Daily Forklift Maintenance Checklist
Forklifts are some of the most commonly used pieces of equipment on construction sites, in warehouses, at port facilities, and for a wide range of other applications. Owners rely on them to move large volumes of materials and products from one part of a work area to another and keep their businesses functioning smoothly. To ensure your machine operates as efficiently and productively as possible on every job, follow our maintenance tips, and use our Forklift Daily Checklist Quick Sheet before you begin working each shift.
Conduct regular inspection
Conducting power studies is an important part of forklift maintenance and understanding your forklift batteries. They provide a comprehensive analysis of your machines’ power usage and how efficiently they are completing the job. A power study combines battery monitoring, data analytics, and insights from experts to give fleet managers recommendations and best practices for enhancing forklift performance and optimizing their use.
A forklift power study involves collecting data from your most used machines, looking at run times, idle hours, available charge hours, and the amount of amp hours being used every day. That information will tell you how much usage your batteries have, how much of that usage is productive work, and it will help you understand how long your forklift batteries will last. The study will also analyze how often you charge your batteries and how quickly they charge.
How you benefit from a power study
There is no one size fits all when it comes to a forklift maintenance checklist, but here is what to inspect for your conventional internal combustion, liquid propane, and electric forklifts:
Conventional internal combustion
- Check engine oil levels
- Inspect fluid and coolant levels
- Watch out for any fluids on the ground around your machine, which could indicate a leak
- Make sure your radiator is clean, and remove any dust or debris that have built up
- Look at your hoses and belts to check for cracks or damage
Liquid propane
- Inspect the propane tank for signs of visible damage or leakage
- Check your propane tank’s relief valve to make sure it is pointed upwards
Battery powered
- If powered by lead acid batteries, watch the water levels to make sure they are adequately filled
- Examine the battery terminals for signs of corrosion, and clean them off using a battery terminal brush and a solution of baking soda and water, if needed
- Make sure battery connections are secure
- Inspect wiring to ensure there are no loose, frayed, or exposed wires
- Verify the status of battery charging and discharging indicators
Check the basic components found on every forklift
After inspecting the parts of your machine that are specific to each engine type, the next step on your forklift maintenance checklist is to examine the components that are common to all three types:
Check your forks – Inspect the forks for any signs of damage, and measure their thickness to ensure they are both even and within spec – we have measuring tools available at no cost. You should also verify that the locking pins are secure and working properly.
Look at your tires – Make sure all your tires are within the manufacturer recommend inflation levels, and look for any uneven wear, bubbles, cracks, bumps, or anything that may be stuck in the rubber. If your tires are damaged, replace them as soon as possible.
Test the steering – If the operator feels that the steering is not working smoothly or is not as responsive as it normally is, then it could be a sign of a larger issue. They should inform their supervisor before using the machine.
Try out the lights – Make sure your forklift’s headlights, brake lights, and any safety or strobe lights are working properly before beginning operation.
Inspect all safety devices – Prior to starting work, check your machine’s seatbelts, horns, backup alarms, brakes, parking brakes, and other safety systems.
Avoid costly forklift service
To help you maintain your forklift, we put together a daily checklist sheet for both internal combustion and electric models. We recommend going through the list step by step before beginning each shift.
If you have any questions about our forklift maintenance checklist or what forklift service should be completing at longer intervals, contact the JIT team today!