Forklift issues are common but there are some forklift parts that give drivers more grief than others. Sometimes, by noticing certain symptoms, you can find out the part that needs to be repaired (or replaced). The following are some forklift parts that need the most repairs –
- Radiator – The radiator is one part that gets exposed to all sorts of debris, dust, mud and other particles. There are ports in the radiator that can get blocked because of these elements. It can cause the engine to overheat. Thus, when you notice that your engine is getting overheated, a professional repair engineer would check the radiator first. In fact, the radiator is behind most issues in a forklift. The fins of the radiator are extremely delicate and if you are attempting to clean this part on your own, you should take care not to damage the fins.
- Thermostat – The thermostat is responsible for not only detecting the right temperature in your forklift but also maintaining the appropriate temperature. There might be times when your engine is overheating and the most common cause is an erratic thermostat. Repairs can be conducted on the thermostat but it is usually easy to just replace it.
- Hoses and Seals – The most basic function of your forklift is lifting. This can be hampered due to hoses that are damaged, cracked or full of leaks. Hydraulic problems are often caused because of problematic hoses. If you run a clean cloth down the lines and hoses and it returns with a lot of hydraulic fluid, this means that the hoses have a problem and need to be repaired. Build-up of oil along the rods is common but when there is too much oil, it means that the seals need repairs or replacement.
- Battery – The battery is the culprit when the forklift refuses to start. We talked with Panacea Aftermarket Co. about forklifts and they added, “Often, terminals and the batteries can be corroded. There might be issues with the connection between the battery and the forklift. If everything seems normal when you look at the batteries, you need to consult a professional to check the capacity test of the batteries. The functioning should be at least 80%, otherwise the forklift would have a number of issues like start-up problems, overheating, et al.” Low levels of electrolyte might also cause the batteries to overheat. Just give your forklift some water on a regular basis to avoid this problem.
- Starter – The starter of your forklift might also cause frequent issues. You might think that there is some serious problem with the machine when all you need to do is replace the starter or get it repaired. If the battery is alright and doesn’t show any signs of damage, it means that the starter is the culprit. A common sign of starter issues is that the forklift would start and die quickly.
- Gas Converter – The gas converter is responsible for converting vapor to liquid and occasionally, it freezes up because of lack of coolant. With age, various issues can crop up with the converter requiring repairs and replacement. The gas solenoid can also fail and your forklift won’t start if that happens.
Proper maintenance of these repair prone parts often ensures that your forklift works at top-efficiency and doesn’t need too many repairs. So, set up a routine maintenance schedule and your forklift woes would not be too frequent. When it comes to repairing your forklift, unless you have the necessary skills and qualifications yourself, you should rely on professionals for the same. You never know if your meddling might worsen the problem and cost you even more in the future.
