FixaForklift.com

Some common Forklift terms and abbreviations.

Truck, jeep, high-low, lift: Forklift

Contactor: An electrical relay that supplies power to different systems of the forklift.

Controller: The computer or module that controls a major forklift system, such as traction or hydraulics.

Capacity: The overall safe lifting capacity of a forklift with all specifications such as fork length, truck total weight, attachments, etc taken into account. This information is on the data plate.

Data Plate: The information plate attached to every unit. Information on the data plate contains but may not be limited to truck lifting capacity, fork length, model number, serial number, type (LP or Electric), lift max height.

Fault Code: Error codes that may be dismayed on the dash. Similar the trouble codes on a passenger vehicle.

Hour Meter: The numeric value in hours of the forklift. Most electric trucks have 3 values- total on time, traction motor operating time and hydraulic / lifting function time.

IC Truck: IC stand for Internal Combustion. This is all equipment that has an engine and is not electric.

PDI: Predelivery inspection

BDI: Battery Indicator

The clock: Hour meter

Mixer: The vaporizer. The vaporizer atomizes Liquid Propane with air into fumes for easy ignition.

LP: Liquid Propane

NG: Natural Gas

Negative: Similar to ground in the electrical circuit of a passenger vehicle. A ground is a connection from the negative side of the battery to the vehicle frame or chassis. Since a fully electric forklift that is not a 12 volt LP gas internal combustion engine unit does not connect the negative side of the battery to the frame, it it just called negative.

OHG: Overhead Guard. The fixture on a forklift over the drivers head to protect him from falling loads.

LBR: Load Back Rest. The fixture that bolts to the carriage to prevent loads from falling back on the forks into the driver compartment.

Carriage: The carriage is mounted on the front of the forklift, it holds the fork's or any attachment. The LBR is also mounted to it. The carriage contains six rollers and uses a set of chains and a cylinder to lift when actuating the lift function. 

Mast: The mast comes in various sizes, length's, and widths. Depending on the size of the truck the mast may contain up to four lift cylinders. The mast holds the carriage, the chains, lift cylinders, and hoses. A single stage mast will only lift small ware house type height as opposed to a triplex mast that can lift about 50 feet in the air. The mast should never be drilled into due to the safety of the structure, but can be welded on by the manufacture's permission.

Hydraulic hose: Hoses that carry hydraulic fluid to either an orifice of a mechanism to function. All hydraulic hoses should have a pressure rating (PSI) or in many cases Newton Meter's as well (Nt Mt). The rule is when replacing hoses you can go up in PSI rating but never under the rating of what the hose is labeled at. It is also a good note to stay with the same diameter of the hose because when trying to mount a slightly bigger one it might not sit on the pulley or might rub when trying to roll over.

Pneumatic tire: There are a couple of different types of tires for lift trucks, one being the pneumatic tire, meaning it is filled with air for a sturdy ride since forklift suspension is solid. To remove and replace this tire you would need a seal breaker and a press.

Solid non marking tire: A solid non marking tire is made from polyurethane and has a white color to it. It is used typically in flat pavement situations, and they are called non marking because they dont leave marks on the floor and are not dark in color. The wear indicator of the tire is on the sidewall itself, as well as the tire size, if you cannot find this information on the tire, usually there is a separate data pate concerning this information

Solid marking tire: This type of tire is a little less in cost and usually black, yet durable, the size and wear indicator is also on the side of the tire.

Foam filled tire: Foam filled tires are an add on to tires, they take any pneumatic tire and inject foam insulation inside, typically found on smaller person carriers but can be used on any air filled tire.