There are a number of things that you need to check out before you decide to buy a used forklift. They can be dangerous if you don’t check them out completely. You want to make sure that they are safe for you and your employees to use.
There are many places that you can go to buy a used forklift. If you want the best, you can see the Sun Equipment Used Forklifts for Sale to get one. They will make sure that they are safe for you and your employees.
This article will help you to check out used forklifts to make sure that you find one that is safe. It will give you things that you should look for before you buy. See all of them so that you can make sure that you and your employees are safe.
Things to Look Out for When You Buy a Used Forklift
1. Check for Fork Damage
You want to check the forks carefully for any damage. You will look for bends or cracks in the forks, as well as any other signs of wear. The cracks will be the most troublesome because they tell you that the forks will need to be replaced soon. Make sure that you also check the heel of the fork blade because this spot is often overlooked.
2. Look for Breaks in the Lift Chains
The next thing that you need to look at is the lift chains. You want to inspect them to make sure that there are no pins missing or links: https://www.tvh.com/blog/5-tips-to-easily-maintain-your-forklift-chain. While you are checking this, make sure that there are no welds or welding marks along the mast. If there are, this will be a week area, especially if the welding was a poor job.
3. Does the Mast Run Smoothly?
You will want the person who is selling the forklift to raise the forks high enough that it extends to a second or third mast. If there are any signs of any hiccups in this process, it means that there is an issue with the chain or that the mast rollers have not been maintained as it should be. When the mast rollers are worn, they will be more of an oval shape and not perfectly round.
4. Check Out the Tires
You will want to check out the tires to see if there is any chunking of the tire or cracks in them. Chunking will look as if there has been a bite taken out of the tire. Cracking in the tires will also be dangerous for your forklift. You also want to check out the tread on the tire – if it is missing or low this is a problem. It should not be below the wear line – if there is no wear line, it shouldn’t be below the words on the tire.
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Is There Life Left in the Battery?
It is difficult to determine the number of years that is left in the battery just by looking at it. You could ask the dealer how long the battery has been in the forklift and how long the forklift was used. The battery usually has a life of about five years – if the forklift has been used for two or more shifts a day during that time, you should measure the time as twice as much. See here for information about battery life. For example, if the forklift had been used for two shifts for two years, you would say that it had four years of use.
5. Is the Engine in Good Shape?
You need to run the forklift for a couple of minutes and then lift the engine cover. You should look for leaks or cracks in any of the hoses. Check the oil – if it is low, there may be a leak. Check the belts to see that they are in good condition. You also want to check the brakes and the transmission fluid.
6. Are There Leaks?
You want to check all areas for leaks – these areas include the mast cylinders along the mast, the transmission, and the radiator. You also need to check emissions by smelling the air while it is running. If you smell a lot of carbon dioxide in a diesel engine, there is probably a leak somewhere in the emissions system.
7. Do the Safety Features Work?
You will also want to make sure that the seatbelts, horns, seat adjustments, lights, brakes, and all levers are working properly. These are safety features, and they should all work to make sure that the operator is safe.
8. Check the Odometer Readings
You need to also check the odometer reading and judge to see if it is accurate. If it is an older machine and it has low hours on it, the odometer has probably been reset. There are ways to see if it is accurate with different formulas that will tell you what you need to know. This is the least of your worries, but it will help you to determine how much life you have left in the forklift.
Conclusion
There are many things that you need to check to make sure that a used forklift is safe for you and your employees. If you check these things before you buy, you can make sure that you all stay safe and don’t get hurt using the forklift.
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