TextHyster forklifts are one of the toughest and most beloved forklift brands on the market. One reason that Hyster forklifts are considered so reliable is that they use tried and true designs that have been tested over the years. After all, Hyster has been building forklifts since the 1940s! We’re not affiliated with the Hyster Company but we know a lot about Hyster forklifts and we like sharing our knowledge.
Hyster has used a steer axle design for many years. In fact, one of the most popular models Hyster builds today still utilizes a tied rod end (part number 0185870) that was used in models built over 40 years ago!
Hyster has used a few different designs of steer axle, in this post we’ll describe the main difference between the linkage that fits between the forklift steer cylinder and the spindle (also known as knuckle).
On the image on the left, you see a circled ‘link‘. Often in the industry we refer to these as ‘dog bones’ since they sort of look like a dog bone. On the image on the right, you see a circled “tie rod end”.
Which design is better? Well, one retired mechanic we spoke with prefers the tie rod design. He stated that with the dog bone style often the bushings wear out faster than a tie rod end would wear out. He felt the tie rod end was tougher and lasted long.
What do you think? What design lasts longer?