Cleaning a chain, what products to use???

[Turnip]

So with my tractor as a package deal came a 3 point pallet lifter which work s great except for this single thing: it has trouble lowering fully when there is little to no weight on the forks. My bulk standing on the forks and reaching into the cab to move the hydraulic lever usually helps. From what I can see there is a lot of crap on the leaf chain which is relatively easily to remove. So was thinking of removing the chain and giving it a thorough cleaning. Question now is what product to use, please can you recommend me something?

 

[davidroberts30]

Diesel

 

[Kidds]

I doubt it is the chain that is the problem, usually the slides or bearings in the slides that need oiling.
A dribble of diesel on the top of the chain when the forks are down and let gravity do the work on "oiling" the rest of the chain.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Is it on a spool with float function or a single acting spool?

Cover the chain and slides in oil, lift something heavy and work it up and down from the cab

 

[Turnip]

I doubt it is the chain that is the problem, usually the slides or bearings in the slides that need oiling.
A dribble of diesel on the top of the chain when the forks are down and let gravity do the work on "oiling" the rest of the chain.

you're most likely right but it seems like an easy thing to do as its quickly removed. The whole thing needs a thorough clean as the previous owner seems to have gone wild with the grease gun.

 

[Turnip]

Is it on a spool with float function or a single acting spool?

Cover the chain and slides in oil, lift something heavy and work it up and down from the cab

single acting spool and it lowers completely with a load, IBC with water or potato box with firewood. Will give this a try, thanks.

 

[Kidds]

you're most likely right but it seems like an easy thing to do as its quickly removed

It is any easy thing to do but it would be better spending your time doing something that will help.

 

[vinnie123]

So with my tractor as a package deal came a 3 point pallet lifter which work s great except for this single thing: it has trouble lowering fully when there is little to no weight on the forks. My bulk standing on the forks and reaching into the cab to move the hydraulic lever usually helps. From what I can see there is a lot of crap on the leaf chain which is relatively easily to remove. So was thinking of removing the chain and giving it a thorough cleaning. Question now is what product to use, please can you recommend me something?

Hot pressure wash should have the desired effect on the chain , then a fresh oil up and away you go.

 

[Andrew]

you're most likely right but it seems like an easy thing to do as its quickly removed. The whole thing needs a thorough clean as the previous owner seems to have gone wild with the grease gun.

If it's that easy to remove take it off and soak in a bucket of diesel.

 

[Will 1594]

I doubt it is the chain that is the problem, usually the slides or bearings in the slides that need oiling.
A dribble of diesel on the top of the chain when the forks are down and let gravity do the work on "oiling" the rest of the chain.

don’t use chain oil on slides
wheel barrow thought he was doing a good job one day greasing up post knocker ready for a fencing job , lathered the hammer slides in chain oil , was acting like a brake , had to steam it all off and put some diesel on to thin it down so it would slide easier , maybe same issue with all grease

 

[Gerbert]

Bearings on a mast are generally non greaseable, sliders don't actually carry any load, it's the rollers that do, if you grease the whole mast up the rollers might actually stop turning which then might create a square on the roller after which they won't ever turn again.
The only greaseable roller generally is/are the rollers on top of the cilinder for moving the chain out.
Well I have been a forklift driver for quite a few years and never seen differently.

 

[tomlad]

Cat fork lift here, chains seize thru being outside and periods of inactivity
Done lots of work as said above , oil and grease , don't think tried diesel tbh they still seize and never look even on each side with no load , work fine under load.
Not my FLT , if mine id hope it be covered.

 

[milkloss]

previous owner seems to have gone wild with the grease gun.

There might be a reason for that. Either the grease has gone sticky and they've been temporarily solving the problem by adding more or just that the grease was needed but had now gone sticky.

slap some diesel round it all to thin it down.

 

[Bury the Trash]

simply put a load on the forks fill an oil can or fairy liquid squiter or 2 with diesel or kerosene /oil mix squirt it on liberally but in a targeted fashion work the loaded fork up and down repeatedly., its not rocket science

if the chain links are seized together in places it will take awhile.

edit i forgot to add check the return pipe line make sure its got good free flow return is there an accumulator plumbed in ?is that all ok? etc ie no oil escape problem holding things up.

 

[Cornish Rattler]

The best way is to remove the chains stetch them out on the floor and jet wash them then once dry drop them in a tub of diesel or refit them and spray them with chain lube

 

[tomlad]

simply put a load on the forks fill an oil can or fairy liquid squiter or 2 with diesel or kerosene /oil mix squirt it on liberally but in a targeted fashion work the loaded fork up and down repeatedly., its not rocket science

if the chain links are seized together in places it will take awhile.

edit i forgot to add check the return pipe line make sure its got good free flow return is there an accumulator plumbed in ?is that all ok? etc ie no oil escape problem holding things up.

Did basically that
Me on seat
Owner of machine, plant over opperator of 50 years, on forks with the oil can , plus weight on forks
Up / down for a bit till he'd put hand on mast to balance while told to me to lower.....
Tip of finger nipped
Of to a+e . Still remember the screams now

 

[Bury the Trash]

Did basically that
Me on seat
Owner of machine, plant over opperator of 50 years, on forks with the oil can , plus weight on forks
Up / down for a bit till he'd put hand on mast to balance while told to me to lower.....
Tip of finger nipped
Of to a+e . Still remember the screams now

standing on forks was never a great idea.
A sprayer with an oil diesel mix in one like this ................

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helps get it there ,
can be used also for/i find they are good for spraying on a protective coat on ploughs etc

 

[ACEngineering]

So with my tractor as a package deal came a 3 point pallet lifter which work s great except for this single thing: it has trouble lowering fully when there is little to no weight on the forks. My bulk standing on the forks and reaching into the cab to move the hydraulic lever usually helps. From what I can see there is a lot of crap on the leaf chain which is relatively easily to remove. So was thinking of removing the chain and giving it a thorough cleaning. Question now is what product to use, please can you recommend me something?

It will be easier and not expensive to just fit new chains. Mast chains are not expensive. Also any seized links is a instant lola test failure and if chain is old it's almost certainly stretched past 10% or what ever the max allowance is.

 

[ACEngineering]

So with my tractor as a package deal came a 3 point pallet lifter which work s great except for this single thing: it has trouble lowering fully when there is little to no weight on the forks. My bulk standing on the forks and reaching into the cab to move the hydraulic lever usually helps. From what I can see there is a lot of crap on the leaf chain which is relatively easily to remove. So was thinking of removing the chain and giving it a thorough cleaning. Question now is what product to use, please can you recommend me something?

If it has slides on the mast rather than roller then they get sticky if they dry out, poor some thin oil on them, do not use spray chain oil on mast as that drys sticky and acts like a glue.