Thompson and Johnson Equipment Company

Thompson & Johnson Equipment Co., Inc.

December 2004

Check Your Chains

OSHA 1910.178 (q)(7) states that industrial trucks shall be examined before being placed in service, and shall not be placed in service if the examination shows any condition adversely affecting the safety on the vehicle. Such examination shall be done at least daily. Where industrial trucks are used on a multiple shift basis, they shall be examined before each shift. Defects when found shall be immediately reported and corrected.

Chains are just one part of that examination, but one that should be addressed in more detail. Chains are what hold your loads in the air, so extra attention should be given to them. Besides checking for obvious damages, such as a loose or broken chain or cracked plates, additional inspections should be performed. Chains are made up of hardened steel plates and pins, and there are generally two kinds of chains used on a forklift; Leaf and Roller.

Most complaints of unsatisfactory chain performance can be traced to poor maintenance. As a dealer of Crown forklifts, our Crown service manuals state that chains should be inspected and lubricated every 100 hours of truck operation, and every 50 hours if that operation is extremely corrosive.

When inspecting your chains, look for chain stretching. Stretching is a normal occurance, and excessive stretch can be detected by using a chain-wear gauge with Crown part number 106440. Other items to look for are rust or corrosion, which will reduce the load carrying capabilities. Corrosion can cause side-plate cracking on a chain link. Also look for tight joints on a chain, as they can cause increased friction and premature wear if the chain does not flex freely.

Forklift operators should watch their forks as they leave a pallet to insure the chains are taut and not slack. If an operator pulls out of a pallet when the chains are slack, the forks can drop with such force that the chains will break. Do NOT repair forklift chains— they should be replaced! Never cut out worn sections and splice in new pieces. If the chains are a matched set, then both chains should be replaced.

Is Your Forklift Safe?

Would it pass an OSHA inspection? We can check your lift chains for wear and damage, along with other important safety checks and inspections.

We are offering free safety inspections for the month of January 2005. We will check your forklifts and give you a written report on our findings.

Safety reports include:

Inspection of all safety equipment
Inspection of wear items such as chains and forks
Inspection of "LPG" required items (if applicable)

The format of the report can be customized to your requirements, but typically includes a list of each forklift with corresponding details on the items in need of attention. We can also include an itemized list of the costs associated with repairing these items.

This is a confidential inspection, for your use only. Interested in scheduling a visit? Contact your local Thompson & Johnson office to schedule an inspection.

Crown Walkie/Rider Pallet Trucks
Regular Caster Adjustment Optimizes Performance

To optimize and maintain truck performance, casters must be adjusted periodically to account for tire wear or replacement. A properly adjusted caster system offers the following advantages:

Good lateral stability, especially when making turns
Reduced drive/load/caster wheel wear
Optimum handling
Optimum braking and traction.

Historically, proper caster adjustment can be a tedious, time-consuming process of inserting or removing shims to obtain correct adjustment. The new "Shim-Free" Adjustable Caster from Crown was designed to simplify the adjustment process by eliminating shims. It is now standard for the PE 3500 and PR 3500 Series and also fits existing or older models. For more information on Crown trucks or "Shim-Free" Adjustable Caster Service Kits, please contact a representative from Thompson & Johnson.

Crown Is Number One in the Industry for Electric Trucks

At Thompson & Johnson, we are proud to offer our customers Crown products. Crown customers know that the products perform better than any other truck on the market and come with comprehensive services and support. This combination allows Crown to deliver the highest value in the industry. It's this recognition of value that makes Crown the number one electric lift truck brand in America, and we are offering it to you. Crown's full line of proven, award-winning lift trucks, dedicated people and unmatched service can positively impact your bottom line. Call a Thompson & Johnson representative to learn more about the Crown products we can offer you.

Crown RR 5200 Series Reach Truck Designed for the Operator

Crown is known for the human factor, and the RR 5200 Series family is no exception. Common performance features across the family prove the benefits of designing this series from the operator's perspective. For over 30 years, Crown has continued to enhance the performance features in the operator compartment to reduce fatigue. Reduced fatigue means more productivity.

The Crown side-stance operator compartment with its padded surfaces, suspended floorboard and superior thermal management work together to eliminate discomfort and help reduce fatigue. These features also maximize operator control, flexibility and productivity. The Multi-Task Control Handle adds to operator stability and supports faster load handling by blending tasks such as travel, lift and reach.

The ergonomic design has been proven to make the complete range of reach truck functions easier for operators to learn and use. In addition, hydraulic functions, such as lift, reach and sideshift, are infinitely variable to provide precise, smooth control. A lower step height on the RR 5200 Series is another benefit of the human factor design, facilitating entry and exit for productivity improvements.

For more information on how to make your operators more comfortable and productive with the RR 5200 series, please contact a representative from Thompson & Johnson.

If you would like additional information about items mentioned in this newsletter, call us at 315-437-2881 or send e-mail to sales@thompsonandjohnson.com.
Thompson & Johnson Equipment Co., Inc. • 6926 Fly Road • East Syracuse, NY 13057 • 315-437-2881
www.thompsonandjohnson.com
Published by Data Key Communications, LLC	Powered by