The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Towmotor Forklift

Kinda off topic for the bolt in general but I just picked up a new "tool" that I had to share with you all.
It's an early 50's (I'm told) Towmotor forklift. It has a 4 cylinder flat head continental motor and a 6k lifting capacity. It runs good and is already proving handy around the place.
I'm told these were built from 39 up into the early 50's the guy I got it from told me it was an early 50's. From the web research I've done so far it sounds like a Caterpillar dealership should be able to look up the number for me to tell me for sure.
My plan is to use it as is for now. It needs some brake work then it will be getting a safety cage and some replacement sheet metal for some that is missing. Someday when I'm caught up on some of my truck projects (Prob. never) I'll go through it and give it a proper paint job.
I was pretty excited to find an online seller with a Part & Maintenance manual for it so that will help.

Here's pictures.

Anybody have any experience/knowledge of these old beasts they'd like to share? Have at it.

I just can't resist a cool old machine.
MONGO

well like always, i don't have any knowledge to share. just wanted to say- cool old forklift. i was at a auction this last weekend where the sold 2 forklifts. one was old, but not as old as yours. i bet you will have plenty for it to do. hope you got a good buy. hr

That's really neat! I like it a lot, don't think I've ever seen or noticed a forklift as old and unique as yours.

I too just picked up a forklift, quite handy. Traded it even for a walk in cooler, mine looks to be a mid 90's Komatsu with a Nissan 4 cylinder overhead valve regular gas engine. It's also rated to pick 6,000 lb. Still need to find a manual, and curious what year it really is.

Grigg

Well ain't that a nice little stripped down beastie!!! Your local truck tire company should be able to put new rubber on, if you require it. I don't know what they would charge these days!

Be careful to watch your load center!!

That look's like the one that was at Campbell Crankshaft on SW Boulevard. You can still get motor parts but are pricy, try Grindstaff Engines right there in Indep. Also in the bottoms off Truman Rd behind Pick a Part there are several fork lift repair with a lot of salvage F/L

Grigg, very cool, I had been shopping craigslist for a cheap one or even a powered pallet jack. I just bought a fenced paved lot to work from (no buildings just trailers at this point). The guy that had it had picked up a newer lift at an auction a couple years ago and didn't need it anymore. He was using it to scrap cars when scrap was really high. Said he was tempted to scrap it several times but couldn't bring himself to do it as it was such a good running machine. I got it for way below scrap prices even at today's prices. He was pretty happy to see it go to a "Car Guy" that would treat it like he said it deserved after all it's years of work. I told him all my stuff pulls it's own weight and that I wasn't a "Car Guy" I was a "Truck Guy".

MNSmith: Yeah, I have a buddy that works for Cross Midwest that said he'd make me a deal when I'm ready for tires, that's prob. way down the road, the one's that are on there are pretty beat up but they are round and still roll, I may get a quote when I pull the fronts to do the brakes.

Spareparts2: I know the guy that runs Grindstraff, although not for anything to do with forklifts. I plan on swinging by there and talking to him about it when time allows. They are actually just about 1 mile east of my lot where the lift will live there on Truman road. I'll have to try to check out the Forklift salvage places over in the bottoms, I'd like to find the missing sheet metal it needs and an actually factory cage for it. A race car building buddie of mine was over last weekend and said he could knock me one out of Chrome Mollie in no time. But something that was bolt on would be nice.

Thanks for the comments guys.
Mongo

Got to have bolt on. In case you need to do engine work. A permanent cage would get in the way of an overhead lift to remove the engine! Although, I've seen cages with a slot in the top so a sling could be "slid" in to position over the motor. Mainly on Hysters, I think.

Mongo,
I bet you're just grinning from ear to ear (except when Lisa is around,LOL). Another cool toy!

Grigg,
Do you have pictures of that Nissan/Datsun engine? I suspect it's an "E" engine which is a great engine. Let me know if you need and "help" with it, I've turned wrenches for Nissan for 22 years. I actually just replaced a headgasket on one of those a week or so ago, brought back memories of the early days, LOL,
Scott

Thanks Scott,
I'll take some for you. I need to know what engine it is so I can get a new fuel pump, valve cover gasket, and a few other gaskets and pieces.
Can't find any meaningful numbers or tags on the engine..

Grigg

If it's an "E 1600" engine, those parts could be had from an 83-87 Sentra/Pulsar. If it's an "A" engine you would need to look at a 210/B210/510 type of car. Might even be a NAP "Z" 2400 engine too. Shoot me a picture, they're easy to distinguish from one another,
Scott

Been putting the Towmotor to work. It makes a good Engine Puller
And a Great Big Bolt Jack 2.
I'm finding myself wondering how I ever got anything done without it!
Mongo

Sure saves the back having heavy equipment! Forklifts and/or skid loaders are a must have,
Scott