Converting a ford 1700 into forklift

[groundcover]

Worked at a garden center as a kid that had a Bolens garden tractor converted to a forklift. You sat on a seat on the hood facing the rear, steering wheel between your knees, mast now in front of you. Only thing was they didn't change the steering ! Absolutely the hardest thing I have ever driven ! You would finally get the hang of turning right to go left in forward but then you would be all wrong backing up ! Then if you were good with your right hand and tried to steer with your left you would be all wrong. I got good with it, fun after a bit plus no one wanted to run it, beat walking !:thumbsup:

 

[Johndeere3720]

Awome project! Now that you are making one, I want to make one myself. I could use something like that for moving logs, firewood, pallets, etc. :thumbsup:

 

[RyanL]

Hi everyone, i started on operators area lastnite. I removed the rear lift cover for 3-point. Now im building a a steering colum/ dash, with the pedals that will bolt on top the rear housing. For steering i got a hydraulic steering valve/ colum from a deere 318 tractor. I was goin use on the articulating tractor, but i need one with a shorter colum for it. I then plan on mounting a hyd cylinder on the side of the tractor in place of drag link and make mount for one end of cylinder on frame. P.S. Sorry for improper paragraphs and long sentences and stuff, not my strong point and im usin my phone it's easier upload pics.

Here couple pics of plate with clearance made for ring gear( raised part). I will be building off this today. Im using 1/4" for most everything in dash area ( trying to scrounge what i got as much as i can)

 

[RyanL]

Oops, got a extra pic in there. O well that is our new used hitachi 1200-5 excavator to replace the cat 5110 at my pit (i work in coal mine). Maybe ill start another thread in constuction and post some pics. Of the new cat 320d hoe they jus bought for me to put in rock drains lol. Jus unloaded it friday. Plastic still on seat.

 

[RyanL]

Couple pics of progress over last couple hrs. It jus roughed in, steering wheel is mocked up and seat

 

[herringchoker]

Ryan, I am impressed with your know-how and fabrication skills, and your "go get 'em" attitude. Looking good. Please keep the progress reports coming. :thumbsup:

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Looking good. I like the way you are doing the dash.
Bill

 

[JB4310]

Looks good, after this you are gonna need more of a challenge.

You should be working for NASA, ya know we don't have a working shuttle in service

JB

 

[RyanL]

Couple more pics of steering colum mounted and some gauges mounted, just cheap ones i think they will work. The tachometer didnt wrk so i done away with it. I still got mount key and glow plug light and throttle etc. Im doing this all with basic tools ( torch, grinder, hand drill, hobart 230 mig welder)

 

[RyanL]

Pic of cover for dash it can be removed with 2 bolts to gain access. Then pic of on/off key with hole for push button start, and above that is a push button for glow plugs with the indicator above that. The lil cover on the left can be removed with 2 screws to gain access to a fuse panel. I will buff all my welds down to give the dash a cleaner look.