Severe applications will require more frequent inspection. (a) Forks in use shall be inspected at intervals of not more than 12 months (for single shift operations) or whenever any defect or Fork Inspection and Repair ANSI/ITSDF B56.1 – 2009 6.2.8 Inspection and Repair of Forks in Service on Forklift Trucks Always use both forks, as using just one puts too much pressure on it.Flanks The side faces of the blade and shank. Bringing them down too fast or forcefully can damage your forks. Refer to your equipment’s load capacity chart. Use forks only for lifting, not to push objects or pry open doors.
The majority of the load weight is carried here. Protect the heel of your forklift forks. Here are some best practices that help promote forklift maintenance: Refer to the capacity chart on your equipment for guidance. Keep in mind that load capacity changes as the load center does. Always follow manufacturer guidelines, especially when it comes to forklift load capacity. Replacement your forks if the lip of the hook touches the back of the caliper.Īnother big part of preserving your forklift blades is operating within your equipment’s means. Use calipers to check the wear on fork hooks. Once your forklift blades hit 10% wear, the load capacity is reduced by 20% and replacement is necessary.ĥ. Measure the thickness of each blade with calipers. If the difference exceeds 3% of the length of the blade, it’s time for a replacement.Ĥ. Measure tip height to ensure that the tips of each forklift blade are roughly the same height. Make sure the blade and shank are straight.ģ. Visually assess the forks, looking for surface cracks, especially near the heel and welds. If greater than 93 degrees, replace your forklift forks.Ģ. They should do a more in-depth inspection once a year.Ī yearly inspection of forklift forks should include the following:ġ. Operators should perform an overall forklift inspection daily. Routinely servicing your forklift can help mitigate small issues before they become dangerous ones. Taking care of your equipment starts with proper forklift maintenance.
#Fork lift forks how to#
Understanding these issues and how to avoid them can prevent you from having to replace your forklift blades again in the future. The most common causes for bent forklift forks are collisions, improper loading, and overloading. Spend the couple hundred dollars to invest in new forklift blades if yours are bent. Though it may be tempting, a DIY fix is not a reliable or viable option. If you have a question or concern about the integrity of your pallet forks, contact your manufacturer. More often than not, the right choice is a replacement. This mandate covers forklift blades as well. In fact, OSHA explicitly states, “Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation shall not be performed by the customer or user without the manufacturer’s prior written approval.” Not only is reshaping forklift forks dangerous, but it is strictly against OSHA regulations. Therefore, you’ll never be able to operate safely. If you “fix” your forks with heat, you’ll never know their new forklift capacity. Just because forklift tines look like they once did doesn’t mean they’ll have the same strength. Once compromised, the integrity of the forks is gone forever. While this may appear to be a quick fix, the integrity of the steel is lost with heat. Some people have gone as far as to weld their forklift tines with a hydraulic press. You’ve probably seen videos online of people heating and bending their pallet forks. The short answer is - it's time to look for replacement forks.
Learn more about how to maintain pallet forks below. Take care of your forklift forks every time you operate your equipment. We’ll guide you through the struggles of bent forklift forks, and arm you with the tips and tricks you need to avoid the issue altogether. If you’ve found yourself with bent forklift forks, you’re in the right place.įorklift Invent o ry is your go-to source for industry information. Keeping your equipment in good working order isn’t always easy. Proper forklift maintenance and care are critical to the health of your equipment, but things happen. If the angle of your forklift forks is greater than 93 degrees, your forks are bent. Pallet forks can bend on any axis, so a bent fork may not be visible from every angle. Keep in mind that bent forklift forks aren’t always visible to the naked eye. If something is broken, take the forklift out of service until forklift maintenance is complete. Operators should perform routine inspections to ensure that the equipment is safe to use.
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