Forklift walkaround Inspection

The first thing that we need to inspect, according to the checklist is the front tires. And the first thing that we look at is the depth of the tire trade.

Next, we check the inflation of the tire, whether it is at an acceptable level. And next up we check the wheel nuts if they're properly in place and if they're tightened properly. And we need to ensure that the wheel nuts are tightened to an acceptable level.

Next, we need to observe on the tires, whether there are any cracks, cuts, or splits on the tire. And in case there are any cuts or splits in the tire, we face a huge risk of the tire bursting during operation. The next item on the checklist is to inspect the tilt cylinder and to verify that there are no hydraulic leaks in the cylinder, hydraulic leaks can happen from the cylinder itself or from the hydraulic hoses.

Next up we inspect the lifting cylinder.

And we need to ensure that you don't see any oil leaks from the upper part of the left cylinder. If you do see any oil leaks at originate from the upper part of the left cylinder, we cannot continue and we have to repair and rectify the oil leak as soon as possible.

The next item on the checklist is to inspect the main lamps and the side mirrors.

If you notice any visible damage on any of these mirrors, it is recommended to repair them before you start your operation. And next is to inspect the brake oil tank. If you notice in the brake oil tank, you will see that there is a minimum oil level and a maximum oil level that must be maintained.

And it is recommended to have the oil level in between these two levels.

If you notice that the oil level is below the minimum level, for example, we recommend that you top it up and ensure that the oil level comes in between the minimum and the maximum oil levels.

Next, we need to check the frame of the machine,

And to check the frame, you should hold it like this and shake it to ensure that it is mounted properly on the machine. And for this frame to be mounted properly on the machine, the two nuts on this side of the machine and the two nuts on the other side of the machine should be tight enough, so that the frame is mounted properly, and the operator can feel safe inside the machine.

Next, we need to inspect the rear tires.

And like how we mentioned earlier, you need to check the depth of the tire tread and also the inflation or the air pressure of the tires. There are two types of tires that can be found in a forklift truck.

One is a pneumatic tire and the other is a solid tire. If you find solid tires in a forklift truck, there is no need to check the air pressure, but if you find a pneumatic tire, you will have to check the air pressure and see if it is at an acceptable level. If you find any cracks, cuts, or splits on the tire wall, you cannot operate the machine and you will have to replace the tire. And also, you need to inspect the wheel nuts and to ensure that all of them are in place and they are tight enough before you operate the machine.

The next item that must be inspected is the power steering cylinder, which is a double action cylinder.

We have to observe whether there are any noticeable oil leaks that come from this cylinder. If this cylinder has any oil leaks, while working on the forklift, there will be oil that would be spilled on the working flow.

So as a result, we need to ensure that this cylinder does not have any oil leaks before operating the machine. Next, we need to inspect the counter-weight, that is connected to the machine using these two bolts.

We have to ensure that these two bolts are properly in place and also to check whether they are tightened properly to the particular machine. In case they are not properly connected to the machine, we face the risk of the counter-weight falling onto the ground while the machine is in operation, and this could lead to a deadly accident. Next, we need to inspect the other side of the steering cylinder, and as you can see, this is the rod end of the cylinder.

We have to check if there are any oil leaks that are originating from this part, and if there are any oil leaks, we have to repair it before operation.

Next, we need to check this tire, and as we did with the previous tires, we need to check the depth of the wire tread, the inflation levels, whether there are any cuts or splits on the tire, and if all the wheel nuts are properly placed and tightened on this tire.

Next, we need to check the side mirrors, the signal lights and the main lights, and to ensure that all of these are well in order. And once we have checked that, we need to then take a look at the last tire.

And as we have been mentioning earlier, we need to ensure that the depth of the tire tread is well enough, whether there are any cuts or splits on the tire, and whether the inflation level is at an adequate level, and finally, to check whether all the wheel nuts are in place and is tightened as expected. Next, we need to inspect the tilt cylinder.

If you notice any oil leaks in the tilt cylinder, please ensure that, it needs to be replaced. Because the reason is, if there are oil leaks in the tilt cylinder, this oil can flow onto the tires and eventually to the workflow. Therefore, any oil leak that you find in the tilt cylinder must be repaired as soon as possible.

Next, we also need to inspect the hydraulic hoses that are connected to the tilt cylinder as well, as there are oil leaks that can originate from them. Next, we look at the lifting cylinder, we need to also check if there are oil leaks coming from this, and if there are any visible oil leaks, this should be repaired as early as possible.

And now let's move on to the mast part of the forklift.

And as you can see, we will be now inspecting the front hydraulic hoses and the hydraulic fittings. As you can see, these hydraulic hoses must be inspected to check if there is any damage that you can notice on the hydraulic hoses.

And all these hydraulic fittings must be inspected individually, to check if there are any oil leaks that come from these horses or from the hydraulic fittings. And these lifting chains that you see here, we need to now check if there are any visible damages, any cracks, or any rusted parts that you may notice in the chain, and if you see anything visible, any damage any crack or any rusted part that needs to be replaced as early as possible, before we begin operating on the machine, Now let's look at the back-rest, we need to make sure that this back-rest is well fitted to the machine, by checking all the bolts that are used to connect it.

We can also check whether the back-rest is properly connected by shaking it, like how you see and to see whether all the bolts are tightly connected to the frame. If they are loose in, any way, we need to ensure that they are tightened before operation. We need to check whether the frame is damaged and if so can be welded and repaired.

Now let's look at the forks.

We need to first ensure, that these forks are locked properly from these locks, and we need to check whether there are any physical damages that you will notice on the fork plates. We do that by doing a visual inspection and noticing if there are any cracks or any damages that you will notice on the fork plates.

And if there are any cracks in these places, we would recommend replacing both the fork blades, as ignoring these cracks can lead to major accidents. And like how we mentioned earlier, the back-rests can be welded if there are damages, but if you see any damage on the fork blades, we do not recommend welding, but we recommend replacing both of these fork blades before operation.

Now let's move on to the engine compartment.

This is where you can find the engine, the battery, the transmission, as well as the radiator. This is like the head office of your organization that has all the critical components that must be inspected and its condition must be verified before you start the machine, you can avoid a lot of issues, if you properly inspect this particular component.

Let's start with the battery, we need to first ensure that this battery is in a very good condition before you start the machine. You need to check the battery water level and also the terminals. If there are any loose ends in the terminal, they must be well fitted with the wires properly installed on these terminals.

If you find any oxide binds on the battery terminal, you must clean them before you start the engine. You need to do the same for both the positive and the negative terminals. Next let's move on to the coolant reserve tank. The amount of coolant that should be needed is marked on this particular tank, you need to check and verify whether the coolant level is at the acceptable level.

We don't generally open the radiator cap often to check the current level, because that can lead to a damaged radiator and can also lead to an overheated engine.

So, we just check the coolant level in the reserve tank and maintain the recommend coolant level in the reserve tank. And after checking the coolant reserve tank, we move on to check the fan belt tension. The tension of the fan belt must be at an appropriate level, because if the fan belt loosens, the battery will not charge, and the cooling fan also will not work as expected. Therefore, we need to check the fan belt to ensure that the tension is properly there and is at an acceptable level. And after checking the fan belt tension, we then move on to the engine oil dipstick.

This engine oil dipstick is used to check the engine oil level. The engine oil level must be maintained at an appropriate level between the low level and the high level. And as you can see the low level and the high level is marked on this dipstick, so the engine oil must be between these two levels. If any case the engine oil goes below the low level, we have to ensure that engine oil is topped up into the engine; so that the engine oil level can be between the low level and the high level. This is of utmost importance and has to be checked before you start the engine and operate the machine.

Moving onto the other side of the machine, the next item on our checklist is to check the level of the hydraulic oil of this machine. Before we do that, we need to first remove this guard to reach the hydraulic tank. After having removed this guard, we need to then remove the tank cap, before we can get to the hydraulic oil dipstick. After having removed this tank cap, we can now gain access to the hydraulic oil dipstick. And just as the engine oil dipstick, you will notice that there is a high level mark and a low level mark, so we need to ensure that the hydraulic oil is maintained between these two levels.

If the level is below the lower level, we have to top up the oil before we start the machine. Next, we need to inspect the air cleaner element of the air clean element of the forklift. To get the air cleaner element out, we need to first remove these clips. And remove the cap as shown, and then we can remove the air cleaner element out. It is important to note that these air cleaners do not get cleaned every single day. But they have to be cleaned according to the directions of the manufacturer. And it, it is also important to note that when you send compress air to clean the air element, the air cleaner element, we do not send it from the outside, but rather we send it from the inside of the air cleaner.

It is important to note that we have to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to note the frequency in which we clean these air cleaner elements. Based on the recommendations of the manufacturer, the frequency of cleaning the air filter or the air cleaner must be followed. Next, we move on to check the transmission oil level. And for us to check the transmission oil level, we first need to remove this cover. As you can see, this is a transmission of the machine. And for us to check the transmission oil level, we will have to use this dipstick.

We can remove the dipstick like this, and you will notice that this dipstick is very different to the dipsticks that we saw before. In this dipstick, there are two holes, one at the bottom and one at the top. And these two holes are the holes that are used to check whether the level of the transmission oil is at an appropriate level. Before starting the machine, this level should be above the bottom hole and this level can even go above the higher hole before you start the machine, and there is no issue if that happens.

Once the machine, is started this transmission oil will go to the hydraulic system of the transmission and thus the oil level will decrease, and at this point we need to check whether this oil level is in between these two holes. As long as it is between the lower level and the high level, there is no issue with the transmission oil level and we can press proceed further. After we check the transmission oil level, we can then check all the wiring connection that you see in the engine compartment. And also, to check whether there are any oil leaks from the hydraulic hoses that you may see in the engine compartment.

Next up we can observe the cooling fan and to check whether the cooling fan is in good condition. We also have to check the fan blades and to see if they are in perfect condition. Next up, we can also pay attention to the radiator core that is behind the fan, and to see if this core is filled with dirt and dust. And if you do see a lot of dirt and dust, you have to clean it with compressed air, otherwise the AC the engine can even get overheated.

So now we have checked everything in relation to before starting the machine, all the leaks, all the damages, all the, all the physical inspection that is required. And now we will have to do, another checkup similar to this after starting the machine. So let us proceed now to check what has to be done after you start this machine.

Let's look at what needs to be checked after we start the machine.

And before I get to that point, let me first show you how to properly get onto the machine. To do that, we have to make use of this handle that I'm holding now, the handle on the seat and keep one feet on the machine to establish the three point contact method, and then to safely get onto the forklift machine. And after we get onto the forklift machine and sit on the seat, we may then Fasten the seed belt to ensure maximum safety. The seat belt can be taken like this and fastened in this manner. And after we have done that, we can then place the key on the machine and start. And as soon as you start the machine, you will notice that there are certain error codes that show up on the dashboard.

As you can see, there are many error codes that show up in red color. First, you will notice the parking indicator on the left, most side, the battery indicator, and then the engine oil pressure indicator. And on the bottom, you can see the fuel level, the temperature, and the number of machine hours can also be seen on the dashboard.

The red colors that you see are not really error codes or things that you should be concerned about because these anywhere light up when you start the machine or when you place the key on the machine. But when you start the machine, if they still. Continue to indicate, then they can be considered as error codes. Usually if there are no error codes, this disappears from the dashboard. So, after ensuring that there are no error codes that come up on the dashboard after starting the machine, we can then see if all the lights are working properly.

We can start off by checking whether the parking lights are working properly. And as you can see, once the parking lights are turned on, they are working. Next, we may check the headlights, we can adjust them to the way we desire. And after checking the headlights, we may then check the signal lights. So the signal lights onto my left, both on the front and on the back can be checked simultaneously. And after having checked that the signal lights to my right on the front and on the back can be then checked. And after ensuring that these signal lights are working, we can then check the brake lights. And as you can see, as soon as I step onto the brake paddle, the brake lights should immediately get turned on.

Whenever I step on it, you will have to see if the brake lights also get turned on, and this is very important because we need to indicate to whoever who is behind us, whether it is another machine that is behind us to indicate that we are stopping and placing our foot on the brake paddle. And if this brake pad or the brake lights do not work, then it is a serious concern and must be replaced immediately. Failing to do so can lead to a serious accident. Before we start the machine, let us first check whether the horn is working perfectly. And once we check whether the horn is working perfectly, we can now start the machine and move on with what needs to be checked after we start the machine.

But before I do that, if you remember from a previous discussion, all the indicator lights that get showed on the dashboard has to disappear once we start the machine. And as you can see, all the indicators have been disappeared except for the parking light indicator. That is because the parking brake is still on, and as soon as I release the parking brake, you can see that the parking light indicator gets disappeared.

So now that we have ensured that all the error codes or the error lights / the indicator lights have been disappeared from the machine, we can safely start the machine.

If in case even one indicator, light is still persisting and turning on, we have to attend to that before we start the machine. So now let's look at the performance of each and every component of the machine.

Let's start with the fork plates, we need to ensure that these fork blades can move up and down properly without any issue. And as you can see, the fork plates are going up and down. And after you check the fork plates, we can then inspect the tilt cylinder. After the tilt cylinder is inspected, we can then check the functionality of the side shift of the blades. And thus, we have now checked the functionality of all of the components of the hydraulic system in the forklift machine.

Next, we need to now check whether the steering of the machine is working perfectly. And as you can see, the back wheel is moving with the steering wheel. And now we have confirmed the functionality of the steering as well. Next up, we need to check the functionality of the brake. To do that, we can move the machine slowly in front and place our foot on the brake pad and also on the reverse as well. And now we have ensured that even the brakes are working perfectly. So, these are the components or the items that needs to be checked when you start the machine.

Once you have checked all of this, we can ensure that the machine is working perfectly. And before we end it, there is another point that I need to mention. And that is that forklift machines do not come with the suspension, like any other vehicle, we will not find shock absorbers, we will not find coil Springs or leave Springs or anything of that nature in a forklift. So, because of this reason, the operator can actually develop a back pain. So, these forklift suspensions are actually embedded in the seat itself to ensure that this operator has comfort. The suspension, is determined by the weight of the operator. And according to the weight of the operator, this particular knob can be adjusted so that the operator can find his sweet spot and be comfortable during operation.

As you can see, this knob will get turned, and the number of kilo kilograms of the operator will be shown on this node, so you can adjust it as you desire. The seat can also be moved back front and back by using this particular lever as shown. And even the back-rest of this seat can be adjusted. The back-rest can be adjusted such that the operator's back is kept straight based on his or her comfort level.

So, now we have checked every single item that must be checked before operating the machine. But since we are all human, we may forget, or even miss certain things in this checklist or step by step process. So, for that reason, we have with us a checklist and we will be giving you a checklist so that all these steps are listed perfectly, and you can go with each of these steps, one by one and ensure everything is checked and marked perfectly.

Finally, before I end, there is one more thing that needs to be mentioned, and that is when getting down from the machine, we need to follow the three-point contact method that I showed when getting onto the machine. And if you use the same method, when getting down from the machine, we can get down in the most safe manner and carry on with our work. Thank you so much for watching.