Have you ever been in a situation where a piece of critical equipment breaks down, bringing the whole operation to a standstill and costing you a lot of money? If you know what to look out for, you can implement proactive forklift repair & maintenance and sidestep catastrophic failures that compromise safety, efficiency, and drive up operational costs.Here are the signs that you should never ignore:
Unusual Noises Or Vibrations
Just like when you drive your car, if you notice strange sounds and uncharacteristic vibrations coming from the machine, check it out immediately.
Any grinding, squealing or clunking sounds or abnormal vibrations are a clear signal that something is amiss. These symptoms stem from worn-out gears, damaged bearings, or failing hydraulic systems. If you ignore these signs for long enough, you’re likely to encounter a catastrophic failure that can be expensive to fix.
Leaking Fluids
Any kind of leak is usually a red flag. If you notice hydraulic fluid, oil, or coolant pooling beneath your forklift, it’s a sign that you could have damaged seals, cracked hoses, or other corroded components.
When your forklift loses these essential fluids, it can cause performance issues and pose major safety risks.
Difficulty Lifting Or Lowering Loads
Forklifts are supposed to make lifting loads easy. However, if you find that your forklift is struggling to lift the load or jerks and hesitates when lowering it, then there’s a good chance that there’s a hydraulic system malfunction, or you might have worn out the lift chains.
These issues can not only cause inefficiencies in your operations but can also present danger to operators and surrounding workers. A catastrophic failure might be imminent, causing the forklift to drop the load.
Excessive Wear On Tyres Or Forks
Just like with your car, the tyres on your forklift need to be checked and replaced periodically. Regularly check for flat spots, cracks, or uneven wear on the tyres so that they don’t rupture during operations.
The forks should also be inspected for wear to ensure that they haven’t bent or that there are no cracks or excessive thinning occurring.
Don’t wait until your forklift breaks down. At First Forklifts, we can help you with forklift repair & maintenance to ensure that your machines stay in perfect operating condition. Contact us today for more information.