Converting a ford 1700 into forklift

[RyanL]

Well i recently got a sweet deal on a beat up ford 1700 4wd. It turns out it wasnt locked up but jus has broken 4wd driveshaft. So im goin to try to start on my project of reversing controls and possibly flipping ring gear over to get more reverse gears. And mount a small forklift mast on that i have. This is jus a project i been wanting to do and use around shop and be able to go off hard surfaces instead of using the bigger 4wd tractor and loader ill try to upload some pics of what i got

 

[RyanL]

Jus mock up

 

[JB4310]

Sounds interesting,

Are you putting it on the rear for max lift capability with the larger wheels?

No easy way to make it work on the front?
I know fork lifts steer from the rear for maneuverability.

I'd be tempted to just make a little off road doodle buggy out of it, maybe skid some logs.

JB.

 

[DennisFolsom]

Well i recently got a sweet deal on a beat up ford 1700 4wd. It turns out it wasnt locked up but jus has broken 4wd driveshaft. So im goin to try to start on my project of reversing controls and possibly flipping ring gear over to get more reverse gears. And mount a small forklift mast on that i have. This is jus a project i been wanting to do and use around shop and be able to go off hard surfaces instead of using the bigger 4wd tractor and loader ill try to upload some pics of what i got

Looks like a great project!

It will be interesting to see how you handle the operator station setup. Ideally, you should sit facing the lift. That would require some mods to the clutch & brake pedals and linkages, and the steering column. It should be doable. It would just require some creativity and some fabrication.

 

[herringchoker]

That should make a great little rough terrain forklift. Don't forget that once the operator is turned around backwards, the steering will also be backwards. I once had a Belarus 250 that came with a kit to convert to reverse controls (I never made the conversion). With it, you sat on the hood and straddled the steering column. The tractor had a small gearbox that sat on top of the steering column that changed the angle of the steering wheel and reversed its motion if you wanted to reverse the operator station. The local Belarus factory branch had the identical tractor set up as a forklift, but they did the steering the smart way - full hydrostatic.
Interesting project...I'll be following your progress. :thumbsup:

 

[RyanL]

planning on building a subframe and counterweight and reversing operator station i already got a hydraulic steering valve to use for control of a hydraulic cylinder for steering

 

[RyanL]

Welp i tore rear end apart with intent to reverse ring gear roation to make my forward gears become new reverse gears. ( which will be forward for forklift). Anyways all was going well when i stopped and relized my front axle is driven off the pinion shaft. So the front and rear would now fight each other. So my next ? Is does anyone have exploded view or parts diagram of front axle? I'm looking to find out if i can reverse ring gear in front axle? I haven't picked up a service book yet. Just goin on my ag repair knowledge for now.

 

[RyanL]

Before and after swapping ring gear from right side of pinion to left side

 

[RyanL]

Well guys i tore the tractor down a lil further and answered two of my own questions. 1: the reason the 4wd dont work is because its has a broke and missing driveshaft coupler. 2: the front ring gear can be reversed. So on with my creation.

 

[RyanL]

More pics of tear down

 

[Oldmopar]

The local implement dealer has an old massey forklift like you are describing (only 2 wheel drive). I am pretty sure that it is factory, but I do know that it works really well and is easy to see what you are doing.

 

[RyanL]

Hi oldmopar, my grandpa and uncle use to have a old john deere 2010 industrial tractor that was a factory conversion into a forklift. They used it around there welding shop.

 

[JB4310]

That is quite an ambitious project, but you seem to be determined, so judging by what you've got done so far I have no doubt you will pull it off.

I don't have much to offer but encouragement :thumbsup:

JB.

 

[RyanL]

Yea i like a lil challange. I dont know if u can see it but in the backround in one of them pics is a 4wd articulating tractor i built a complete custom frame for and used jd 318 transaxles. Hyd steering. It aint done yet. But im always building something, or repairing farm equipment, or farming if i aint at work.

 

[mwb]

Yea i like a lil challange. I dont know if u can see it but in the backround in one of them pics is a 4wd articulating tractor i built a complete custom frame for and used jd 318 transaxles. Hyd steering. It aint done yet. But im always building something, or repairing farm equipment, or farming if i aint at work.

View attachment 231230

Now that's cool!:thumbsup: Not sure what you can do with it... put a loader on it maybe?

 

[RyanL]

I cant take all the credit for that lil articulating deere, i found pics from one on the net a guy made and i jus built from his pics make up my measurements as i went. I was planning on putting a 3cylinder diesel in with a small turbo i have but had to put that engine in my 330 deere garden tractor cause it blowed up, and i dnt like push mowing lol. Im jus goin put a 3 point and maybe lil blade on it and play with it i got big farm tractors and a 450 dozer and kubota trackhoe to do real wrk

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

My 1900 has the same trans as your 1700. It goes pretty fast in 4th reverse. What are you trying to gain.I think the final drive ratio in 4th reverse is close to the ratio in 12 forward. When you say flip the ring gear are you talking about fliping the whole center section. I love your ambition. I like to build thing just to say i did it.
Bill

 

[RyanL]

Im jus wanting to gain lil more gearing options goin backwards which will be my new forward. Im also wanting to make this look and seem as professional and factory looking almost in a sense. I took the ring gear out and flipped the whole ring gear and carrier with differential(spider gears) over which put the ring gear on the left side of pinion gear( looking from rear of tractor). The pinion turns counter clockwise( lookin from rear) so this now makes the ring gear rotate forward which then turns another set of gears( bull gears in each axle housing) backwards inturn making tractor run in reverse. I also take pride in knowing i built something and can use it. I just enjoy building things, im young (24 yrs old) and work very hard for the things i have, and would rather build things or buy equipment cheap and fix up and resell or keep ( which is how i got most of what i got, and sometimes makes my girlfriend mad, lol i could be doin something to the house) I also work on equipment on the side, too.





Speed chart

 

[RyanL]

Well got the front axle reversed and got a new coupler for driveshaft, and got all that back under tractor. I then started it up and everything works as i was hoping.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Are you going to use hydraulic steering. I am curious as to how you are going to do the operators area for seat and petals. BTW we like pics of projects:thumbsup:
Bill