of technicians! As forklift maintenance workers, it is our duty to address them before they become more serious. But if the client is not willing to take our offer of maintenance, then it will be meaningless。
Question
I often need to repair some damaged parts. For example, forklifts, forklifts and side movers removed from the frame. Some components, such as diversion and axle-column linings, are corrosive because of occasional cleaning. In addition to this, i have many common preventive maintenance (pm) tasks to deal with。
Recommendations:
It is important to keep the forklift clean, especially when you travel outside the house and have salt on the ground. The salt causes serious damage to the electrical system of the forklift, the mast, the body of the vehicle, the turning axle, etc. And causes rust. But if you spray the forklift regularly, it can be effective in reducing rust problems。
Question
“i often need to repair the problem of forklift mast switches, while fuel filters are often blocked. I observed some forklifts with dirty fuel and rusty tanks. When the forklift operated at a low load, the fan belt suddenly broke. Also, although some forklifts were used for 4,000 hours, many of the o-rings on the moving hoses and accessories were leaking.”
Recommendations:
Maintain regular maintenance. Good preventive maintenance (pm) will reveal many problems, and neglect of maintenance will reduce the useful life of forklifts。
In this in-depth dialogue with technical specialists in the field of forklift maintenance, we have gained valuable insights into the maintenance of forklifts。
Regular preventive maintenance (pm) is key: maintenance professionals are unanimous in emphasizing that high-quality pm inspections can lead to early identification and resolution of many potential problems and ensure the steady operation of forklifts。
Operator training and a sense of responsibility are essential: raising the awareness of operators of forklifts to enable them to perform routine inspections is key to reducing accidents and damage. Increased awareness of the operator's responsibility for damage helped to reduce maintenance costs。
Maintenance of cleaning and timely replacement of wear and tear items: maintenance of forklift clean-up, avoidance of neglect of maintenance of tagged repairs and regular replacement of worn-out components are important steps to ensure long life of forklifts and to guard against expensive maintenance。
Together with these recommendations, we can ensure that forklifts operate efficiently and safely and provide more reliable support to the working environment. Remember that regular maintenance inputs are key to ensuring long-term stability and are an effective means of protecting against expensive maintenance and potential risks。
