What to Look for When Purchasing a Used Forklift

Forklifts are used to move a variety of items from one place to another, such as materials at a construction site or pallets of product at a warehouse, as well as for loading and unloading crated cargo from shipping containers. In fact, forklifts are regularly chosen over other types of equipment for their ability to lift and handle materials of heavy weight. Many forklifts can lift anywhere from 2,000 pounds to over 100,000 pounds, which is why you must be absolutely sure you’re getting a quality machine when buying used.

Before making any purchases, test and inspect the forklift from top to bottom, and check the inside and outside in person. Here are five important things to check for when looking at used forklifts for sale in Texas:

• Forks and mast: Face the front of the forklift so you can check the forks for cracks, bends or other visible damage caused by overloading. Minor bends in the forks can be straightened, but deep cracks can make it unsafe to lift heavy loads. Next, inspect the heels for signs of wear, and ensure the thickness of the heel forks is close to the thickness of the upright fork shank. The mast should be free of cracks and welds. Make sure the mast pins, tilt and side-shift cylinders are secure and not leaking.
• Mast rails, cylinders and lift chains: Check the mast rails for cracks and welds as well as signs of excessive wear on the mast rollers. Looking at the lift chain, take note of any damaged or missing link anchor pins. Hoses should run parallel to the chains. Ensure that hydraulic fluid is not leaking from any of the hoses; the hoses and lift chains need to exhibit equal tension distribution. Look at the tilt cylinders that attach to the forklift carriage, checking for signs of damage, leaks and missing or loose bolts.
• Forklift body: Take a walk around the forklift and keep your eyes open for damage to the frame, cowling or canopy. The canopy is the part that protects the operator from a dropped load or a rollover. If the forklift has an enclosed cab, make sure the windows are present and not damaged. Look at the chassis and tires for issues.
• Cab: Get in the cab and play with the seat, seatbelt, steering wheel and other cab components. Everything in the cab needs to be secure and fixed into its rightful position. When you start it up, listen for odd sounds coming from the engine.
• Engine: Run the engine a little while, then open the engine compartment and check for leaks, debris buildup and cracks or other damage on hoses. Belts should be tight, not worn or cracked, and check the condition of the battery as well as its connections.

Here at V-Bar Equipment Company, we sell both new and used parts for all makes and models of forklifts. If you are interested in looking at quality used forklifts for sale in Texas, we offer these as well. Call us today for information regarding any of our forklift products!

Categorised in: Forklift Dealer

This post was written by Writer