Lift truck operator safety and operational fitness begins with properly maintained forklifts. Like your own car or truck, there are components on your forklifts that require periodic service to maintain performance and avoid breakdowns.

There are some forklift parts that invariably get a lot of use, or are more vulnerable to degradation because of heavy utilization or extended service. Hoses and rubber parts should be periodically renewed on a regular basis in order to avoid problems with leakage or failure.

Swapping out parts before they degrade or break down can help you avoid far more expensive repair work down the road. As they say, 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 4,000 hours or 2 years
• Reservoir Tank Hose: Every 4,000 hours or 2 years
• Wheel Cylinder Rubber Parts: Every 1,000 hours or annually
• Master Cylinder Rubber Parts: Every year, or 2,000 hours
• Hydraulic Hose: Every 2 years, or 4,000 hours
• Lift Chain: Every 6,000 hours or 3 years
• Swing Lock Cylinder: Every 10,000 hours

There are other parts that may also need regular replacement, including:

• Lift truck batteries: lead acid batteries generally have a lifespan of at least 5 years, and with adequate care they can remain functional for several more years. However, from time to time they may need replacement.
• Lift truck tires: once tires go under the wear line, have tearing or cracking issues, or form flat spots, they should be changed as soon as possible.
• Bearings: any worn out bearings should be attended to right away to maintain smooth function of the forklift.

Lift Truck Maintenance

Regular forklift maintenance plans should address the following:

• Lubrication: all joints and moving parts of the lift truck should be oiled regularly.
• Fluids: Battery water and fluids for hydraulic systems should be monitored on a routine basis.
• Battery Charging: A methodical charging schedule is essential for your forklift’s battery life and efficiency.
• Inspection of Gauges: to maintain a safe work environment, all instruments and gauges should be inspected on a routine schedule. This is not only a best practice, it’s also an OSHA regulation under Section 1910.178(q)

Forklift Safety

OSHA has a litany of standards concerning forklift upkeep, and any vehicle that is considered to be noncompliant should be removed from service until all issues can be resolved. How do you know when a vehicle is not safe to operate? These are some of the problems that may take a forklift out of service:

• Tires with gouges or missing chunks
• Broken welds on the mast or truck frame
• Damaged or missing bolts on any part of the vehicle
• Malfunctioning instruments or gauges
• Damage to overhead guard

Forklift Part Replacement in Ontario

For any brand of forklift parts, you can talk to a parts professional at Raymond West by calling 909-930-9399.

Raymond West
4602 E Brickell St.
Ontario, California 91761
Phone: 909-930-9399