Your warehouse is undoubtedly busy nowadays if you run a business, which means anything that goes wrong with your equipment or staff will be a large hit to your revenue. Not only is damaged equipment a hassle to deal with, but it also puts your workers at risk to keep using them. That said, keeping your heavy machinery and equipment either up to date or regularly maintained is integral for your company.
Maintaining Your Forklift System
Forklifts are similar to cars, except they vary in utility. Cars are meant to transport people, while forklifts are meant to carry heavy loads and stack them onto high and hard to reach areas. What unites the two is the existence of mechanical parts and engineering. Like any car, a forklift requires regular servicing and maintenance to ensure it continues to run smoothly.
At BuyAftermarketParts.com, we carry a number of parts for heavy machinery and other vehicles, so it is safe to say that we know our way around a forklift. Here are some of the maintenance tips we have gathered in order to keep your machine running efficiently for a long time:
1. Check Tires Often
Tires are necessary for the upkeep of safety in a forklift. This machine needs its wheels to get around, as this provides traction with the floors of the warehouse—which means any deflated or bald tires can cause the forklift to topple.
You can choose from either air-filled traditional tires or pneumatic ones, depending on your vehicle’s area of operation. The former works best in indoor settings, while the latter is best when working outdoors, thanks to the puncture-proofing put into them.
2. Check The Braking System
Brakes are important in any vehicle or mode of transport—with the exception of maritime vehicles, of course. If the brakes on the forklift require a heavy and deep press to get them to stop, this means the braking system is likely due for a replacement or maintenance job.
Changing the pads and calipers will take some work, but it must be done regularly for safety reasons. Ensure that the brakes are always checked prior to conducting duties every day.
3. Make Sure That There Are No Strange Noises
There are a lot of mechanical parts in a forklift, and much like a car, strange noises are not good to hear. This means you should be keeping the forklift’s important parts well lubricated. Metal on metal sounds points to a deficiency in lubrication, causing scratches and damages that can be irreversible. Be sure to know what noises are coming out of your machine and from where it’s coming from.
4. Check Oil Regularly
When you have your forklift serviced, the chances are that the mechanics will already put in a fresh batch of oil as a standard operating procedure. There are also other fluids that must be checked—such as hydraulic fluids, transmission fluids, and coolant—all of which are important in the functionality of the forklift.
They are indeed just like cars, so any repairs done to them have the same procedures as their transportation counterparts.
Conclusion
With all the mechanical parts moving in it, added to these machines’ non-stop use, forklifts must always be put out for regular servicing and repairs. The best way to take care of your unit and ensure your worker’s safety is to invest in its upkeep and maintenance. Prevention is always the best way to care for your machines—whether they be cars or warehouse vehicles.
BuyAftermarketParts.com is the world’s leading heavy equipment parts supplier, with warehouses in North America, Europe, and South Korea. Worldwide shipping is possible with us, and we will do our best to make sure you are satisfied with the parts you have purchased. Get in touch with us today and see what products best suit your needs!