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OCT 21, 2025

How to Maintain Your Palfinger ILT Tuck-Away Liftgate

A Palfinger ILT tuck under liftgate is a critical tool for fleets and delivery operations, ensuring smooth cargo handling and dependable uptime. But like any hydraulic system, its reliability depends on consistent care. Without scheduled maintenance, operators face higher risks of breakdowns, unsafe working conditions, and costly downtime. Preventive maintenance is not only about prolonging equipment life — it’s also about ensuring compliance, protecting operators, and maintaining productivity.

• Documentation Resources from Palfinger
• Why Preventive Maintenance Matters
• Daily Inspections
• Monthly and Quarterly Inspections
• Lubrication Points and Intervals
• Hydraulic Oil Maintenance
• Safety and Regulatory Compliance
• Electrical System Maintenance
• Documentation and Service Visits
• Conclusion

Documentation Resources from Palfinger

Information in this article is sourced directly from Palfinger Liftgates ILT manuals and technical guides as well as our team’s expertise. Always refer to your specific liftgate’s manuals for complete procedures and serial number, model, and year-specific details.

Reference PDFs used:

• Interlift Palfinger ILT Installation Manual, Rev. 1.15 (2016)
• Interlift Palfinger ILT WR/PD Owner’s Manual, Rev. 1.4 (2013)
• Interlift Palfinger ILT Owner’s Manual, Rev. 1.6 (2016)
• Interlift Palfinger ILT Parts Manual, Rev. 1.9 (2021)

Why Preventive Maintenance Matters

Regular maintenance ensures that liftgates operate at peak efficiency while preventing issues that could cause serious accidents. Palfinger emphasizes that inspections are a fleet manager’s responsibility and that operators must be familiar with limits, hazards, and safe practices (Owner’s Manual, 2016, p. 7).

Key reasons preventive care is essential:

• Longevity: Well-lubricated and serviced components last significantly longer.
• Safety: Cracked welds, leaks, or worn pins can create hazards for operators.
• Uptime: Catching issues early avoids roadside failures and delivery delays.

In short, maintenance is not optional — it’s a core part of keeping a tuckunder liftgate safe and functional.

Daily Inspections

A daily walk-around inspection should be completed before operating the gate. This quick check helps identify problems before they escalate into costly or dangerous failures.

Operators should:

• Inspect welds, fasteners, and pins for cracks, looseness, or bending (Owner’s Manual, 2016, p. 25).
• Check pin lock bolts at lift arms, parallel arms, and swing fixtures.
• Look for hydraulic hose leaks or wear, making sure hoses are secure and not rubbing (Owner’s Manual, 2013, p. 12).
• Inspect cylinders and pins for leaks or missing lock bolts.
• Confirm cab shutoff switch and control toggles are working (Owner’s Manual, 2013, p. 22).
• Ensure decals and warning labels are visible and legible (Owner’s Manual, 2016, p. 23).

These inspections reduce the chance of operating a liftgate in unsafe conditions and ensure operators can trust the equipment throughout the workday.

Monthly and Quarterly Inspections

Beyond daily checks, scheduled deeper inspections address wear that develops over time.

• Hydraulic oil level: Check monthly, ensuring the oil is within the levels indicated for your model.
• ILT/ILT-WR: about 1 in. from the top of the reservoir (2016 manual) or ~1.5 in. between marks 5–7 (2013 manual).
• ILT-PD: 1.5–2.5 in. from the top of the reservoir (2013 manual).
• Battery and electrical connections: Clean and protect against corrosion; inspect solenoid terminals for oxidation (2016 manual, p. 25).
• Pins, bushings, and lock bolts: Tighten bolts, confirm pins are secure, and ensure bushings are not excessively worn.
• Safety equipment and decals: Replace damaged or unreadable decals to maintain compliance.

Palfinger’s maintenance schedule highlights these inspections as essential for preventing early component failure (2016 manual, p. 20).

Lubrication Points and Intervals

Lubrication is a cornerstone of preventive care. A dry or neglected bearing surface leads to premature wear and costly downtime.

• Grease zerks: Located at lift arms, swing fixtures, parallel arms, shackles, and platform hinges.
• Intervals: Depending on model revision, manuals specify greasing every 500 cycles (2016) or 1200 cycles (2013). Always follow your specific manual.
• Platform down: Always lubricate with the liftgate lowered to ensure all points are accessible.
• Heavy usage: Grease more frequently for high-cycle applications such as parcel delivery.

By maintaining proper lubrication, operators ensure smooth movement and reduce stress on hydraulic and structural parts.

Hydraulic Oil Maintenance

Hydraulic fluid is the lifeblood of the liftgate system. Contaminated or low fluid can cause sluggish performance, cavitation, or even complete system failure.

• Correct oil: ISO 32 hydraulic fluid is standard.
• Cold climates: Alternatives include Mobil DTE 11, Shell Aero Fluid 4/41, or MIL H5606 for extreme cold conditions.
• Replacement intervals: Change fluid after the first 500–1200 cycles (depending on manual revision), then annually, preferably before winter.
• Fluid checks: Keep oil level at the distances from the top of the reservoir noted in the monthly inspection section.

By staying on top of fluid care, operators keep hydraulic systems efficient and reduce wear.

Safety and Regulatory Compliance

Preventive maintenance is not only mechanical — it ensures compliance with safety requirements.

• Decal inspection: Operator instruction, warning, and capacity decals must remain visible. Replace missing or unreadable decals immediately (2016 manual, p. 23).
• ANSI compliance: Manuals reference ANSI Z535.4 standards for hazard communication (2016 manual, p. 9).
• Conspicuity tape: Manuals illustrate placement guidelines and require installers/operators to ensure tape remains intact for visibility (2013 manual, p. 21; Parts Manual, 2021, p. 45).

Including safety checks in every inspection not only keeps the gate reliable but also protects operators and fleets.

Electrical System Maintenance

The electrical system powers controls, solenoids, and the hydraulic pump. Neglecting it can cause total system shutdowns.

Inspection steps include:

• Check circuit breakers: Trucks require a 150A breaker at the battery; trailers may include auxiliary batteries (2016 manual, p. 27).
• Inspect fuses: Power packs include 15A fuses; replace only with identical rated fuses (2016 manual, p. 28).
• Verify grounds: Ensure all ground connections are secure to both liftgate and vehicle chassis (2016 manual, p. 27).
• Battery condition: Flooded batteries should read 12.6V; AGM batteries 12.8V (2016 manual, p. 28).

By integrating electrical inspections into preventive care, operators can avoid no-power situations that shut down operations completely.

Documentation and Service Visits

Routine service visits ensure factory-level inspections are completed and provide proof of compliance for warranty.

• First inspection: 30 days after installation (2013 manual, p. 13).
• Routine service: Every six months thereafter, performed at authorized Palfinger service centers.
• Records: Maintain logs of daily checks, lubrication, and service work to build a history that supports warranty claims and resale value.

Following these intervals keeps the liftgate operating safely and protects owners from liability.

Conclusion

A Palfinger ILT tuck under liftgate is built for durability, but only when backed by consistent preventive care. Daily inspections catch early wear, monthly and quarterly checks ensure structural and hydraulic reliability, and lubrication and oil changes keep systems running smoothly. Adding electrical checks and safety compliance inspections ensures operators stay safe and fleets remain aligned with manufacturer guidance.

By following Palfinger’s preventive maintenance recommendations, fleets can maximize uptime, protect operators, and extend the service life of their investment. For OEM replacement parts or inspection support, contact the team at LiftGateMe.