Maintenance Section Inspection, Maintenance and Repair of Lift Truck Forks The following section gives practical guidelines for inspection, maintenance and repair of lift truck forks. It also provides general information on the design and application of forks and the common cause of fork failures. Lift truck forks can be dangerously weakened by improper repair or modification. They can also be damaged by the cumulative effects of age, abrasion, corrosion, overloading and misuse. A fork failure during use can cause damage to the equipment and the load. A fork failure can also cause serious injury.
A good fork inspection and maintenance program along with the proper application can be very effective in preventing sudden failures on the job. Repairs and modifications should be done only by the fork manufacturer or a qualified technician who knows the material used and the required welding and heat treatment process. Users should evaluate the economics of returning the forks to the manufacturer for repairs or purchasing new forks. This will vary depending on many factors including the size and type of fork. Forks should be properly sized to the weight and length of the loads, and to the size of the machine on which they are used.
The general practice is to use a fork size such that the combined rated capacity of the number of forks used is equal to or greater than the “Standard(or rated) Capacity” of the lift truck. The individual load rating, in most cases, will be stamped on the fork in a readily visible area. This is generally on the top or side of the fork shank. A fork rated at 1500 pounds at 24 inch load center will be stamped 1500B24. Users may also refer to the International Organization For Standardization - ISO Technical Report 5057 - Inspection and Repair of Fork Arms and ISO Standard 2330 - Fork Arms-Technical Characteristics and Testing.
While there are no specific standards or regulations in the United States, users should be familiar with the requirements for inspection and maintenance of lift trucks as provided by the 29 Code Federal Register 1910.178 Powerd Industrial Truck, and ANSI/ASME Safety Standard(s) B56.1, B56.5 or B56.6 as applicable to the type of machine(s) in use. Environment Protection Section When servicing this lift truck, use an authorized servicing area and an approved container to collect coolant, oil, fuel, grease, electrolyte and any other potential environmental pollutant before any lines, fittings or related items are disconnected or removed.
After servicing, dispose of those materials in an authorized place and container. When cleaning the lift truck, be sure to use an authorized area. A fork rated at 2000 kg at 600 mm load center will be stamped 2000B600. The manufacturer identification and year and date of manufacture is also usually shown. Some countries have standards or regulations which apply specifically to the inspection and repair of forks. 92