3 point Forklift with a mast to go 17 feet high

[Sodo]

3 point Forklift with a mast to lift 11 feet high

OOPS not 17 feet; it lifts 11 feet (2-stage).

Thinking of building a lift like in the pic below.

I have a Crown 20MT walkie forklift (or stacker). I had a bunch of trouble with it leaking down and poured time into it because,,,,, how hard could that be to fix? It's not the main cylinder, there is not a drop getting past the (new) packing. It came down to a $400 component, but also needs $600 in batteries, and probably $300 of effort, then it will be worth $1200 (or $1500 if I work harder at selling it).

As it is now I got a real forklift and have lost interest in the walkie and considered sell it for scrap. But now I'm thinking of using it for a project where just the mast is moved around by my tractor. The walkie has 'legs' which help to prevent it from tipping, so it will have less reliance upon the tractor's weight, or ballast in the FEL. You just set it down where you want it, but it's also attached to the tractor.

Anybody know where this has been done with a Crown walkie? It seems like the perfect 3-point mast, kinda lightweight and with the legs it seems ideal for a CUT that has Top-n-tilt. My tractor has rear hydraulics, and a 3rd valve too which is perfect for this lift.

Here is a couple pics I got from the internet.

 

[2458n]

That picture shows it on a dang big CUT. I do not think you will need a Top-n-tilt as that function is going to be automatic on a small unit. Seat belt will be used as well.

 

[Sodo]

That picture shows it on a dang big CUT. I do not think you will need a Top-n-tilt as that function is going to be automatic on a small unit. Seat belt will be used as well.

Incidentally I'm wearing a seatbelt right now, in anticipation.

 

[Rustyiron]

I think you got a winner there. Pull all the electrical stuff and the wheels off and make a "smooth" backside of the mast and you're good to go.

 

[alancamby]

I am no engineer. Wont there be a crazy amount of stress on the top link with the mast raised all the way. Say you lift your load up 15 feet and than reverse 5 feet or so to place the pallet/object on a shelf. The 15 foot high load would be a huge pry bar on the 3 point hitch as you start and stop with a load up high.

 

[Sodo]

You're right. Can't drive with (much) weight on the forks, certainly not high. Unless the walkie is sitting on a concrete floor, with all the weight on its own wheels then it can roll slowly, in a straight line. This is no forklift, but it will put pallets up on my loft. I dont know what the mast & forks alone weigh.

I'm thinking about this because my loft is more than 2 feet higher than my FEL can lift. And because its a fairly elegant peice of scrap.

 

[jenkinsph]

I built one using a 3 part mast with a 24' lift about 1988. If I was to do this again I would build it to fit a backhoe sub frame mounting. I should add that I used a Case 1370 tractor with dual wheels and a full rack of front weights (155 hp tractor). I also had a cat 3 hitch on this tractor. It worked well enough for raising construction materials, but you have to be careful with heavy materials such as concrete and roofing tiles.

I would not consider it with a compact tractor using a cat 1 hitch, too much stress and dangerous too.

 

[Sodo]

Hi Jenkins, thx for the description. Are you advising against putting a 2 stage 11 foot walkie on a cat1 hitch? This walkie has its own feet, sits on the ground (has roller wheels). You can see them in the 1st post.

 

[jenkinsph]

Hi Jenkins, thx for the description. Are you advising against putting a 2 stage 11 foot walkie on a cat1 hitch? This walkie has its own feet, sits on the ground (has roller wheels). You can see them in the 1st post.

I would not do it because there would be too much stress on the top link. I understand the fact that the wheels on the legs are carrying the mast loads. If you redesigned this for casters you could still turn with it too. If you can devise a good frame mounting it would be much safer to use than the 3point hitch. Also recognize that tractors have an oscillating front axle that pivots, all the stability will depend on the rear axle. On my Case the 18.4 38 duals were close to 11' wide with the inner tires filled.

You need to be careful if you do this. What/how do you prevent the 3ph lower arms from rising, since most can have no down pressure?

 

[Sodo]

Jenkins I'm not following you. If the front legs of this walkie forklift prevented it from tipping forward for 40 years how does attaching a tractor let it tip up?