Safety First With Industrial Equipment and Supplies

3 Common Problems That Plague Forklifts

26 October 2020

Lucille Palmer

Forklifts are considered a must-have piece of equipment in most warehouses. It would be difficult to load or unload delivery trucks and move pallets filled with products without the help of a forklift.

Anytime your forklift breaks down, activity in your warehouse could come to a standstill. Become familiar with some of the common problems that plague forklifts so that you can invest in timely repairs for your own forklift in the future.

1. Mast Problems

The mast is one of the most important components of a forklift. It is the frame that controls the lifting, lowering, and tilting of the forklift tines during use. Mast problems pose a real safety risk in your warehouse.

A faulty mast can result in improper lifting and lowering, slow lifting, or jerky lifting. The most common cause of mast problems is a malfunction in the forklift's hydraulic system. Hydraulic power allows the mast to raise and lower the forklift tines.

If you notice a change in your forklift's movements, have an experienced technician repair the machine's hydraulic system to restore safe operation.

2. Starting Problems

A forklift that won't start can cause serious delays within your warehouse. It's important that you are able to identify and repair the issue preventing your forklift from firing up properly.

Electric forklifts typically experience starting issues when the battery hasn't been charged properly. A new battery must be installed, and the battery connections should be cleaned in order to get the electric forklift running again.

Gas-powered forklifts can be more challenging to diagnose when they fail to start. A leak in the fuel lines, fuel that has gelled inside the tank, or low oil levels can each prevent a forklift from staring.

These issues can be repaired to allow the forklift to start reliably once again.

3. Steering Problems

Forklifts must be able to navigate through a series of aisles in your warehouse. Responsive steering is a must if you want to avoid having your forklift cause an accident. Steering problems can put the integrity of your products and the safety of your employees at risk.

It can be challenging to detect the early signs of steering failure. Some forklifts will produce a strange noise when the wheels are turned, while others will exhibit no warning signs at all. Steering issues are typically caused by a rusted steering mechanism, worn valves, or damaged gears. These problems must be repaired immediately to ensure the safety of your forklift over time.

If you need help with forklift repair, talk to a company like RDS Equipment, Inc.

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About Me

Hi, my name is Lewis McKinley and this is a blog about the safety of industrial equipment and supplies. When working with industrial equipment, employees must implement all safety measures to ensure they stay safe at all times. When I was growing up, my dad was a safety inspector, so my siblings and I were always reminded about safety and he taught us how to stay safe no matter what we were doing. Since I learned about safety at a young age, I always make sure that safety is a priority in everything I do. I enjoy doing research about safety and I keep up with changes in safety regulations for many industries. I hope that after you read my blog, you'll learn measures that you can take to remain safe around industrial equipment and supplies.