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1.
How often do I need to have my electric or propane
gas forklift serviced?
It
depends on how often you are using it and under what
circumstances (for example, a forklift that is used 24
hours per day, 7 days per week will needs ervice more
often than one used only 2 days per week).
In general, however, we recommend a lube service
at least every 1000 hours or every four months -
whichever comes first. Return to
Top
2.
Why should I buy a used forklift versus a new one?
Forklifts
depreciate just like cars do. The moment it is
taken off the lot, the forklift immediately goes down
in value. However, many companies prefer purchasing
new because of the warranties. With Boman's Better
Than New program, we insure that you will receive
a fine working machine that carries a longer warranty
than a new forklift. You get the best of both worlds.
And, if for some reason you really prefer a brand
new forklift, we can offer new, as well. Return
to Top
3.
Why
should I purchase an electric forklift versus a
LPG (liquid propane gas) forklift?
If
your business is involved in working in cold (cold
storage or freezers, for example), you must use an
electric forklift. An LPG forklift emits gas fumes and
heat that will actually raise the level of the
temperature in the area in which it is being operated.
If, however, you are using your forklift outside where
it could possibly rain or snow, LPG is strongly
recommended as an electric forklift can short out if it
gets wet. In general, an electric forklift is quieter
and does not emit fumes, but requires recharging time
(which could be substantial, depending on how much it
has been used and the voltage of electricity available),
while an LPG requires that you get the tank refilled (we
recommend that you always have a full spare tank on the
premises). Return
to Top
4.
What exactly is PM service?
PM,
or Preventative Maintenance, is a program Boman offers.
After determining how much you use your forklift,
we suggest how often you should have basic service
performed (oil and filter change, battery check,
fluids topped off as well as a host of other items).
We set up your service automatically and come out
to service your forklift on a regular basis. By servicing
your forklift before you have trouble, we can
catch many things (a worn belt, for example) that
can be taken care of before it becomes a
problem and your forklift stops
running. PM service is less expensive
than a service call and it only takes us about
an hour. Return to Top
5.
How often does my forklift need to have new tires?
It
depends on how often you use it, how heavy your loads
are and whether you only run it on smooth surfaces
such as concrete or outside on gravel or uneven
surfaces. As a general rule, when there is less than
one inch from the lettering on the tires to the top
of the tires, it is time to change the tires. Remember
than changing tires can actually reduce fatigue
on the transmission of your forklift as well as
operator fatigue. After a tire is worn 40%, the forklift
and the driver are absorbing over 84% of the shock
if it's being run over a rough surface. The transmission
has to work much harder to turn the tires the
same amount of rotation, which can result in a breakdown.
Changing tires is an expensive way to
keep your forklift and operator in
good condition. Return
to Top
6.
What's the difference between the Boman B2000
pallet jack and the Boman B4500 pallet
jack?
Both
pallet jacks are heavy duty, 5500# pallet jacks that
work with a hydraulic pump handle and lift pallets
up off the ground to approximately 8 inches. The
B4500 Ultra Low Profile jack, however, has a lowered
height of 2-5/8 inches for specialized applications
and pallets. The B2000 lowered height is 2.9
inches, which is useable in the majority of
applications.
Return to Top
7,
Do you carry electric pallet jacks?
Yes,
contact us for pricing. Return to Top
8.
Do you have used pallet jacks?
From
time to time we do have inventory of used pallet jacks.
Contact us for pricing and availability. Return
to Top
9.
What kind of training do I have to have to operate a
forklift?
You are
required to have a standard state driver's license as
well as on the job operator training to drive a
forklift. In addition, OSHA (Occupational Safety and
Health Administration) also requires that each forklift
operator undergo Forklift Safety training. This training
insures that each operator can drive a forklift in a
safe manner that will not endanger co-workers or company
property. OSHA will conduct surprise inspections from
time to time and fines can range up to $7000.00 for
non-compliance. For more information, refer to OSHA's
website at www.osha.gov. Boman Forklift offers Forklift
Operator Safety training at either our location or
yours. Please refer to our Training page or call us for
more information. Return
to Top
10.
When should I replace my forklift tires?
Some
of the common replies to this question are:
-
When the tire is worn into the sidewall
lettering.
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When the tire is worn to the sidewall center bar.
-
When I can see sparks from the base band.
The
truth is there is no clear-cut answer to this question.
When replacing a tire you need to consider the
ramifications of waiting too long to replace a tire.
Each application is different and so each may
have a different point where the disadvantages over come
any of the benefits of continuing to use a worn tire.
The
worn out point cannot be determined by the location of
the sidewall lettering or center bar, alone.
Since each tire manufacture uses different size
lettering and the sidewall height differs based on the
size of the tire (for example a 21X7X15 has a shorter
sidewall than a 14X41/2X8, but it is a much bigger tire)
this should be used more as a guide than the determining
factor. Even
the outside diameter of the tire varies from manufacture
to manufacture especially those tires built to metric
standards.
For
these reasons we recommend press on tires be replaced
when 30 – 40 % of the usable rubber is gone.
Based on the recommended 30 – 40% wear point a
21X7 should be replaced when then OD is between 19 and
19.5 inches. This
is one reason metric size tires are considered worn out
well before full standard size tires, they start out
closer to the recommended worn out point.
The
benefits of replacing your tires between the 30 to 40 %
range is less impact transferred into the vehicle,
driver and load. The
rubber in the tires is the only “shock absorber”
that a forklift has.
The less rubber there is the greater the
transferred impact. Also as a tire wears, its diameter, and therefore its
circumference, is reduced.
The tire will turn more to cover a given distance
thereby increasing fuel consumption while reducing
speed.
Simply put, long term expenses incurred from continuing
to use tires beyond their recommended wear point will
far exceed any short-term expenses saved.
Return
to Top
11,
Can
I put holes in my forks for towing?
No,
according to OSHA standards
it is not acceptable to put holes in your forks. Return to Top
12,
When
do my forks not meet Osha
requirements?
When
10% of the fork heel is worn Return to Top
13,
When
do my fork extensions need to be reinforced?
No,
according to OSHA standards
it is not acceptable to put holes in your forks. Return to Top
14,
Can
I safely use pallets on my forklift to elevate my
employees?
No
– OSHA requires a safety
man basket to elevate employees at all times Return to Top
15,
How
can I load / un-load a container when I don’t have a
dock?
Use
a Mobile Yard Ramp. A
Mobile Yard Ramp is a safe and efficient way to load and
un-load a container from ground level
Return to Top
16,
Is
my order picker only limited to using pallets?
No
– There are many order picker platform designs that
will help you with your daily production. Return to Top
17,
On
occasion my forks are to short,
Do I need to buy new forks?
No
– Not necessarily! Fork extensions are a quick
and inexpensive answer to a fork length problem.. Return to Top
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