trackwelder
Well-known member
Well I finally bought a forklift for the shop.
Forklift for the garage!!!!
- Thread starter trackwelder
- Start date
May Pop
Well-known member
Sweet!
I like the big rubber tires.
I like the big rubber tires.
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some zilch
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2008
- Messages
- 318
thats quite a forklift for home use....i bet that cost more used than my pickup truck new.
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
Nice, what's the cap on it? 2500lb ? 3000lb ?
Forklifts are great, we have an old toyota that just keeps humming along. It makes life soooooo much easier, you will wonder how you ever got along without one!
Forklifts are great, we have an old toyota that just keeps humming along. It makes life soooooo much easier, you will wonder how you ever got along without one!
bimmer1980
Well-known member
yeah, nice purchase!! How much was that?
I bought a 3000lb capacity clark forklift for $400 before I started my garage and it has been one of my best purchases!!! Mine is only a cushion tired machine, but it is so handy.
I bought a 3000lb capacity clark forklift for $400 before I started my garage and it has been one of my best purchases!!! Mine is only a cushion tired machine, but it is so handy.
AMCguy
Well-known member
That is an awesome forklift.
I had a `59 Clark. It leaked oil and hydraulic fluid as fast as I could pour it in. I had to spark two wires together to start it, it filled the yard with smoke and it only turned in one direction. I sure miss it.
I had a `59 Clark. It leaked oil and hydraulic fluid as fast as I could pour it in. I had to spark two wires together to start it, it filled the yard with smoke and it only turned in one direction. I sure miss it.
OP
trackwelder
Well-known member
3,000# capacity...I paid $7,900 for it and its super clean always stored inside.
OP
trackwelder
Well-known member
It is 3 stage.
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
Yeah, we had an old Hyster 3-wheeler with a flathead motor. Used a battery that was the same as some really really old Buick... Was the best little forklift and being three wheels it could turn on a dime and give you change! However the leaks got so bad you had to fill it up before using and would leave a little trail of fluid wherever you went...
LutzTD
Well-known member
to the OP, very nice, I like the big tire for the occasional off pavement stuff, word if warning, dont stay in one place too long, these muthas are a bear to get unstuck
I bought mine for $900, figured Id use it to put up the building and resell it for $900
. It is best described by this quoted post. Its an early 70's Yale as near as I can tell. Runs on propane and has large solid tires. we should start a show us your forklift thread.....Nice little forklift. Sure you'll find lots of uses for it.
Curious how you refill those propane bottles ... just have a spare and swap them out?
Also curious if it's lifting height would go all the way up towards roof so you could lift shingles when re-roofing? That would sure make a back-breaking job a lot easier and save on delivery charge. Also could be a money-maker for you as lots of delivery companies just put the pallets of shingles on the driveway.
Curious how you refill those propane bottles ... just have a spare and swap them out?
Also curious if it's lifting height would go all the way up towards roof so you could lift shingles when re-roofing? That would sure make a back-breaking job a lot easier and save on delivery charge. Also could be a money-maker for you as lots of delivery companies just put the pallets of shingles on the driveway.
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
The propane guy that comes out in the big truck to fill propane tanks for a house also can fill those bottles. They might not come out for just one, but you can also take it to their business and they can fill them there. It's also cheaper to get your smaller tanks (like for a BBQ pit or those small heaters) refilled / exchanged there instead of at a grocery store or whatnot.
Lifting height depends on how many stages a lift has... 2-Stage is typically around 125" (about 10.5'), while 3-Stage is around 190" (about 16'). It can vary by a few inches depending on the manufacturer and the tires you have on your lift, but you get the idea.
inphx
Well-known member
Thanks for the 2/3 stage definition. I am looking for one to have around during an upcoming build.
Would be interested in whats the big $$ risk of things to look for when buying a lift. If it leaks hydraulics is that a big deal or just tear down and replace some seals/orings or the hoses?
Would be interested in whats the big $$ risk of things to look for when buying a lift. If it leaks hydraulics is that a big deal or just tear down and replace some seals/orings or the hoses?
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EOC_Jason
Well-known member
For smaller forklifts (like the 5000lb and smaller), the engines are usually the same as what you would find in a vehicle, the only difference is they run on propane instead of gas / diesel. Though some are dual-fuel capable too. Propane burns so much cleaner, so as long as the oil is changed semi-regularly then the motor should be good... Maybe a leaky valve cover is about the worst I've had to deal with engine-wise... However, if the engine smokes bad, probably better to pass, but if it fires right up and the engine compartment is relatively clean then I wouldn't worry about it. I would check the oil on the dip-stick to see if there is oil in there and how bad it is.
Hydraulics is a whole different can of worms. If something leaks, it ain't going to fix itself. Seals on the lift cylinders can REALLY vary in cost, and there is absolutely NO rhyme or reason why one will cost an arm and a leg while another is dirt cheap. Hoses are just common hydraulic hoses that you can get made up at an auto-parts store if one is busted or worn bad. Brakes are just brakes... no rocket science there... Electrical system on these are minimal...
If it's a standard, check how it shifts and the clutch... I had to help a buddy change the pressure plate out on his and it was NOT fun... When you work on a forklift to do major work, you really need a second forklift to help do the servicing...
If it's got a bunch of puddles under it, pass... If there is maybe just one or two little leaks, see if you can trace them down before making a decision...
OP
trackwelder
Well-known member
That's a nice little unit! Welcome to the forklift haver's club.
Besides rental units I've never driven one that new and fancy.
I have been wanting to join the club for quite some time.
Also had the propane filled today at uhaul, 6 gals to fill it.
Zeke
Well-known member
I always thought an old clapped out beast of a forklift would make a great single post lift. Portable, too!
That's a perfect size for personal forklift. EOC_Jason is right on propane unit will be much longer life than diesel version (plus who would want diesel fumes inside your garage). Curious if propane refill could be accomplished cheaper with 40lb or 100lb bottle and then ambilical connect to forklift to transfer the small 6 gallons? Friend of mine did that for BBQ bottles from his 500gal propane tank. That would allow you to get bulk price on propane, rather than nearly $4/gal at U-Haul.
Also, there are CNG (compressed natural gas) versions of forklifts that have cng tank instead of the propane. This would be optimal in CA, UT, and OK where public cng stations are statewide and cng cost is cheap. For example all of OK you can get cng from $1.35/gge to $1.59/gge (even at convenience stores like Loves). CNG engines will last forever as super clean fuel. Example is all the Tugs at Denver Intl Airport all run on cng that pull the airline baggage carts around (they were converted from propane a couple years ago).
Also, there are CNG (compressed natural gas) versions of forklifts that have cng tank instead of the propane. This would be optimal in CA, UT, and OK where public cng stations are statewide and cng cost is cheap. For example all of OK you can get cng from $1.35/gge to $1.59/gge (even at convenience stores like Loves). CNG engines will last forever as super clean fuel. Example is all the Tugs at Denver Intl Airport all run on cng that pull the airline baggage carts around (they were converted from propane a couple years ago).
EOC_Jason said:
We run those cats at work. They are tough SOB's, I tell ya! Ours get flogged by temps and part-timers for 16 hours a day, 6 days a week. We've got about 9k-12k hours on them and they are still running great.
I use to run their bigger brother, the P6000. We still have a few of them with about 15k hrs on them.
We got new Toyota's a year or so ago. They do great, although they are turds compared to the Cats.
I use to run their bigger brother, the P6000. We still have a few of them with about 15k hrs on them.
We got new Toyota's a year or so ago. They do great, although they are turds compared to the Cats.
Flathead Johnny
Well-known member
will you be creating a english version of your website? also how much are you selling the stools for?