I Finally Got It!!!!

Inno · Apr 22, 2017

Haven't been on the forums much lately as I haven't really been working on anything of interest. Well that all changed today. A 204 Forklift that I've been trying to get for a number of years was offered to me this morning out of the blue!
After a bit of a scramble to find a trailer and a fight to get it out of it's previous resting place which almost toppled a loader, we had it on the trailer.
Snapped a few pictures of it being loaded because it just looked so ridiculously small lifted way up in the air like that. Unfortunately the loader operator tried to lift it by it's cab which did actually work for a while but it eventually broke and became twisted. One front wheel spindle had been broken off since the last time I saw it but other than that, it's all complete. I'll take more pics at a later time but for now, enjoy!

Tony in Mass. · Apr 22, 2017

Why do these pictures remind me of the wilds of northern Canada?? Oh. Never mind.
So the rollover was good till they tried to lift by it? That stinks. The front wheel is around there somewhere? That just happened recently too? That also stinks.
Was just thinking about you today, i am moving... stuff... around the yard, and i found that slimy tranny off a junked 204- you asked about it once? .. it hasn't got any better with time... but...
i hope nothing is wrong with your new toy- that can't be fixed anyway. congratulations!

2tractors · Apr 23, 2017

Don't try that with your wagner!

Inno · Apr 23, 2017

(quoted from post at 22:56:49 04/22/17) Why do these pictures remind me of the wilds of northern Canada?? Oh. Never mind.
So the rollover was good till they tried to lift by it? That stinks. The front wheel is around there somewhere? That just happened recently too? That also stinks.
Was just thinking about you today, i am moving... stuff... around the yard, and i found that slimy tranny off a junked 204- you asked about it once? .. it hasn't got any better with time... but...
i hope nothing is wrong with your new toy- that can't be fixed anyway. congratulations!

Yeah, when I first looked at it, probably 4-8 years ago....It was all pretty much in tact and straight. The roll cage was all in place and straight when I went to talk to the guy yesterday morning. When I got back with the trailer it was bent and broken......I have the other front wheel, spindle is broken clean off, probably from moving it around with reckless abandon.
After sleeping on it I think I'll try to get it running first which means removing the carb and giving it a really good soak for a few...........months. If it runs and seems like it might want to move etc, then I'll buy a new spindle for it and go from there. Not sure how long it has sat for, guessing at least 20 years so all of the linkages will need to be freed up. Rear tires were still holding air so that's a bonus. Fluids all look good, inside of the gas tank I think is the typical rusty mess but I haven't shone a light in there just yet.
She seems to be a 1963 which makes her the newest one I have, she's also the cheapest one I've bought so far although the other two were running to some degree when I got 'em.

Tony in Mass. · Apr 23, 2017

That tranny is different than the one i got.
So it was all OK- for 20 years? till yesterday?? oooh... what a rotten shame. if my mudder was here, she'd say "mood zis crack kay Canaid zee an....

Inno · Apr 23, 2017

Ok, so just what transmission do I have? From what I can determine it's got a high/low shifter and a forward/reverse shifter. I thought there were only the two variants, manual or instant reverse.

Tony in Mass. · Apr 23, 2017

I will bet yours is instant reverse, that's why the gear lever is bent like that. The one i have has a ... 3 position? pedal- like a model T Ford transmission- for your right foot. I guess it is a hydromatic whatever. When David in Wales reads this, he'll know. So you going to do a 100% restoration? And go up phone poles with it? That'd be cool..

ptfarmer · Apr 23, 2017

The 204 has the instant reverse.

Inno · Apr 23, 2017

This one has the 3 position pedal bit it's been mounted up on the forklift operating station and tied to the throttle linkage somehow. I think everything is there to put it right way around if I choose to. I have the carb apart and soaking right now so we'll see if it runs or not soon. The carb wasn't as bad as I expected. The one on my 35 was worse when I got it and that one was running.

shaeff · Apr 26, 2017

Very cool. There was a forklift like that for sale near me a while back, just across the river. I couldn't think of any reason to buy it at the time. There was also a "shovel", which is kinda similar I guess. (I think it was called a shovel)

Also, it's good to see you back online, Inno! I've read many of your posts!

Inno · Apr 27, 2017

Thank you, makes me feel like I've reached celebrity status........not quite! :lol:
Yes, there were quite a few adaptations made to these machines for various purposes. Very useful machines to be sure. I'm still not sure if I need a forklift but I can think of a few things I could use it for. That's probably getting ahead of myself because I know nothing about it's current condition. The carburetor came out of a 3-4 day soak in carb cleaner, got scrubbed, had another bath in a degreaser, another scrub, rinse and blow dry.........it came out looking pretty good. Should really have taken before pictures. Probably a good 1/4" of oil/dirt build up over most of it but it still wasn't as bad as the one that was on my 35 when I got it.

Inno · Apr 27, 2017

(quoted from post at 20:12:30 04/23/17) I will bet yours is instant reverse, that's why the gear lever is bent like that. The one i have has a ... 3 position? pedal- like a model T Ford transmission- for your right foot. I guess it is a hydromatic whatever. When David in Wales reads this, he'll know. So you going to do a 100% restoration? And go up phone poles with it? That'd be cool..

That's a great idea Tony! But alas, I don't do any climbing now. I've taken a position as a central office technician so I look after all the background equipment that keeps things working. Steep learning curve but much more interesting and challenging.
If nothing else I can probably use it for changing the bulbs in my yard light. Maybe fashion a rake for picking up brush or fallen trees etc.

Tony in Mass. · Apr 27, 2017

Yeah. Kinda like now, you 'need' to palletize all your junk. What's the reach on that thing? Or you don't know yet eh? Looks tall. I wonder if you could do weekend contract work for loggers or a mill? I bet cousin Lyle in Alberta would know how to put this rig to work!!! I think he got something like it already. It will eventually pay for itself.

Inno · Apr 28, 2017

Not really sure what the reach is, from the way I look at it it looks like there are two "levels" to the lift. If that's the case I'm looking at maybe 20ft or so......seems awefully high, kinda scary high. Got a carb kit on order so hopefully we'll see if it runs soon and I'll let ya know.

I Finally Got It!!!!

Inno

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