Recent tests undertaken by leading leaf chain manufacturer FB Chain have demonstrated that the right choice of lubricant will have a dramatic impact on the performance of a forklift truck chain, as the company's Peter Church explains.
Grease is the word
Because a forklift truck's chain is classed as a 'wear' item, the cost of replacing a worn or damaged one is unlikely to be covered as part of a lift truck contract maintenance package.
However, there are steps that a truck user can take to ensure that the chain - which, of course, controls the critical mast lifting and lowering functions - continues to perform at its peak for the longest possible time.
For example, it is particularly important that chains are lubricated at regular intervals: the life of an adequately lubricated chain is some 60 times greater than that of a dry-running chain and even temporary dry-running will shorten a chain's working life considerably.
But picking the correct lubricant for leaf chain can make a big difference to a chain's performance. However, this is not as straightforward as perhaps it should be - largely because most chain lubricants currently used are actually designed for transmission or motorcycle applications! |
