What You Need to Know About Forklift Lifting Chains

Forklift Lifting Chains

The core components of the mast of a diesel hydraulic forklift include:

lifting chains, lifting hydraulic cylinders, lifting guide rails, lifting sprockets, lifting gears, etc.

These components work together to allow the forklift mast to move up and down smoothly, enabling the lifting and lowering of goods.

Forklift lifting chains are an essential component of any forklift.

They are responsible for lifting and lowering the load that the forklift is carrying. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about forklift lifting chains.

  • What are forklift lifting chains? Forklift lifting chains are chains that are used to lift and lower the load that the forklift is carrying. They are made up of a series of links that are connected together.
  • How do forklift lifting chains work? Forklift lifting chains work by wrapping around the load that the forklift is carrying. The chain is then attached to the forklift’s mast and hydraulic system. When the hydraulic system is activated, it causes the mast to rise, which in turn lifts the load.
  • How do you inspect forklift lifting chains? It is important to inspect your forklift lifting chains regularly to ensure that they are in good working condition. Some things to look out for include protruding or turned pins, lack of lubrication, and excessive wear.
  • When should you replace your forklift lifting chains? You should replace your forklift lifting chains when they show signs of excessive wear or damage. Some signs to look out for include twisted or broken links, worn sprockets, and stretched chains.


The lifting chain is one of the core components of the forklift mast, which consists of multiple links. The links are connected by hinges to form a chain.

The structure of the lifting chain usually includes: links, hinges, pins, rollers, etc. Among them, the chain ring is the main part of the lifting chain, and their number and size vary according to different models of the forklift mast.

The hinge is the key component connecting the links, which enables the links to rotate freely. The pin shaft is the key component to fix the hinge and roller, which can keep the hinge and roller in the correct position.

Rollers are an important part of the lift chain, they allow the forklift mast to move up and down smoothly.

There are design standards for lifting chains.

For example, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has developed a series of standards for forklift masts, including design criteria for lift chains. These standards specify the requirements for the size, material, strength, etc. of the lifting chain to ensure the safety and reliability of the forklift mast.


The number and size of the links vary with different models of forklift masts.

Generally, a link is constructed from multiple pieces side by side. For example, in some models of forklift masts, each link is constructed of 3 pieces side by side, and in some models of forklift masts, each link is constructed of 4 pieces side by side.
The masts of all models of Kaystar four-wheel drive forklifts with a capacity of 3.5 tons are constructed with 7 pieces of chain links, and the masts of 5-ton all-terrain forklifts are constructed with 8 to 9 pieces of chain links.This is critical to ensure the safety of the forklift. Lower quality forklifts will spend less on mast components to increase profits and lower selling prices.