Forklifts are one of the most common pieces of industrial equipment. They help with heavy lifting, and they can make moving materials a whole lot easier.
If you have a forklift in your warehouse, you likely depend on it to get your jobs done. That’s why it’s so important to take care of it. A forklift that’s in good working condition should last you for years and provide you with excellent service.
But how do you take care of a Adaptalift Group forklift? Here are five tips that will help you keep your forklift in great shape:
- Keep Up with Regular Maintenance
The best way to keep your forklift running well is to schedule regular maintenance for it. When it comes to maintenance, there are several things you need to do:
Check the tires regularly for wear and tear. You should also check the tire pressure on a regular basis and make sure your tires have enough tread.
Change the oil often so that your engine runs smoothly and doesn’t overheat. It’s recommended that you change the oil every three months or after every 100 hours of use, whichever comes first.
Check the hydraulic fluid levels often and refill them as needed. Make sure that there aren’t any leaks under the forklift as well.
Make sure you do a walk-around inspection every time you start the forklift. These inspections can be as simple as checking tire pressure, or they can be something more complicated like making sure the brakes work. For more complicated situations e brake cable is also checked. The key is to make sure everything is in working order before starting the lift truck.
- Check the oil and filter regularly
Each forklift has a different schedule for when oil and filters should be changed, so check with your owner’s manual or service center to find out when to change yours. The oil and filter should also be checked on a weekly basis, if possible. While checking the oil level, look at its consistency and color. If it looks dirty or smells burnt, then it may need to be changed sooner than recommended by your owner’s manual.
Inspect hoses for leaks or damage (replace if necessary). Inspecting hoses for leaks or damage can help prevent hydraulic failure which could lead to an accident.
The oil in a forklift should be changed at least once a year. If it’s used daily, change it every 2,000 hours. The oil in a forklift works harder than oil in other vehicles because the engine has to work extra hard to lift loads.
If you know when you last changed the oil in your forklift, make a note on your calendar for when you should change it again. If you don’t know, look for a window on the side of the vehicle that shows the service meter or hour meter. This will tell you how many hours it has been since the vehicle was last serviced and when its next service date is.
- Have a schedule
The hardest part of maintaining anything is remembering when it needs maintenance. Make up a list of all the things that need maintenance on your forklift, such as oil changes, filter changes, and inspections, and put them on a calendar so you don’t forget them.
- Follow all safety precautions
When performing maintenance on your forklift or even just using it, make sure that everyone follows all the safety precautions. Wear all the proper clothing and protective gear. Make sure everyone knows where the fire extinguishers are located and how to use them.
