Convert "Walkie forklift" to 3-point attachment (Lifts 11 feet high)

[ishiboo]

That's a lot of fluid.

I'm not sure what you have, but a B3200 only has a 3.8 gallon capacity as rswayn says. When you raise the mast, you are going to take out nearly half the hydraulic fluid in the tractor. That's not at all in the working range.

Sure, most of the time will be small lifts. But if there are times you will put the masts up and back up to drop something off or pick something up that's high, you want to make sure it's okay to operate the hydrostatic for a short period of time with only half the fluid in it.

I would check to see if the cylinder has a second port. Sometimes they just have a breather cap on the other port.

 

[MossRoad]

Once you count hoses, it looks like you're getting near two gallons of fluid. If your system is only 3.8 gallons, its going to drain your tractor's hydraulics by more than half. Thinking about it, you may not have to consider the hoses. Its not going to drain anything past the compressed cylinder, so the volume in the hoses should never change. Anyhow, its still a considerable amount of fluid and that's not good. I don't know how your tractor is configured. Do you have separate transmission oil and hydraulic oil or is it all one system? If its all one system, you may want to reconsider using it, because you'd be draining your tranny by half each time you extended the mast all the way up.

Again, just something to look into. I've thought about getting a forklift like that for my Power Trac PT425, one with the wheels on the outriggers. But I have a 10 gallon hydraulic system. I hope you can make it work. Its a worth while project. :thumbsup:

 

[Shield Arc]

Why not buy a PTO pump, and build a hydraulic oil reservoir?

 

[MossRoad]

Why not buy a PTO pump, and build a hydraulic oil reservoir?

That would be a good solution.... downsides are having to hook up a pump to the PTO and running hoses to the tractor each time you wanted to use it VS just hooking up two hoses. And it ads to the cost of the project significantly.

Plus side is you don't kill your tractor.

 

[mjcountrybumpkin]

We'll this is an insane idea but do able. Run a hydraulic motor off of your remotes to power a hydraulic pump to suck out of a reservoir to run lift.

 

[ishiboo]

Why not buy a PTO pump, and build a hydraulic oil reservoir?

Probably because of the $700+ of added expense? You need the pump, hoses, reservoir, filter, and if you want any type of accurate control, its own control valve as well.

That may be the only solution though.

 

[aczlan]

Probably because of the $700+ of added expense? You need the pump, hoses, reservoir, filter, and if you want any type of accurate control, its own control valve as well.
That may be the only solution though.

However, being as he is starting with a walk behind forklift, he has a pump, hoses, reservoir, filter and a control valve (although it sounded like the valve had issues, perhaps a different section could be used?). He would just need a hydraulic motor to run the pump, or a new PTO pump and possibly a valve.

Aaron Z

 

[xzcVAbc5]

As far as hose volume goes I would neglect that in the calculation. Once you fill the hoses the first time the fluid will stay in there for all future uses.

 

[ishiboo]

However, being as he is starting with a walk behind forklift, he has a pump, hoses, reservoir, filter and a control valve (although it sounded like the valve had issues, perhaps a different section could be used?). He would just need a hydraulic motor to run the pump, or a new PTO pump and possibly a valve.

Aaron Z

Ah, I thought all that stuff was stripped, he only mentioned taking the electronics so I didn't know all that stuff existed. That's a better start then

 

[aczlan]

Ah, I thought all that stuff was stripped, he only mentioned taking the electronics so I didn't know all that stuff existed. That's a better start then

Perhaps he didn't, I just assumed he did from his "Been planning this for awhile but started on it yesterday, and stripped off all the electrics. Got some good stuff for the toybox" comment and his other thread where he was trying to fix it before deciding to bring it home.

Aaron Z

 

[Sodo]

After stripping the walkie I've got a tank & 12v electric pump in my toybox! But if any part of this project requires time or money thats not adding decent enjoyment; it's just not gonna happen.

Not sure how the volume will work out. Also I don't envision travelling more than the length of the forks with it up high.

Can I add "returns" to the cyls, then fill Both cylinders? After that, the net volume req'd is only the "rod volume". The cyls are plumbed for return of "leakage past the packing" which is 1/8 NPT ports, (pretty small).

 

[aczlan]

Not sure how the volume will work out. Also I don't envision travelling more than the length of the forks with it up high.
Can I add "returns" to the cyls, then fill Both cylinders? After that, the net volume req'd is only the "rod volume". The cyls are plumbed for return of "leakage past the packing" which is 1/8 NPT ports, (pretty small).

You could, but you would need to add a relief valve to limit the pressure in there to 50(?) PSI and probbaly . Might look at the cylinder model numbers to see if they can have a better top seal added? What is the rating on that motor (RPM, and HP or volts and amps)? Surplus Center has pumps for $50ish that might be able to drop in place of the electric motor.

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

After stripping the walkie I've got a tank & 12v electric pump in my toybox! But if any part of this project requires time or money thats not adding decent enjoyment; it's just not gonna happen.

Not sure how the volume will work out. Also I don't envision travelling more than the length of the forks with it up high.

Can I add "returns" to the cyls, then fill Both cylinders? After that, the net volume req'd is only the "rod volume". The cyls are plumbed for return of "leakage past the packing" which is 1/8 NPT ports, (pretty small).

Check on the specifics of your tractor hydraulics first.

If you determine it won't work, you could always go back to the 12v system and run it off your tractor's 12v with a pushbutton at your operator's station.

 

[Sodo]

I dont recall the pumpmotor specs. I'm off in the mtns of Utah on a motorcycle trip, it may be a couple weeks 'til I can look. But The cables supplying it were 4ga.

 

[xzcVAbc5]

Better late than never on the pictures, I guess. I'll be using this lift to hopefully move (safely and successfully) a 1000lb gun safe within the next month.