If your factory workers rely heavily upon a forklift to transport materials to and from the dock, your production team may be subjected to a standstill if the forklift will not turn on. Be alert of some common issues that may be contributing to the problem and use strategies to repair the equipment.
Have There Been Signs of a Problem?
Your employees should be keeping track of how heavy-duty equipment operates. Machinery that isn't working properly could pose a threat of injury. An example would be if an operator has been experiencing trouble with the forklift stalling while in the middle of moving a heavy load or has noticed a jerky reaction when moving the forklift around areas where workers are performing assigned duties.
Check your logbook to see who operated the equipment last and to ensure that they charged the battery up after using the equipment. Sometimes, a non-operable forklift will only require a freshly-charged battery to remedy the problem. If you have cleared the condition of the forklift through the most recent operator and the battery that is connected to the forklift is charged, contact the manufacturer of the forklift to receive a walkthrough assessment and repair strategies.
Does Your Forklift Contain an Internal Combustion Engine?
If you own a gas-powered forklift, then you could experience gas, oil, and coolant problems resulting in the machinery failing to start. Old gas that has been sitting in the tank for a while could hinder the machine's performance. Add a gas treatment product to the tank and top off the tank with a fresh supply of gasoline. Check the forklift's oil reservoir to ensure that oil is at the proper level. If an oil leak is present and oil has been burning on internal components, the machinery may have overheated. This could cause problems with cranking up the machine.
Pour more oil into the reservoir and check the coolant level. Inspect the forklift's mechanical parts for signs of damage. Any issues that seem complex or that your maintenance crew is not familiar with should be repaired by a mechanic who has experience maintaining heavy-duty equipment.
To ward off future problems, have your forklift inspected regularly and purchase a new or a secondhand forklift, to use as a piece of backup equipment or to add to your fleet. Owning more machinery will guarantee that workloads can be handled on a daily basis. Contact companies like RDS Equipment, Inc to learn more about forklift repair.