Maintaining Your Lift Trucks And Tables

By Author: Magliner
Total Articles: 3
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A portable lift truckor table is useful for lifting and raising products in a number of different industries and settings. Importantly, they are tools to maintain the safety of your workers, as they ergonomically move objects without imposing back and body strain. Two common issues which face hydraulic lifts in particular are drifting and coasting. Addressing these, as well keeping up with general maintenance, will extend the life of your lift trucks and tables and promote continual care for your workers’ safety.

Reducing Drift

Drifting occurs in a hydraulic lift table when hydraulic fluid seeps through the internal holding container and allows the raised table to gradually drift downwards. This can become a problem when a steady height is required. According to national standards, ¾ of an inch of drift is permissible over one hour of 36 inches of lift raising. While many manufacturers hold their production to even higher standards, drift can still be a common problem.

The most effective way to reduce drift is to opt for a portable lift truck which includes a feature for minimum drift. These products ...
... should use a secondary container for hydraulic fluid which catches drippage that seeps through the primary container. This mechanism can reduce drift significantly and extend the life of your lift truck.

Minimize Coast

The converse of drift is coast. Coasting occurs when the lift table is raising and the hydraulics continue to propel the platform after the motor has stopped. As long as the weight of the load remains the same, the amount of coast will continue to be the same. When the load weight is different, however, the costing amount will vary inversely with weight. That is to say, lighter loads experience greater coast, which can be problematic, again, when consistent height is desired.

Fortunately, many lift truck suppliers offer a no coast option. This mechanism incorporates a switch which closes off the hydraulic fluid in time with the shut off of the motor. The no coast feature can also reduce drifting as well.

General Maintenance

Any portable lift truck, however, can be utilized more effectively over time with simple regular maintenance. The most important components of your lift to inspect are the moving parts. This may include shafts and wheels, for example. Additionally, any hydraulic tubing or pumps should be regularly checked. Filters, flow controls, limit switches, and any electric components should also be attended.

With these maintenance tips and special regulatory features, the life of your lift trucks and tables can be extended for continued use. Most importantly, taking care of your equipment means taking care of your team by giving workers the tools they need to perform their tasks safely and efficiently.
For more details: Portable Lift Truck