Ask the Expert

Don’t forget the forks!

Forklift forks are arguably the most critical component of a forklift truck.  After all, what’s a forklift truck without forks?  They’re also exposed to abrasion and wear and tear every day, from steel shelving, pallets, concrete floors and more.  This can cause forks to gradually become thinner and thinner, potentially leading to a serious failure when they exceed their stated load capacity. 

Daily inspections by forklift operators can help ensure the safety of forklift forks by monitoring their thickness and checking for any cracks, bends or distortion.  Some forks can be easily straightened or repaired depending on their degree of distortion or the damage incurred.  A licensed forklift technician can help identify weaknesses, distortion or cracks in forklift forks and can help you make a plan for service or replacement of forks if you need it.  Beware – any amateur or in-house modification of forks can reduce the fork strength drastically and may result in fork failure or an accident.  When you need to replace your forks you should choose high quality forks from a supplier you trust. 

Another serious consideration is to never overload forklift forks or exceed the load capacity in any way.  This will help prevent excessive strain or wear and tear on the forks.  Operators should keep the load within the limits of the recommend manufacturer capacities, and it is important for fork truck operators to know that capacity of their machinery and its parts.  This is important because any overloading can weaken or even bend the forks. 

The load should be positioned as per the load center recommended on the chart supplied by the manufacturer. The load limit of the fork truck would decrease as the load center is raised. You should avoid adding any excess weight for counterbalancing the forklift.

Forklift forks are an essential component to the safety and security of your forklift truck.  It’s important to ensure that an inspection of forklift forks be included in your operator’s daily inspection checklist.

It may not feel like it in some areas of the country, but according to Puxatawney Phil (the world’s most famous groundhog), spring will be arriving on March 20^th this year!

If your Bobcat compact tractor has been sitting idle over the winter, there are a few basic steps you can follow to get it ready for the upcoming spring season.  We recommend the following “to do” items for anyone who wants to make sure their tractor is ready for work this spring.

1. Check the engine oil, diesel fuel, coolant and front axle fluids.  Bobcat makes it easy for any owner to check and fill these critical fluid levels.  The engine and hydraulic dipsticks are easy to get to, the front axle uses a sight gauge and the coolant reservoir is situated conveniently under the hood.
2. Check all the filters and replace them as needed, following your service schedule.
3. Check carefully for any leaks and make repairs or tighten fittings where necessary.
4. Property inflate the tires.  Refer to your Bobcat compact tractor’s operator manual for the correct pressure.
5. Check the battery for corrosion and clean it.  Check the electrolyte levels in the cells and replace the battery or components as needed.
6. Check all electrical functions on your tractor, including work lights, hazard flashers and turn signals.
7. Lubricate all of the grease zerk fittings.
8. Check all hardware for loose or missing pieces.  Tighten or replace them as necessary.

It’s also very important to closely follow your recommended service schedule.  You can find your service schedule on a decal under your hood or in the Operation & Maintenance Manual.  Contact us at Williams Machinery if you need additional help.  We have parts and service departments ready to help you get your compact tractor ready for the spring work season!

By Don Pollard,
Parts and Inventory Control Specialist

Dear Don,
What is the difference between an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) supplied filter and an aftermarket one?  It appears that I can save some money by ordering the aftermarket one and I’m told there’s not much difference.  My machine is no longer on warranty, so why should I even be worried about buying the genuine dealer filters?
- All Filtered Out

Well, All Filtered Out, OEM supplied filters are generally superior in quality, absolutely meet all your machine’s requirements for its designed operating conditions and are backed by the manufacturer to a greater extent than if you purchase a filter elsewhere.  While sometimes the savings of a few dollars may seem attractive, it’s hard to visually see the difference in quality between OEM and aftermarket filters.  Often the difference may lie at the microscopic level or be hidden to the naked eye (in the case of a metal housed filter).  Some aftermarket filters are designed to fit more than one application and although they may meet minimum specifications, they are not necessarily supplied with your exact machine in mind.  This can make them hard to install in tight applications or not function as well in extreme operating conditions.  As for any cost savings, if your filter plugs and bypasses or fails and allows contaminants to enter your engine or hydraulics, the damage and shortened life may not be noticeable for a long period of time.  In the end, how do you calculate if you have actually saved money if your machine’s life expectancy is reduced or a breakdown results?  The few dollars you have saved has now cost you or your company hundreds, if not thousands, in lost productivity and downtime.

While there are some good quality aftermarket filters and even some that may be identical to the OEM version, often it can be a gamble and in the event of a failure seeking recourse from a aftermarket supplier may find you on your own.  Manufacturers have often worked hard to utilize their expertise and buying power to supply the most cost effective filter solutions while meeting all of your machine’s specifications and operating requirements, without the need to gamble on the choice.

Take a look at the differences between buying an OEM oil filter vs. an aftermarket version, in this case for a Bobcat loader.  These are some good examples of items you may not necessarily see at first glance when comparing two filters, but can drastically affect your equipment’s performance and lifespan.  These same differences can be found on your forklift, loader car or truck.

If you have any questions or want to discuss this further, don’t hesitate to drop me a line at dpollard@williamsmachinery.com.