Maintenance Tips for Forklifts

If you own a forklift, you’re likely already well aware of how important it is to care for your equipment regularly. Not only will regular maintenance increase the service life of your machine, but it will improve its overall safety and performance as well! However, unlike other machinery on the market, it can be difficult to find helpful information online on how to maintain your forklift. Thankfully, we’ve written up a number of helpful tips below to help you get started.

Inspect Your Forks

A forklift’s forks tend to accrue the most wear and damage over time. Unfortunately, if your two forks are worn down unevenly, or one or both forks are damaged, your machine will become nearly unusable until they’re both replaced. As such, it’s important to inspect your model’s forks regularly to keep them from wearing down too quickly, or out of pace with each other. Before you start your day, be sure to check each fork for signs of wear, cracks, or bends, and that the height of each fork is level with the other one. 

Inspect Your Forklift

Inspecting your forklift before each use is a great way to catch small problems before they become serious repairs! Daily inspections will also help increase the longevity of your machine, as well as better ensure your safety. However, an inspection doesn’t just mean giving the tires a quick kick and then starting up the engine. You’ll need to check both the condition and air pressure of each wheel, as well as your forklift’s fluid levels and quality. If everything checks out, give your engine’s hoses a quick once over before checking that your brakes and lights are functioning properly. Finally, double-check that your seatbelt locks into place correctly and contains no tears or rips before starting up your forklift. 

Need help caring for your forklift's more serious maintenance needs? Then be sure to visit us here at Quality Forklift Sales & Service in Shakopee, Minnesota. Not only do we offer an amazing full-service repair center for you to take advantage of, but we also have a helpful parts department as well. Stop in anytime to buy or order the equipment you need to keep your forklift in tip-top shape!