bjohn,

Yes, I know Al Ohrt, worked with him at AC in, Harvey & Matteson stayed in touch with him over the years, meet up with him again at Komatsu, in Georgia. He was planning to hang up the spurs in July, 2009. I did it in 2007. It looked like another 1973 & 1982 was coming to me. Business slowing down, margins & commission lower as manufactures dig deeper into the discount pots, needed to sell 3 times more equipment to make the same money.
Saw him a few weeks ago and we are planning to play golf soon - at our age we can play for $30/round w/ cart Monday thru Friday & hit unlimited # of practice **** for $8. Of couse, with a back that is forty, twenty four that ain't so many

oldie but a goldie

if it has an alternator it will most likely be negative ground

but if it has a generator it can go either way (positive ground is oldschool but isnt unheard of to still run into)
take the generator out and take it to an auto electric guy (starter and alternator shop)
he can tell you if it is negative or positive ground and give you some ideas where to start

you could probably convert the system to negative ground with a 1 wire hookup delco 10SI or 12SI if you do indeed find its a positive ground machine
again ask your auto electric guy about that

if you got pics of the engine and charging system you can send em to my email (in my profile) if youre not sure what you have

good luck

john,
you were with AC ? Did you know Al Ohrt-Sales ? Komatsu recently laid him off after all these years.

No I have a small machine shop and I actually just did a little work for someone in exchange for the forklift. I runs real good just that battery problem. So I thought I would look for info on it.

gene

genc c

This machine you have is a 1959 model year. I would suspect parts are really hard to find for it. Your best shot might be to find a "Tusk" dealer, used to be called Kalmar AC, Kalmar AC was last owned by Komatsu Forklift out of Covington, GA - they have a web site www.kfiusa.com that can help you locate a dealer close to you. They still have access to some Allis Chalmers parts that are located in a mine near Kansas City. But the chances are very small to get parts for 49 year old machine - most machines that old have been shipped to China a scrap metal when scrap metal was in demand at $.12/hundred.

If that doesn't work there is a dealer near Pittsburgh called Langer Material Handling that has a long time history with Allis Chalmers and very resourceful. Ask for Kevin Langer use my name - John Johnson they might be able to help. Don't have a tele for you, but they are or were a Tusk - Kalmar AC dealer & are a Mitsubishi dealer. I knew Kevin's Dad, Bill Langer real well from my Allis Chalmers days.

Good Luck

Hope you didn't pay too much over current scrap value for it - today scrap iron is going for $.03/hundred and falling.

It sounds like either the battery is no good, there is a short in the system or the charging system is faulty.
Most people don't "restore" forklift trucks since it costs more than the truck is worth to do it.
As far as the engine cover and seat,rather than make them you would be much better off buying them. We can supply both.
You can reach me at gitrucks at adelphia dot net.

It is I.C. regular gasoline. I hopeing to get info so as to go through it so it is in good condition and perhaps restore it.
The engine run real nice and hydraulics are also good..I have to make an engine cover for it and new seat.

Thanks for the reply
Gene

Is this an I.C. or electric forklift? An I.C. would have a negative ground like an auto. An electric should never have a ground (unless it is really old).