Forklift buying guide? 3,500# or so...

[AUDIHenry]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to buy an old forklift, need around 3500 pound capacity. Solid tires are OK (will be used indoors and flat), propane preferred. Cosmetic condition is not something I care about, but I have a small budget.

Basically I need to use it about 10 minutes a day, if that, for the next few months. After that time I will invest in a newer, higher capacity model.

Now, I see a lot of Hyster, Clark, and Yale stuff for sale, but I have no idea what to even look for. Where do I check for leaks? How do I test if it will lift with a load on it?

This will be my first one, I need some information to help me going. I can't find a buying guide that's not put out by a manufacturer or dealer, and those just deal with finding the right type of forklift, not really what to look for.

Thanks in advance!

 

[A_Pmech]

In the case of propane forklifts, check the engine the same way you would a car engine. Check to make sure it runs and drives properly. Hydraulics should be smooth with no pump whine. Leaks are OK if not excessive. The hardest leak to fix on a forklift is the mast cylinder packing.

The only practical way to test the hydraulics is by lifting a maximum capacity load or putting the forks under an immovable object and checking the relief valve pop off pressure.

Check the forks, mast, lift chains, etc for wear and cracks. Failure of these components will result in a bad day.

On electric forklifts check the traction motor and hydraulic motor brushes. Run the forklift to see how the motors run and to ensure the contactors and motor controllers are operating properly. Assess the condition of the battery. They are expensive to buy new and have a finite lifespan. As the battery ages it's capacity falls off a cliff. Make sure you get a battery charger.

That's the bare bones basics. Just treat it like inspecting a car, but with a few added "accessories".

 

[ZRX61]

Used a Toyota at the airport for 20 years, been serviced once & needed a new water pump. We run it on avgas...

 

[Milton Shaw]

The electric ones I have seen use a 480 volt charger, these are like at Home Depot or Lowes. Also pull the dipstick and look for water. I bought a non running one and didn't look and have a cracked block where the previous owner ran it with water in radiator, which didn't work well in unheated storage. I have to decide if its worth tearing down and getting another block, needs brakes, mast seal etc. Although I got it for $800 which is about scrap value. Check with dealers for trade ins that still run but leak oil etc. Sometimes they have a good deal.

 

[Steve from Socal]

I would suggest you look for a lift for the long term, buying a real beater jut to use it a few times may work or it could end up more junk to deal with. Hard tire forklifts live a hard life, the steering and spindles take a beating. Pneumatic tire forklifts do cost more but not much IF, you do a little looking and are much better IMHO. Depending on where you are you might consider looking outside your local area if you have a way to bring one back, a 6000 is probably about the limit for a heavy duty car trailer.

Older lift can be a good value if you can do repairs yourself, tires are expensive, brakes are cheap, driveline parts are all over the place. I personally like clutched transmissions.

Mast height is going to be a big factor in what will work for you, if you want a lift that will go into a standard garage look at car loaders. Most warehouse forklifts are too tall to get into a garage with a standard height door. Really tall mast forklifts are cheap because the limited places they can go. Another thing to check is the forks and carriage, the forks should be even near the ends and, they should move freely side to side.

I would stay with an internal combustion lift, with electrics the batteries are very expensive and sitting is not good for them. If you find a good lift that is gas powered you can convert it to propane if you want for a few hundred dollars, small diesels are kind of a **** shoot, they can get expensive to keep running. Flat head engines are fine just beware that Hercules engines are expensive to get parts for, Continental are not so bad.

Steve

 

[Ironcrow]

Warehouse users of propane units like automatic transmissions of some sort and side shift on the forks. If you can do without these features, you get lots more bang for your buck in the used fork truck market. Shop around to find the manual gearbox truck some dealer has stuffed off in a corner because nobody wants it...

 

[randydupree]

i have a Cat lift for sale in SW Ga.

 

[hllon4whls]

FWIW at my work, we had a 4 wheel clark electric with a 3 phase charger.
Everyone around said that electric forklifts were junk. Until they used this one. We had no issues with it. It was a newer one and we had it about 4 years. I absolutely loved it but we had to get rid of it due to rule changes at my work location. It was a sit down version, not a standup.
Chargers (powering them) and batteries (age, condition and replacement cost) but like I said FWIW.

 

[AUDIHenry]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the helpful info, really appreciate it. So, in other words, it would be a good idea to look under the hook, around the hoses and the mast, just to see if there are leaks or other signs of damage.

Good call on the mast height, it's not something I really considered. My place should be tall enough for the smaller forklifts, but it would be better not to have to take a chance.

Also, about how much would a 3,500 pound capacity forklift weigh in at? 6000 pounds? 8000 pounds? I need to be able to tow it home safely.

 

[A_Pmech]

A cushion tire forklift usually weighs about double the load rating. So, a 3,500lb capacity forklift will weigh about 7,000lbs +-

I don't recommend moving them with a car trailer, they will punch right through the deck:

Complete thread:

http://tow411.yuku.com/topic/77336

Instead, consider hiring your local forklift company to move it. All forklift companies have a trucking service and the rates are usually reasonable. They will pick it up from the seller's place when you tell them to and deliver it to your place with the proper equipment. Most forklifts must be winched onto the trailer as they do not have sufficient traction to make it up on their own power.

 

[dwaynerz]

av gas in a forlift. nice

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have a 3,000 lb capacity, and had a trans shop with a rollback deliver mine, and he had moved it previously for me. Winched it onto the bed.

 

[Spareparts]

I got a small 78 Toyota(3000 lb.) pnumatic tires, manual trans, no power steering, with a mast that goes to 10' lift height, but it will go in my door that is 7'6 ". The only thing that I wish it had would be Power Steering, handiest tool I ever bought . Hate to say it but the imports have a good parts supply better than some of the older Hysters, Clarks and the other's and the prices are tolerable. Got a 9000lb Cat and when I have to get parts or even general service items you had better grab your wallet, it's gonna hurt.

 

[AUDIHenry]

Wow, I really needed to see that thread as I also considered moving it like that, except using some heavy steel plate to distribute the load of the wheels. Still, would be way better to have someone put it on a flatbed or the like.

Thanks again guys, appreciate all the info!

 

[OccupantRJ]

The guy moved mine 25 miles for $60 in 2005, and 15 miles for $60 in 2010. I thought that was a very fair price. I made it a point to send some transmission work his way since he was so helpful.

 

[The Slurpee King]

Towing companies with a flatdeck/rollback are also good candidates for moving your forklift for you. Depending on the age of the machine, it will weigh between 1.5 and 2-times the lift capacity. You can usually find the label/plaque from the manufacturer somewhere near the operator's seat, which will have on it the machine weight, maximum lift capacity, maximum lift height (and sometimes capacity at that height, which lessens as you engage each mast extension). If it's an electric unit, the machine weight will be further broken down into "weight less batteries," "maximum battery weight," and something like "maximum machine weight."

 

[Capt Chrysler]

I bought a Hyster for scrap price. Rebuilt the propane regulator thing. Total $876.00, she's ugly. But it works for me!

Capt. Chrysler

 

[b_dub]

We moved mine with a buddies roll back.

 

[Mmfh]

Hey a brand named forklift that you have not brought up yet, TCM. I have a friends TCM FG-20 over here right now to move a few machines around, I absolutely love this thing!

Its Nissan powered with a 2spd trans. I just put a master cylinder on it and did a tune up and Its very easy to work on. Lots of room. Pneumatic tires and a 4,400 capacity, mast goes low enough to go into a standard garage opening.

We brought this to my place on a car trailer, backed it up so the weight would be in front of the axle's of the trailer, put some steel plate down where the tires were going to run. Worked out just fine.

If you see a TCM for sale, take a look at it. Parts seems easy to get and this thing feels well built and functions well.

Right now if you give yourself a little time to look, I bet you can find one pretty cheap. I saw a 5000lb clark last weekend for $500. Seller said with a new battery it would do whatever you wanted. Its a buyers market right now!

Good Luck!

Mm

 

[AUDIHenry]

Hey a brand named forklift that you have not brought up yet, TCM. I have a friends TCM FG-20 over here right now to move a few machines around, I absolutely love this thing!

Its Nissan powered with a 2spd trans. I just put a master cylinder on it and did a tune up and Its very easy to work on. Lots of room. Pneumatic tires and a 4,400 capacity, mast goes low enough to go into a standard garage opening.

We brought this to my place on a car trailer, backed it up so the weight would be in front of the axle's of the trailer, put some steel plate down where the tires were going to run. Worked out just fine.

If you see a TCM for sale, take a look at it. Parts seems easy to get and this thing feels well built and functions well.

Right now if you give yourself a little time to look, I bet you can find one pretty cheap. I saw a 5000lb clark last weekend for $500. Seller said with a new battery it would do whatever you wanted. Its a buyers market right now!

Good Luck!

Mm

Hey MM, thanks for the heads up! I WISH I could get a great deal like that, anything under $1000 for a non-junk forklift would make me a nice christmas present!!