5 Helpful Tips to Avoid Costly Forklift Repairs

January 21, 2021

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Forklifts won't be considered the backbone of manufacturing or industrial businesses for nothing. Such equipment alleviates the workloads of employees and helps streamline the workforce's productivity. But like other workhorses, forklifts can also do so much. Eventually, they will also succumb to wear and tear, which can render them futile.

The good thing about this is they can be monitored in different aspects to prevent severe damage and breakdown. Whether you're a forklift driver or a forklift fleet operator, here are some tips to keep you from costly repairs:

Perform daily forklift checks.

One of the best ways to keep a forklift in tiptop shape is to give it a once-over every day or before each shift. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends this to make sure the machine is working properly before using it. Daily checks will help you determine potential issues before they become serious and require costly service, or worse, cause worksite accidents.

Go around the forklift and find out the answer to these questions:

Is there any visible physical damage to the machine?
Are the necessary fluids—fuel, water, and hydraulic—topped up?
Are the fork and hoses in good working condition?
Are the brakes and safety devices (finger guards, seat belts) working well?
Are the tires properly inflated and have the right pressure?
Is the operator compartment organized and clutter-free?

Your answers to these questions will determine if the forklift is safe for use for the entire shift or should be taken out of service and not be used until it is repaired.

Commit to a proactive maintenance plan.

Forklifts are among the most critical pieces of machinery in a job site or warehouse facility. Conducting preventative maintenance builds long-term gains that are well worth the investment. Proactive maintenance has proven to lower your cost of ownership. It can trim down machinery repair bills by 25% by spotting small service issues before they worsen into giant repair headaches.

A good preventative maintenance program also lessens the occurrence of an unexpected breakdown, which translates to business downtime. This improves the equipment's reliability as well as its resale value. Equipment breakdowns sometimes have a catastrophic outcome. Proactively maintaining your forklifts will enhance operator safety and workplace safety.

To ensure that your business abides by OSHA's standards and safety regulations, you can hire a professional company to formulate a custom proactive maintenance program for your fleet. Such companies can also take charge of following the manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule for your forklift fleet or all the heavy equipment and machines in your facility. They employ trained and experienced technicians who will perform essential checks and tasks to keep your equipment working at peak performance. Most of these companies also offer proper training to forklift operators.

Train your forklift operators properly.

A forklift mishap can cause damage to a building, mess up with the warehouse racking, or even injure people. Many forklift problems are due to operator error. For your warehouse and employees' safety, it pays big time to provide proper training to those who operate forklifts. The operator should be familiar with the machinery's ins and outs and should be able to determine when the equipment is not in good working condition and when they are pushing the machine beyond its capabilities. This will also keep you from voiding the machine's warranty coverage, which often excludes issues caused by human error.

Operator training can be integrated into the fleet's preventive maintenance program. The training usually includes reviewing the operator's manual and familiarizing all the systems and controls and the machine's limitations. Most training programs also consist of examinations to see if the operators have acquired enough knowledge and skills, particularly about pre-and-post forklift operation maintenance tasks.

Obey worksite rules.

There are guidelines to proper equipment use and worksite rules that the driver or operator should follow to ensure safe and smooth forklift operation. Make sure you drive the forklifts only on designated roadways and surfaces. Be attentive to your surroundings to avoid hazards. If possible, avoid bumps, slippery floors, holes, and other factors that can cause forklift accidents. Pay attention to all the signs and heed all the warnings, especially the clearance heights in the building and the maximum allowed weight. Always watch out for the height of your load when getting in or going out of the worksite.

Make sure also to operate the forklift at a safe speed. Follow the facility's speed limit and run slow when turning on corners and changing directions to avoid tipping or rolling over. Keep a safe stopping distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to avoid accidents. Always allow enough space to bring the equipment to a halt when needed safely.

Never overload your forklift.

Like vehicles, forklifts also have load capacities that are safe for them to carry. Make sure not to exceed this maximum load capacity as it can cause the equipment to tip over. Before you move your loads, check them carefully and ensure they are secure and won't shift as the forklift runs.

Proper load balancing is crucial to forklift operation safety. Lifting a load too high can also cause the equipment to tip over. If you've got a heavy load, make it a point to secure it beyond the tip of the forks. It would be best if you balance your load by driving using back tilt or mast vertical. Secure your cargo during the transport by tilting it back and sitting the forks low. If the loads aren't stable yet, don't operate and move the forklift. You may secure your cargo using ropes or straps.

If you or your technician found out that you need a replacement for some of its parts during the daily or scheduled inspection of forklifts, FinditParts is ready to help you up. From air and oil filters to replacement forks and forklift safety posters, we at FinditParts have got them all for you. We carry a massive inventory from the world's leading OEM and aftermarket brands of components for light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks, commercial vehicles, buses, motor coaches, and heavy equipment for agriculture and industrial use.

Forklift maintenance should be taken seriously, and FinditParts is willing to be your partner in keeping all your forklifts in tiptop shape.