​Save Money Using These 5 Important Forklift Tips

18th Apr 2020

The forklift is no doubt key to material handling operations which mean you have to ensure it is in the best condition possible at all times.

Some of the benefits that come with this are improved operational efficiency, safety, and longevity of the forklift.

In this article, we choose to primarily focus on five important maintenance tips that will save you money in the long term. Read on;

Always Keep Your Forklift Clean

Dirt is one of your greatest enemies when it comes to the longevity of your forklift as it destroys its vital parts leading to malfunctions.

For instance, when the radiator of your forklift is not cleaned the dirt accumulation will prevent it from performing its cooling functions efficiently. Your engine will then overheat and malfunction.

Another critical component of the forklift that needs proper cleaning is the battery terminals which can get corroded by the accumulation of dirt affecting transmission.

Therefore always keep your forklift clean especially on the areas around the vital parts

Use Quality lubrication Products.

Lubrication of a forklift that is heavily used during operation is very important.

Lubrication prevents the degradation of the movable parts of the forklifts which usually leads to accelerated wear and tear.

In cases where the wear and tear is unchecked, it will lead to a major failure of the forklift parts which exposes your operators to accidents or health hazards like occupational noise and fatigue.

Since properly lubricated parts also last longer, it is an effective cost-saving measure.

However, do not just use any kind of lubrication but the best in the market as poor quality lubricants are more damaging than helpful.

Proper Care During Extreme Weather Conditions

One of the commonly ignored threats to the longevity and proper functioning of a forklift is weather elements.

For instance, during the summer there is a high level of heat generation in the tires which over inflates them increasing the rate of wear and tear.

On the other hand, the wet environments that result from winter make forklift operated outdoors less stable. However, proper preparation will see to it that you counter this with tire studs or tire chains.

Give It A Proper Paint Job

During normal operations, your forklift will experience some dent causing knocks that lead to chipping of the paint on the forklift's body.

Chipping of the paint exposes the body of the forklift to elements like moisture that eventually lead rusting which will accelerate the wear and tear on the body.

Quality paint will also improve visibility of the forklift in the warehouse especially if it has busy operations that involve a lot of people. And this will reduce the chances of accidents.

Closely Monitor Fleet Usage

Monitoring your fleets during the different shifts ensures you can plan for their servicing on time through a well-outlined maintenance plan.

Improper monitoring of your fleet normally leads to either under-servicing of over-servicing.

While under-servicing will see to it that the forklift parts wear and tear accelerates, over-servicing will increase your maintenance costs and expose your operations to frequent downtime.

Therefore always ensure that your forklift is properly maintained and the movable parts are properly lubricated. When you are about to enter a season of extreme weather whether it is summer or winter adequate preparation is key. You should also ensure you frequently give it a good paint job to improve visibility and prevent rusting. Lastly, monitoring the fleet periodically will help you develop a great maintenance plan. 

Forklift Tire Company is one of the largest suppliers of forklift tires in the USA. We are happy to help you find the right tires for your forklift truck. Visit our online store here for great discounts or email us at sales@forklifttire.com, our customer service team is ready to assist you.