one spot of confusion I have is that we actually have 4 contactors for a dual traction motor, lr, lf,[left motor reverse and forward] rr, rf [right motor reverse and forward] so in straight ahead forward the lf and rf contactors should pull in, in a tight right turn driving with the directional control lever in forward, the lf [left motor forward] contactor should stay pulled in, and as you turn the steering handcrank, the rf contactor should drop out, and as the turn gets tighter, the rr contact should pull in.
An 'armature' is the moving part in an electromagnetic device that is moved by the induced magnetism. in a forklift's contactor, the armature is the moving base that the moving contact is mounted upon [using insulators in this case]. contactors (the tips and the insulators) wear out and are replaced regularly. in a GE contactor, the armature has a guide pin in the base. if this pin works loose for any reason, you may not get complete closure of a 'when energized' contactor tip pair. if the insulators wear or rub a grove, you may get a failure to close the 'at rest' side of the contactor (the opposing direction contactor must be 'at rest' and completing the drive motor circuit0.