Tips for Maintaining Forklifts in the Philippines

November 14, 2018

What are a few tips in maintaining forklifts?

1. Initiate daily inspections
2. Develop a checklist for ensuring an efficient forklift
   1. Lubricate moving parts
   2. Regularly check fluids
   3. Keep forklifts fueled
   4. Optimize gauges
   5. Keep tires in good condition
3. Follow maintenance schedules

The effectiveness of a material handling equipment is at its best when it’s in peak condition. Something that only happens when you first bought it, or right after it underwent maintenance. With many forklifts in the Philippines being used in multiple industries—particularly in the transport of cargo, and very important, sometimes fragile materials, they should always be functioning at their top form!

Keep in mind that every kind of equipment, be it for heavy construction or material handling services should be well maintained. Forklifts specifically are a very versatile material handling equipment. Since it can be used in almost every industry that requires a durable and versatile material handling equipment, the maintenance procedures of such machines should be well-known.

Every company that has a forklift should know at the very least, the basics of maintaining them. Here are a few tips pertaining to its maintenance that anyone can do!

Initiate Daily Inspections

Regular forklift maintenance and servicing are vital for the consistent efficiency of the machine. It makes sure that the forklift runs smoothly across every job that it handles. Inspecting the forklift daily before and after it’s used is a great way of spotting potential problems. In reality, the inspection of any material handling equipment before its use is a requirement by the OSHA. Not only does it ensure the proper usage of your forklift, but it also entails a safer working environment!

Another thing that you should do on a daily or a weekly basis is to simply clean your forklift. It not only keeps the forklift aesthetically pleasing, but it also prevents the buildup of dirt, dust, and different materials that can become a safety hazard for the machine. Materials such as lint can be combustible in large amounts and can possibly lead to other issues that can hinder both the safety and the effectiveness of the forklift.

By spotting issues early, it will save you the time and money of waiting for repairs to be finished. Remember, a few maintenance practices will cost less than repairing a part of, or your whole forklift altogether.

Develop a Checklist for Ensuring an Efficient Forklift

It is best for you to have predetermined factors to keep constant in order to make your forklift as efficient as possible. Here’s a very short list of things to do to keep your forklift in tip-top shape!

• Keep all moving parts lubricated – Particularly for forklifts that are used in relatively dirty environments where it exposes itself to corrosion. Always make sure that the moving parts don’t have any kind of hindrances such as dirt buildup or clogged mechanisms.
• Check fluid levels regularly – Make sure that you never have any fluid running on low levels. This includes transmission and hydraulic fluids, coolants, and of course, motor oil.
• Keep your forklift fully fueled – Forklifts are either powered by a battery, LPG, diesel fuel, or gasoline. Regardless of which one is the main power source, you should make sure that it will always have a full tank or fully-powered battery once before you use it for the day.
• Optimize the forklift gauges – These gauges and lights found in the panel of the forklift give indications on the status of each part. For the forklift operator, these are crucial in understanding when parts are malfunctioning or in need of repairs.
• Keep forklift tires in good condition – A big part of a forklift’s mobility is their tires. If the tires use air, you have to make sure that it has the right air pressure consistently among the four tires. If you use solid rubber ones, it has to have no gashes whatsoever on it. As long as the tires are okay, the forklift will be perfectly balanced and safe from potential safety threats!

Follow Maintenance Schedules

Daily inspections are effective in spotting out problems that are easily identified with a visual inspection before they get worse. Forklifts that have been used for a long time would sometimes appear perfectly fine when inspected visually, but when brought in for maintenance, may have some issues of its own.

Take note of the times when manufacturers of forklifts recommend getting an in-depth inspection of service. For example, oil change is recommended to be done every 3 months and full maintenance is required for the 250^th, 500^th, and 1000^th hour of use.

The essential things that you should take note of when you put up your forklift for maintenance are the following: oil changes, tire conditions, fluid and filter changes, spark plug replacements, brakes and mechanism servicing. Keep these in mind to ensure that you’ll avoid bigger and unexpected problems that will cost you more in the long run.

Key Takeaway

Forklifts in the Philippines are probably the most well-known material handling equipment used in different industries. Along with other heavy construction equipment, these are machines that will do wonders as long as you keep them in the best condition possible. With that in mind, follow these few tips in keeping your forklifts well maintained!