If you are the owner of a company that is associated with the storage, handling and transportation of goods, you need to have forklifts at your disposal.
You can either buy them or get them on rent from a renowned forklift rental Augusta GA company. But in the end, whether it is a rental forklift or one from your fleet, problems may arise with them on a busy working day.
This is the reason why you should be aware of possible problems and their solutions that often plague forklifts.
Some of them are as follows:-
Problems with the mast
The primary part of a forklift is its mast. It is the frame at the front of these machines that are responsible for all the –
- Lifting
- Lowering and
- Tilting action carried out using a forklift.
Possible problems and their solutions
The carriage attached to the mast that does all of the above actions is backed by a hydraulic system and in case, the mast feels –
- Disconnected
- Slow or
- Jerky during operation, then first, one would need to check the hydraulic system powering the mast.
If the hydraulic system looks okay then one would need to check the chains on the mast that work in tandem to the hydraulic system. If the issue lies in this part then they need to be replaced in a bid to restore the forklift to its operational condition.
The steering system has gone awry
If the forklift makes strange noises when one is trying to turn its wheels using the steering column, this could indicate that the steering mechanism could have any of the following issues –
- Rust problems
- Hydraulics problems
- Problems with the pressure valves
- Problems with the gears
- Problems with the tires due to their misalignment or even
- Problems arising due to low fluid levels in the steering mechanism.
Solution
In any of the above cases, you would need to call a mechanic proficient in fixing up forklifts, on-site in a bid to get the matter sorted ASAP.
The Forklift fails to start or stalls
If the rental forklift fails to start or stalls in the middle of a working day, you will be losing a lot of money as work at your place of business will be delayed. Hence, it is essential to get the forklift started as soon as possible.
Possible reasons and their solutions
In case the rental forklift is an all-electric model, you might need to check whether or not the forklift’s power source a.k.a. its battery is fully charged. Then, check whether the auxiliary functions of the forklift are functional or not. If they are non-functional as well, then you might need to replace the dead battery with a fresh, fully-charged battery as charging the forklift is a feasible option.
In case you have a forklift with an IC engine, you might need to check –
- Whether or not it has fuel in its tank.
- Whether or not the forklift has leaks its fuel line or tank.
- Whether or not the engine has the recommended oil levels.
Even after doing all of the above, the forklift is not starting; you might need to replace the battery of the forklift. You might also need to check the coolant levels of the forklift as overheating can also lead to the complete shutdown of the machine.
Now, since you have your hands on a rental forklift, it is natural for you to feel that why you should be sweating over someone else’s broken down property, right? This is the reason why you should choose a forklift rental company that offers onsite assistance in case their forklift breaks down in the middle of a working day. For the best results, choose a forklift rental company that is reputed and has been in business for a while.