Two ways to extend the lifespan of your forklift
If you own a forklift and want it to keep it in good condition for as long as possible, here are two things you can do to extend its lifespan.
Take steps to prevent the equipment from toppling over
One of the best ways to ensure that your forklift remains in excellent condition for years to come is to take steps to prevent it from toppling over whilst it is in use.
The reason for this is as follows; forklifts are extremely heavy. As such, if this type of equipment tips over, it will usually hit the ground with great force.
This kind of forceful impact could do an enormous amount of damage to a forklift's external and internal components. It could, for example, cause its forks to buckle or the windows of its cab to shatter. It could also lead to the engine components snapping off or cause one or more of the forklift's hydraulic fluid lines to tear.
This damage could cost thousands of dollars to repair. In fact, in this situation, buying a new forklift may end up being less expensive than paying to have the existing equipment repaired.
As such, it is crucial to do what you can to minimise the risk of your equipment falling over. There are a few ways to do this. Firstly, when the forklift is being used near a trench on a construction site, make sure that there is someone on the ground who can supervise the operation.
This person can alert the equipment operator if they accidentally drive the forklift too close to the edge of the trench. This, in turn, can prevent the forklift from tipping over the edge and falling into the trench.
Secondly, the person operating the forklift should try to avoid turning it around on a gradient, as this could easily throw the forklift off balance and lead to it toppling over.
Make sure it is inspected before it is used
Inspecting your forklift before using it could significantly reduce the chances of it developing a major fault that will shorten its lifespan.
For example, if your forklift's hydraulic fluid line develops a hole that causes the hydraulic liquid inside of it to leak out, and you fail to notice and fix this because you forgot to inspect the equipment before using it, there could be disastrous consequences.
In this situation, the low levels of hydraulic fluid could lead to the elevated forks, and the materials they are transporting, plummeting to the ground. This could leave the forks damaged beyond repair.
As such, whilst inspecting the equipment may be somewhat time-consuming, it could spare you the stress and great expense of replacing a severely-damaged forklift.