Frezo

Today myself and three others passed a train the trainer course for forklift certification. Below is one of the test questions. How would you answer this?

Q: Which is true for a counterbalance lift truck:
"The higher the lift height...
a) the higher the capacity"
b) the lower the capacity"
c) height does not effect capacity"

Thanks
Frezo

KontradictioN

I've never operated a forklift, but I would think that height wouldn't effect capacity. Therefore, I'd be inclined to go with "C".

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


CREDIT - Sicilian

reflexblue

Its a tricky question, the higher the forks the more likely to tip over. The center of balance changes, but thats not capacity. As i'm sure you know the capacity rating is on a plate attached to the fork lift. If the capacity is 3,000 lbs than the truck can lift 3,000 lbs and raise it as high as the forks can go, its just dangerous to drive around with that load or any with the forks raised.

Michael

What kind of forklift are we talking about?

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Frezo

It is a tricky question and I didn't like the way it was worded. During a training session capacity should only mean one thing, "the maximum load that a forklift can safely handle according to the capacity plate." It's a fixed number and should never be implied to be variable. This question suggests that. For example, an operator is in a forklift. He checks the capacity plate and sees, 2800 lbs at a 24" load center. He checks his load and finds it within spec. Does the capacity change as he raises the forks? It better not, especially if the lift is right at capacity. The rating has to be good for the entire vertical range of the mast. (tilt or dynamics not withstanding) Now the center of gravity might shift forward within the stability triangle, but capacity should not be used to indicate this. Capacity should only refer to one thing or issues can get confused.

The main problem with the question is that it doesn't differentiate whether it is theoretical or practical. Theoretically speaking b) may be correct. Practically speaking c) is correct. IOW the lift may have a capacity of 3600 lbs at a 24" load center when 4" off the floor, but at full vertical extension may only handle 2800 lbs. This has no practical application though and IMO made the question misleading. The problems it imposes can be worse for attendees whose 2nd language may be English.

BTW I selected c) while the instructor said b). That question was the only wrong answer on all 4 tests so I'm a bit agitated. I feel like a Jeopardy contestant arguing with Alex Trebeck during a commercial break. Rather than disrupt the timing of the session I didn't discuss it at the time, but am awaiting a email reply from the instructor about this.

Frezo

Class 1 Toyota

Michael

That's what I was getting at.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Frezo

It's rated for 2800 lbs at a 24" load center and about 16' max vertical.

reflexblue

The capacity Never changes, just the center of gravity. If you got outside the ''24 inches the capacity would be lower to to the fact that the center of gravity is no longer in line with the counter weight on the back of the fork lift. The higher you lifted the forks the more unstable the whole fork truck would become, but the ACTUAL capacity is still 2800 lbs. Your fork truck can raise 2800 lbs to a height of 16 feet as long as the load is centered

Frezo

Agreed. Capacity has to be viewed as a constant number to avoid operator confusion. If the question was trying to demonstrate theory, it didn't do a very good job.