STRUCTURE AND STABILITY OF THE LIFT TRUCK
1-27
The stability of the lift truck is determined by the position of the
combined center of gravity resulting from the combination of the
centers of gravity of the lift truck and the load.
When the lift truck is carrying no load, the center of gravity remains
as it is, but when the lift truck is loaded, the combined center of
gravity becomes the combination of the centers of gravity of both
the lift truck and the load.
The position of the center of gravity of the load changes according
to whether the mast is tilted forward or back or whether the mast is
raised or lowered.
The position of the combined center of gravity of the lift truck is
governed by the following factors:
• Size, weight, shape of load
• Lifting height
• Tilting angle of mast
• Acceleration, deceleration, turning radius
• Condition of road surface, angle of road
• Type of attachments
CENTER OF GRAVITY AND STABILITY
The horizontal distance between the center of gravity of the load on
the forks and the load backrest of the forks, or the front face of the
forks (whichever is shorter), is called the load center. The maximum
load is the maximum weight of the load that can be loaded at the
standard load center. The relationship between the maximum load and
the load center is given in the load capacity charts on the nameplate
on the lift truck. If the load center moves to the front of the forks, the
overall center of gravity also moves to the front, so this means that the
load must be reduced.
MAXIMUM LOAD (weight and center of gravity of load)
