Forklift - Stability and Capacity UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT Answers

Forklift - Stability and Capacity UPDATED
ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
The Stability Challenge - CORRECT ANSWER - The Stability Challenge
In order to prevent your forklift from tipping over, you must keep the forklift's combined center
of gravity inside an area known as the forklift's stability triangle.


Capacity of the forklift
Weight of the load
Size, shape, position, and center of gravity of the load
Direction and speed of travel of the forklift
Grade of the surface on which you're operating the forklift


The Stability Triangle: Lever Is Like a Seesaw - CORRECT ANSWER - Imagine a lever
like a seesaw. It is a bar with weight on each end and a balancing point in the middle. The
balancing point is called the fulcrum


Stability Triangle: Forklift Is Like a Seesaw - CORRECT ANSWER - A forklift is like a
seesaw too. There is a load on the forks in the front of the forklift and a counterweight in the
back. The balancing point, or fulcrum, is the center of the forklift's front drive axle or front
wheels. Putting a heavy load on the forklift will cause the forklift to tilt forward.


Stability Triangle - CORRECT ANSWER - While a forklift can tip forward and backward
like a seesaw, it can also tip from side to side. A forklift's stability triangle is an area bordered by
the forklift's two front wheels and the pivot point, or middle, of the rear axle. In order for the
forklift to stay upright, the forklift's combined center of gravity must remain within the forklift's
stability triangle.


Load's Center of Gravity - CORRECT ANSWER - Ideally, the load's center of gravity will
be at the center of the forks. However, the load's center of gravity may not be in the center of the

, forks if the load is oddly shaped, not evenly distributed, or not sitting as far back as possible on
the forks.


Combined Center of Gravity - CORRECT ANSWER - After a forklift picks up a load, the
mass of the forklift and the load are combined, resulting in a single, relocated center of gravity.


=

Forklift's Center of Gravity - CORRECT ANSWER - An unloaded forklift's center of
gravity is generally located under the operator. However, it may be located further back on an
extra large forklift with an elongated counterweight.


Forklift Capacity: Rated Capacity - CORRECT ANSWER - Forklift manufacturers list a
rated capacity for each forklift model on the forklift's identification plate. The rated capacity
indicates the maximum, standard load a forklift can handle without becoming unstable. However,
the rated capacity does not accurately indicate a forklift's capacity to pick up a non-standard load
or to pick up a load using a non-standard attachment.


Forklift Capacity: Exceeding Capacity - CORRECT ANSWER - Picking up a load that
exceeds a forklift's capacity puts too much weight in front of the forklift's front drive axle and
will cause the forklift to tilt forward.


Forklift Capacity: Moment - CORRECT ANSWER - A forklift's moment is the point at
which a certain amount of force will cause the forklift to tip over. A moment is expressed in units
of inch-pounds (kilogram-centimeters). A forklift will tip forward when the load's moment
exceeds the forklift's moment. To understand this, think about holding a jug of water directly in
front of your body and gradually extending it further away from your body. At a certain point,
the weight of the jug will pull your body forward.


Calculating Forklift Capacity: How to Calculate - CORRECT ANSWER - To determine
your forklift's capacity to lift a non-standard load, calculate the forklift's moment and the load's
moment. Then compare the results. If the forklift's rated moment is greater, the forklift has the
capacity to lift the load. If the forklift's rated moment is less, it does not have the capacity to lift
the load.