A counterbalance forklift uses a large counterweight to balance the weight lifted by the forks. The weight is attached to the rear of the machine and can be filled with chloride to increase lifting capacity. Operators must know the lift capacity and estimated weight of the load to prevent tip-over conditions. Overly large counterweights can cause maneuverability issues, but rounded corners can help with tight turns.
A counterbalance forklift is a type of forklift that uses a large counterweight to compensate for the weight lifted by the forks. The counterbalance forklift uses a heavy cast iron weight attached to the rear of the machine and typically uses the battery pack from an electric lifter as part of the counterbalance system. On large versions of the counterbalance forklift, the soft rubber rear tires are commonly filled with chloride, a type of salt water, to add weight to the rear of the forklift. By adding weight to the rear of the forklift, the lifting capacity of the machine increases significantly.
When a forklift lifts a heavy object into the air, the rear of the forklift becomes very light, as the weight on the forks attempts to rotate the forklift on its front wheels. A counterbalance forklift places the weight at the rear to counteract the tipping pressure on the front axle, thus allowing the truck to remain level. Occasionally, even a counterbalance forklift will lift a weight heavy enough to make the car light on the rear wheels. This can be a dangerous occurrence, as the forklift uses the rear wheels to drive the car. By overloading the forks, an operator is endangering himself by creating a tip-over condition.
It is essential that the counterbalance forklift operator know the lift capacity of his forklift and the estimated weight of the load to be lifted. The counterbalance forklift’s hydraulic system is commonly powerful enough to lift a greater capacity than the forklift is rated to safely lift. Having an excessively heavy load lifted in the air is not a good time to find out that the forklift is overloaded. When the weight of a load is not known, it is common for a forklift operator to lift the load slightly, then apply the brakes suddenly as he moves forward. Any feeling of lifting the rear of the forklift is reason to get a bigger and heavier forklift to lift the load.
One problem with an overly large counterweight is that it requires a larger area to maneuver the machine. The counterbalance forklift can often bump into shelves and other objects as the operator attempts to swing it into a narrow aisle to place a load on a rack or rack. The use of rounded corners on the rear of the counterbalance forklift helps you make sharp turns in areas with tight tolerances.
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