Forklift Components in More Detail
There are hundreds of parts which make up a forklift. The forklifts main parts include the truck frame, the engine components, the tilt cylinders, the overhead guard and the wheels. In addition, a lift truck consists of a range of attachments. All the components making up a forklift are all essential because they work together to make the machine's operation possible. The following paragraphs describe in detail some of the forklift components.
The Overhead Guard - this guard forms the forklift truck's metal roof. It sits on top of the cab area and protects the equipment operator while he or she is sitting and driving. The overhead guard ensures that nothing falling from above onto the truck will harm the driver or damage the controls inside the cab. The overhead guard is vital to the frame assembly on various models.
The Mast - the mast is a vertical assembly made of interlocking rails and mounted either to the front axle or the forklift frame. The mast provides lateral stability and allows the forks to move upwards and downwards. The interlocking rails could either have bushings or bushings as guides. There are a couple of ways the mast may be operated: chain operated with motive power provided by a hydraulic motor or hydraulically by one or more hydraulic cylinders.
Lift Truck Carriage - The carriage is the component which the forks and other types of attachments are mounted to. The carriage is in fact directly connected to the hydraulic cylinder and is connected by chains. In order to enable the forks to be raised and lowered, the carriage may have either rollers or bushings to guide it in the interlocking mast rails.
Load Back Rest - a back rest is a metal rack that keeps a load from falling backwards while the carriage is lifted to its full height. The back rest is either bolted or welded on to the carriage.
Forklift Attachments - a range of attachments can be fixed to the front of the lift truck. The most common attachment is forks. Also, there are L-shaped members, rollers, rotators, pole handlers, roll clamps and so forth. These various attachments are handy for transporting different types of loads.