5 tips for keeping your forklift in the best shape
Forklifts work hard.
Whether they are moving pallets, loading vehicles or keeping production lines supplied, they are often in use for hours every day.
A little regular attention can go a long way towards keeping them reliable, safe and ready to work.
Here are five simple ways to help look after your forklift fleet.
Carry out daily checks
Before a truck starts work, take a few minutes to give it a proper once-over.
Operators should look for obvious signs of damage, leaks or excessive wear and check important items such as:
– Forks and mast
– Tyres
– Lights and warning devices
– Seat belts
– Brakes and steering
– Fluid levels where applicable
Spotting a small problem early could prevent it becoming a much bigger one later.
How Hannamans can help:
If a daily inspection identifies a problem, our engineers can investigate the issue before it develops into a more serious fault. From minor repairs and replacement parts to more extensive maintenance, we can help get your truck back to work quickly and safely.
Look after the battery
For electric forklifts, good battery care is essential.
Make sure batteries are charged correctly, charging areas are kept clean and any signs of damage or unusual performance are investigated.
For lithium-ion equipment, follow the manufacturer’s recommended charging procedures and take advantage of opportunity charging where appropriate.
Looking after the battery helps maintain consistent performance and can extend its working life.
How Hannamans can help:
Our team can help you assess the condition and performance of your electric forklift fleet and advise on the most appropriate battery and charging solutions for your operation. If an ageing truck or battery is becoming unreliable, we can also help you explore whether repair, replacement or a move to lithium-ion would make more sense.
Keep an eye on your tyres
Forklift tyres have a direct impact on safety, comfort and performance.
Check regularly for:
– Excessive wear
– Cuts or damage
– Flat spots
– Missing chunks
– Uneven wear
Worn tyres can increase vibration, reduce stability and put additional strain on other components.
If they look past their best, don’t leave them until they fail.
How Hannamans can help:
Our engineers can inspect tyre condition as part of your regular servicing and highlight excessive or uneven wear before it starts affecting the truck’s performance. We can also help arrange replacement tyres when they are reaching the end of their working life.
Keep your truck clean
It sounds simple, but a clean forklift is easier to inspect and maintain.
Dust, debris and packaging can build up around moving parts, radiators and other components, particularly in busy warehouse environments.
Regular cleaning also makes leaks, damage and wear much easier to spot.
Pay particular attention to areas around the mast, wheels and battery compartment.
How Hannamans can help:
Regular professional servicing gives our engineers the opportunity to inspect the areas that are harder to assess during everyday checks. We can identify signs of contamination, wear or developing faults and recommend any maintenance needed to keep the truck operating reliably.
Don’t skip planned servicing
Daily checks are important, but they are not a replacement for professional servicing.
Planned maintenance gives trained engineers the opportunity to inspect the truck in greater detail, identify developing faults and replace worn components before they result in unexpected downtime.
A properly maintained forklift is more likely to remain dependable when you need it most.
How Hannamans can help:
Hannamans can create a planned maintenance programme around your fleet, usage and operating requirements.
Our experienced engineers can provide routine servicing, repairs, replacement parts and Thorough Examinations, helping you minimise unexpected downtime and keep your equipment safe, compliant and ready to work.
Keep your fleet in the best possible shape
A few simple habits combined with regular professional maintenance can make a real difference to the reliability and working life of your forklifts.
If you’d like to review your current maintenance programme or arrange a service for one or more trucks, speak to the Hannaman Material Handling team.
