FORKLIFT STARTER

Forklift Starters are either hydraulic motor, electric motor, pneumatic motor, or other motors used to rotate the internal combustion engine, “starting” the engine’s workings. Out of the various types of starters, electric starter motor is most commonly used. This is the starter that is normally used in many gasoline-powered engines and other diesel-powered engines. The modern starters available in the market are permanent-magnet or series-parallel wound DC electric motor, which also features the starter solenoid. As soon as the current that comes from the starter battery is delivered to the solenoid, the solenoid will engage a lever, which will push the drive pinion. This action also mesh the pinion with the starter ring gear of the engine’s flywheel. In some diesel engines like trucks, the common option comes in the form of the pneumatic self-starter.

Other starters can also be found in a number of diesel engines, and these are jumpstarted through the use of the hydraulic motor. They are known as the hydraulic starters and these starters are known for a unique but reliable way of starting the engine in different temperature levels. These types of starters are primarily found in hydraulic fracturing rigs.

Other types of forklift starters includes pre-engaged starters and gear reduction starter. Pre-engaged starters engage the drive gear into the motor, prior to the motor’s rotation. A plunger is activated inside the solenoid once the starters is switched, which ultimately connects the pinion unto the gear. Inside a pre-engaged starter, there is a one-way clutch that locks in one direction and rotates in the other. The gear reduction starter’s motor shaft is fitted with gear teeth forming pinion, which is connected with a larger gear to achieve a ratio of 3.75:1. This enables a light and compact high-rev motor to crank with higher torque.

Over time, forklift starters wear due to age and extensive use. Some of the common problems with starters are as follows:

• Rapid clicking sounds in the starter motor indicates that the battery has low charge.
• Ticking sounds from the starter occurs when the electrical flow to the starter motor is cut off due to the connection of the starter solenoid.
• Banging noise indicates that the engine is not turning over when the starter is engaged. If the engine is causing the problem, it has to be assessed by a professional mechanic as its component(s) is failing.
• Scraping noise indicates the starter drag which refers to the starter motor rolling bearing does not allow the contact of the armature to the outer starter motor case.
• Grinding noise means that the gear mesh is failing from the starter bendix or flywheel being worn out.

Continual maintenance and observations can prevent the starter failure. One of the basic checks involve testing the electrical system voltage with a voltmeter. Starters generally do not operate correctly without the required amount of voltage. With the forklift turned off and keys out of the ignition, connect the voltmeter to the positive and negative terminals of the battery. The voltage of the battery should read around 12.4 to 12.6 volts.

Once determined that the forklift starter is irreparable, it should be replaced immediately. Finding the correct starter for your forklift can be a daunting task as numerous types of starters exist for various models of forklifts. Solid Lift Parts Inc. provide the service of identifying and selling the exact type of starter required for your forklift at affordable prices. Contact your parts specialist today to get your starter shipped to you right away!

Forklift Starter Photos