While going through professional training to obtain forklift certification in NJ, you will get to learn and know the ways to maintain a forklift truck. Nothing will work flawlessly everlastingly if it is ignored, and machines will operate well if they’re correctly maintained and serviced. Keep this checklist in mind to ensure your forklift truck is well-maintained.

Keep it clean

Cleaning the forklift truck every day is the simplest thing an operator can do for its maintenance. Take an additional five minutes at the beginning of the shift to wipe down the forklift from front to back and top to bottom. Doing this will get rid of excess debris, dirt, and oil that can work its way into the vital part of the forklift truck and have an effect on the performance. Wiping down the forklift will get you up close and personal with it and open your eyes to potential issues you may otherwise miss.

Test the brakes

A lot of things that you would wish to check and have been working correctly on a car are still applicable to a forklift truck. They’re alike machines with a number of similar components such as brakes. The same as you would drive a car with little to no stopping power, you are not supposed to operate a forklift truck that operates that way, either.

At the time of getting training to operate the forklift truck and to obtain forklift certification in NJ, you will come to know that outstanding braking is required for every forklift truck due to its heavy weight, size, and load capacity.

Always keep in mind that class I, IV, and V sit-down counterbalance forklift trucks have brakes just on wheels on the front axle. The brakes need testing regularly to ensure you’ll be capable of stopping in an emergency. Any concern with the brakes can lead to a serious issue.

Change the oil

It is usually recommended that you get the oil changed every three months on a forklift truck. It is an easy thing to do that will help you keep the engine running well and increase its lifespan. However, if you fail to do this, it’ll result in engine sludge buildup, corrosion, and poor performance. Regularly changing the oil filter and oil on forklift trucks is a good practice to keep it running smoothly.

Test the tires

The tires on a forklift truck can wear out fast, particularly if it is operated on the same path continually. That sort of repetitive motion can cause the tires to wear unevenly on one side or the other. The tires on an indoor forklift truck that operates in a warehouse are typically made of rubber molded to a steel band, and they’re solid with no air in them.

After a while, the tires begin to have chunks taken out of them from hitting holes or seams in the concrete. Those missing chunks make for a very bumpy ride and poor performance. The instructors for training to obtain forklift certification in NJ will advise that tire pressure should be the same for tires on the same axle.