Forklift battery

[Northstar9126]

Had to work all weekend. Today some guy driving a semi with a boom sticking up knocked down the lower power line that crosses the highway to my house so I couldn't use the computer all day.
The forklift is a Clark Narrow Aisle
Model : NP 500 35T
Serial # : NP 245 673 2752 FA
LBS : 3500 A B C
24 185 24
Battery Max 2300
Min 2000
Volts 36
Any additional words of wisdom welcome.

Word is that the poor guy driving the semi knocking down power lines started from a logging company 25 miles south of me. That might get expensive.

 

[56FordGuy]

It's a toss up. How bad is the battery, and what's your charging situation? Did you get a charger, if so is it one you can even use? Take the battery and do a load test and an equalize charge on it, depending on what that comes up with it may be worth pulling the battery out of the lift and troubleshooting further.

How often do you think you'll use a forklift? Like Wayne County Hose said, the batteries are designed to be run almost completely down, then recharged and run again, usually they have a 6 hour run time. Charging, then letting it sit for days or weeks is really less than ideal. That said, you got the thing for free. So long as you can get it going, even temporarily, without spending a bunch of money you may come out ahead. If it comes down to spending two or three thousand on a new battery, then I'd agree with the others and sell it or scrap it. Check the local classifieds and craigslist, used propane lifts tend to run between two and three thousand dollars here. If you were an industrial customer that would be running the lift every day, it might be worth a brand new battery. In your situation, I'd rather go with a used propane lift.

Do what you can with it without spending a lot. Load test, water the battery, equalize charge. See how far that gets you, it may get it working well enough to last a little while if you aren't running the thing every day.

Did I read that correctly, the guy was knocking down power lines and such for 25 miles?

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Ahhhh, a Clark. My condolences. I believe this unit has a digital display. It's a side stance unit. If you pop the covers off, you should see a silver label on an electrical panel that says "EV-100." The EV-100 is a great drive system. I think it will be under a panel behind your arse when you're standing on the truck or it will be under the top cover. It's been a while since I worked on one of these. The old Clark propane units were beasts but their reach trucks weren't anything great. Any word on the battery? Clark is pretty much dead. They were bought and sold so many times that I think there is a red light over the plant.

 

[jake98]

They were bought and sold so many times that I think there is a red light over the plant.

good one.

 

[fixit]

You need to decide if the battery is dead because it is in its self dead or if the thing is not charging due to the charging unit or prehaps a wiring issue in the truck you cant scrap it untill you have worked out what and why the battery is dead

It may be that your friend has had these tests done so he knows what he has given away or it may be that he needed a new and reliable truck so didn't look into it only you and him know that

About 6 years ago i bought a cheap fork lift at a sale with an issue with the battery so i was told. turned out it was the charger at fault and the last owner didn't know any better.

cost me ｣75 for a service exchange charger board and its been fine since. but then but it could well have gone the other way its a chance you have to take

 

[micha77]

Those fork lift batteries can be repaired.....there are individual cells that come out for replacement....you'll have to do a little research to find an industrial battery service company to do the work...I wouldn't recommend DIY as these things are dangerous if not versed in this work....

A local forklift company may have a guy that does this or can steer you to a battery company....

These batteries are expensive and forklifts with a dead battery is pretty common as the people that have them realize a battery could cost 3-4 thous dollars depending on the size/amp hours/voltage ect.....and more likely to give it away......

If you test the cells with a hydrometer and voltmeter you may be able to determine how many cells are junk.....Hope this helps.....

It's an old thread but I must appreciate your answer, you suggest totally right. I agree with you.