TextIt can be hard figuring out what is the right part number to order when you need to order forklift parts. Every day we get a TON of phone calls, emails, text messages, chats asking for help determining what part number to order.
It’s helpful to know what some of the parts and components are called on a forklift when you need to order forklift parts. In this post, we’ve split up the forklift into nine major sections. Scroll below to learn what some of the important components of your forklift are called. That way, you’ll be a pro at identifying components on your forklift. These useful images will help you figure out what each part of a forklift is and what it looks like.
Main View
In the picture above you’ll see a typical forklift along with the major components of the forklift. This forklift above is configured as a propane/LPG powered forklift as seen by the LPG tank mounted on the back of the forklift.
About half of the forklifts built in the USA are electric powered forklifts. Those forklifts will look nearly identical to the forklift pictured above, they just won’t have an LPG tank mounted on the back of the forklift. 3 wheeled forklifts will look nearly the same as well.
1: Mast
Forklift masts come in a variety of different configurations. Forklifts with 3 stage masts are the most commonly sold forklift in the USA. The mast in the above diagram has 3 sections to it, also referred to as stages.
Our most popular request relating to masts is for seal kits for mast cylinders. Seal kits are also known as packing kits. When ordering seal kits for lifting cylinders, it’s useful to know the difference between the main cylinder and the free lift cylinder. Some forklift manufacturers will refer to a primary (main) lift cylinder and a secondary (free) lift cylinder. Check out the image above and you’ll understand better the terminology and difference between those cylinders.
2: Carriage
The carriage on a forklift is where the forks are mounted. The carriage will have rollers (also known as mast bearings, or mast rollers) which are nested inside the mast channel and roll up and down the mast when the carriage is raised.
Most forklifts will have a sideshifter. The sideshifter moves the forks from side to side and helps the forklift driver position the forks inside the pallet. A load backrest (LBR) extension helps keep the load in one place.
Carriages will slide up and down the forklift mast using carriage rollers also known as forklift mast load rollers. There are hydraulic hoses connecting the side shifter to the hydraulic system. Often those hoses get snagged by product being lifted, often those rubber hoses are replaced with metal tubes offering a more durable connection and preventing downtime.
An optional load back rest prevents and loose boxes on the pallet from sliding back.
3: Front Axle
The front axle on a forklift is also referred to as the drive axle. Many common repair items are contained in the drive axle including one of the most popular wear items on a forklift, the brake system.
To access the brakes, the wheel must be removed, then the brake drum removed, finally the brake system is exposed.
3b. Brake System
The vast majority of forklifts utilize drum brakes. In the diagram on the left, the complete system is shown. Usually the forklift master cylinder is located somewhere else in the forklift, it can be located close to the brake pedal but usually is found elsewhere. The parking brake with its own cables is typically mounted on the dash of the forklift.
Each forklift brake assembly contains a wheel cylinder, brake shoes, and hardware and springs connecting the cable to the wheel cylinder. The wheel cylinder actuates a piston which pushes against the hardware which in turn pushes the brake shoes against the brake drum. When replacing brake shoes on a forklift, it’s a good practice to inspect the hardware for wear and replacing what’s worn out.
4. Cooling System
Radiators on internal combustion powered forklifts can be found behind or nested inside the counterweight of the forklift. It’s for this reason that replacing a radiator is typically a difficult job.
Radiators are either made from copper, steel, or aluminum with plastic components. The radiator will be covered with a shroud (where a fan is often contained), and there will typically be an upper and lower hose connecting the radiator with the engine.
5. Steer Axle
Forklift steer axles are usually custom built for each forklift model. Many forklift components are ‘off the shelf’ meaning the components are built by a third party and often used by a variety of forklift brands. For example, Akebono makes brake systems for Hyster, Yale, Toyota, Nissan, and Komatsu. Engine builder General Motors builds engines for Clark, Cat, Hyster, even Toyota. However, when it comes to steer axles, each forklift builder pretty much makes their own.
Forklift steer axles all mostly share the same design. There will be a beam, a steer cylinder nested inside the beam, and either dog bone style pins or tie rod ends connecting to the spindle. The spindle, also called a knuckle, then connects to the hub and tire assembly.
If the steering on your forklift is sloppy there may be a few different reasons. Often rebuilding the steer axle will solve this issue, Intella offers complete rebuilt steer axles at a competitive price. If sloppy steering is tolerated too long, the cast steer axle beam will wear out. Replacing the spindle won’t do much in that case as the complete beam will need to be rebuilt.
6. LPG Tank + System
Forklifts using propane powered engines are the most popular internal combustion forklift in the USA and Canada. The most popular system was manufactured by Impco and utilizes a few parts that are pretty easily serviced.
The forklift LPG vaporizer, also referred to as a regulator is the heart of the system. Older forklifts will use an Impco Model J or Cobra. Newer forklifts will use a Nikki or Aisan regulator.
The filter unit is usually referred to as VFF-30. The LPG tank is usually a 33.5 pound steel or aluminum tank. Carburetors are usually made by Impco as well though Japanese models will use either Aisan or Nikki components.
If your forklift was built before around 2010, it will typically use an Impco model J and VFF-30 set up. Both units have rebuildable components inside them, depending on the location of the units inside your forklift, it might be easier to simply replace the entire unit.