CHAPTER 8 FORKLIFTS

The forklift is a primary piece of equipment that is essential to the mission of the NCF. Forklifts are used to support construction operations whenever there is a need to lift, load, or unload materials or supplies. Because of the variety of makes and models of forklifts used in the Navy and the NCF, this chapter covers only the characteristics and basic principles of operations of forklifts. By reading the operator's manuals, you can obtain detailed information about each make and model.

MATERIALS-HANDLING EQUIPMENT

Forklifts are classified as materials-handling equipment. The term materials handling describes an ongoing activity for every construction project or operation that requires the picking up and moving of raw materials, processed parts, finished products, tools, equipment, supplies, or maintenances items. Every operation that requires raising, lowering, or moving an item is classified as materials handling.

Since materials handling involves lifting, lowering, and moving in some form, forklifts excel over other methods of handling. Forklifts are specifically designed to ensure efficient handling of materials under varied conditions. Design specifications and performance characteristics of forklifts define their capabilities and limitations under adverse conditions. To operate a forklift efficiently, you must know its capabilities and limitations.

This chapter covers the capabilities, limitations, attachments, and principles of operation of warehouse and rough terrain forklifts.

WAREHOUSE FORKLIFTS

The most common types of warehouse forklifts used are either electric-, gasoline-, or propane-powered and have solid, semisolid, or pneumatic rubber tires. These forklifts are used in warehouses or on hard-surfaced outdoor storage areas. The warehouse forklift (fig. 8-1) is a unit designed to pickup, carry, and

Figure 8-1.-Warehouse forklift

stack unit loads of supplies and equipment. Standard warehouse forklifts have lifting capacities from 2,000 to 15,000 pounds and lifting heights from 100 to 210 ^inches. Warehouse forklifts are equipped with a telescopic mast that permits loads to be lifted beyond the height of the collapsed mast. The height the forks can raise before the inner slides move upward from the mast and increase the overall height is called free lift.

4K ROUGH-TERRAIN (RT) FORKLIFT

The 4K rough-terrain (RT) forklift (fig. 8-2) is a diesel engine-driven, rubber-tired, self-contained, rider type of mechanized materials-handling vehicle. They are designed to lift loads of 4,000-pound capacity with a 24-inch load center to a maximum height of 100 inches. The lifting forks are mounted on the front of the vehicle and the engine faces the rear. Controls for operating the lifting forks (lifting, tilting, rotating, and side shifting) are located to the right when the operator is sitting in the operator's seat.

The 4K (RT) forklift is designed for the loading and unloading of flatcars, flatbed trailers, cargo aircraft, and landing craft. Additionally, the 4K (RT) is used for stocking, unstacking, and transporting heavy-crated boxes, containers, and palletized loads of heavy equipment and supplies over unprepared and unstable surfaces. This forklift is the primary forklift used in rough terrain, such as a beach, in deep sand, or where the terrain is covered with ice, snow, or mud, or where hard standing is not available. The 4K (RT) forklift can be used both indoors and outdoors and is capable of fording streams or pools of water up to 30 inches deep. This forklift can be transported by tractor-trailer or by military aircraft.

The 4K forklift may be driven to project sites under its own power without any special preparation; however, when performing the prestart operational check, you should ensure the safety pin (fig. 8-3) is disengaged before operating. The safety pin prevents the forklift

Figure 8-3.-Safety pin location.

Figure 8-2.-4K rough-terrain (RT) forklift.

from articulating; therefore, the forklift cannot be steered. Failure to disengage the pin may cause serious injury or death.

The 4k forklift can be towed rearward using the tow bar (fig. 8-4) located on the rear of the vehicle.

The towing procedure for the 4K (RT) forklift is as follows:

1. Remove the pin securing the tow bar in the vertical position and lower the tow bar into the towing position and attach it to the pintle hook on the towing vehicle.

2. Disconnect the hook end of the two safety chains from the forklift and attach them to the towing vehicle.

3. Push the axle disconnect lever (fig. 8-5) to the right toward the front chassis to disconnect the axles for towing.

The axle disconnect lever controls the engagement of the transmission output shaft to the front and rear axles. To engage the axles for operation, you push the lever to the left towards the rear of the vehicle.

4. Open the steering bypass valve (fig. 8-6) by turning it counterclockwise fully.

Figure 8-4.-Tow bar and chains.

Figure 8-5.-Axle disconnect lever.

The steering bypass valve allows the front chassis to pivot freely on the rear chassis when towing the forklift. For normal steering control, close the valve by turning the knob clockwise fully.

Figure 8-6.-Steering bypass valve.

CAUTION

Verify that the steering bypass valve is closed before operating the 4K forklift.

5. Remove the safety pin (fig. 8-3), if installed. The safety pin must not be installed when the forklift ^{is being towed.}

CAUTION

Before pushing the forklift, install the safety pin to prevent the forklift from articulating and damaging the tow bar.

NOTE: Do not tow the forklift faster than 35 mph.