Do you need to have your forklift serviced? The answer is yes. Regular servicing ensures safe working practice and that your forklift is as up to date as it can possibly be. Any hidden faults could not only be dangerous and cost lives, but they could also cost you money, or even your business. Below we examine in more detail the many reasons why it is important to have your forklift regularly serviced.
Catch any problems early
When you decide to have your forklift regularly serviced, then as well as giving the entire machine a good overhaul, the mechanic will also be able to find any potential issues and fix them before they cause much bigger and destructive problems. Having your forklift regularly serviced will save you an awful lot of money, as small changes and adjustments are a whole lot cheaper than having to repair huge faults such as a failing engine.
Accident prevention
When you operate a forklift, you are in charge of a heavy piece of machinery that is capable of lifting heavy loads and of reaching pretty fast speeds. This can be a lethal combination in a machine that has faults with its breaking, hydraulics and steering. The sad fact is that many accidents occur every year involving forklift trucks, recent reports stating that the number is as high as a thousand. Many of these accidents could have been prevented by regular servicing and maintenance checks. The reality is that having your forklifts serviced on a regular basis will dramatically reduce the risk of forklift accidents and related injuries.
Helps to improve productivity
When running a business that relies heavily on the use of forklifts – a warehouse, for example- you really can’t afford to not have the use of your forklift. To be productive and to reach those daily, weekly and annual goals, you need to operate at maximum efficiency and full capacity. This cannot be achieved if you suddenly find that your forklift simply won’t work or breaks down mid-shift. A faulty forklift is bad news for business, as missing your deadlines will cause delays, add stress and cost you your reputation and contract. Regular servicing and maintenance means that you have a reliable forklift which you can trust to keep going for longer.
Issues of wear and tear
Forklifts are regularly used to lift, carry and move heavy loads. This is incredibly repetitive work that is conducted day in, day out. It is therefore only reasonable that the forklift will suffer greatly from wear and tear. Tyres, breaks, the lifting mechanism and hydraulics will all be heavily hit, but problems with them are not always obvious to the naked eye.
A professional service will look at the entire forklift and all its parts and will quickly identify any parts that are worn and need to be replaced. The service will also identify issues to be aware of, and which will need to be dealt with in the future.
Better performance and increased longevity
Having regular forklift servicing will mean that you have a reliable and safe forklift with enhanced performance. In many cases, the forklift will feel like new. Any problems will be fixed, and as a result, you will have a highly efficient forklift that gets the job done.
The good news is that when you have any problems fixed before they deteriorate further, you also get more use out of your forklift, and hopefully many more years.
The importance of forklift maintenance
It’s not only servicing that ensures the safe and smooth running of your forklift: regular maintenance also plays a key role. It’s important that you get into a weekly habit of carrying out a number of simple visual checks on your forklift. One important element is checking your oil levels and changing the oil according to manufacturers’ instructions.
Conduct a visual check of the tyres; check both the tyre tread and tyre pressure. Fluid levels, such as antifreeze and hydraulics, should also be regularly checked to ensure that the forklift does not overheat or freeze up. Adequate lubrication of all moving parts and hydraulics is vital to keep the forklift operating safely.
Finally, it is so important that you regularly check your breaks. Doing so will help you to find any early problems that can be quickly fixed.
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