Discussion:
Fork creep and the UK Lolar test

Hi all. Can anyone tell me if fork creep is a fail in the U.K.s Lolar test? I have recently replaced my aging forklift with a slightly lesser aged one but the forks do drop considerably over time. Last time measured it was about 80mm in an hour. It was sold to me with a new Lolar certificate and this has been happening since it was bought.
  • Posted 28 Jun 2018 02:30
  • Discussion started by forgeblazing247
  • Peebles, United Kingdom
Showing items 1 - 6 of 6 results.
Have you tried contacting the FLTA or CFTS?
We ran into this issue due to an over zealous insurance inspecter who failed a truck on fork drift and demanded to see in writing what the limits were, there's nothing in the thorough exam course notes.

From memory it's around 50mm or 2 inches in 5 minutes.

The FLTA/CFTS did send us a document in writing but I don't have access to it now as the company I was working for then no longer exists.
  • Posted 21 Nov 2018 18:31
  • Modified 4 Jul 2019 04:02 by poster
  • Reply by wiggy
  • kent, United Kingdom
From my experience, creep can sometimes actually be greater without a load, when loaded the pressure on the seals acts to push them out and create a better seal.
  • Posted 12 Sep 2018 22:00
  • Reply by FLTS
  • United Kingdom
Thank you all. That is useful to know. I was mainly worried that it was a lolar cert fail. It is something that I will need to look into sorting out.

Jim
Hyster/Yale spec is 1inch in 2 minutes with rated load. 1inch is approx. 25mm. That would work out to 750mm per hour.
  • Posted 30 Jun 2018 00:16
  • Reply by BREWSKI
  • Nebraska, United States
Agree with Stackerhacker that each manufacturer is different. Don't know what truck you are working with might be worth contacting the manufacturer.

I have the Test Procedure from a Clark 1500kg electric counterbalance to hand and easily available if you want to e-mail me with contact details, if that would help... they quote 25mm in 5 mins is acceptable with 50% maximum load, any more than 25mm requires further investigation.

Not even sure it would be picked up by lots of LOLER examiners (particularly from an insurance based background), despite the requirement that the competent person should have enough practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to enable them to detect defects...but happy to stand corrected.
  • Posted 29 Jun 2018 02:19
  • Reply by Dez_A
  • Middlesex, United Kingdom
Service life of a forklift is proportional to how well it is maintained.
there will be an allowed creep figure given by the manufacturer.nearly every forklift will creep down on the mainlift through time.80mm an hour does sound a lot though
  • Posted 29 Jun 2018 01:12
  • Reply by stackerhacker
  • glasgow, United Kingdom

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