Thanks guys, great info. We have another forklift to pick up the weight, and I'm pretty sure the bolt or bolts are still there since we lifted under the counterweight and lifted the wheels off the ground. Getting it back on once I move it here might be a trick but I'll manage. You are right, it's a lot of weight and every possible caution will be used, but I believe the equipment I have can handle it.

I'm going to run down there and have another look. The tag on the machine just shows it as being a Type G, FGC25. I'll get the serial number and maybe that will identify it more closely.

Thanks,
Jim

just to be safe support the counterweight before removing the blot/bolts

Depending on exactly WHICH FGC25 you have you will have a single large counterweight retainer bolt, or you will have 2 smaller retainer bolts.
The late models (FGC25K, and FGC25N) use a single large retainer bolt, I think it is 30mm diameter with a 46mm (1-13/16") hex head.
The earlier models (possibly FGC25 D up to the K models) had 2 20mm bolts and it seems like those bolts had 1-1/8" hex heads.
If you have the older model with 2 bolts, I hope one of the bolts has not broken its head off (leaving the remains of the broken bolt sticking out like a stud).
That scenario happened to me some years back that required us to use an arc welder to melt off the remaining portion of broken bolt before we could lift off the weight itself. It is possible that the bolts have fallen out already.
I also recall that those 2 bolt models had big issues with the ramped brackets that the counterweight rests on.
The problem with that was the counterweight bolts would loosen (and sometimes fall out) and then the counterweight would bonce up and down hitting the ramped surface of the frame brackets. The hammering would wear away a lot of material on the ramp AND on the counterweight. That would cause the counterweight to settle down further (in relation to the retainer bolt holes) and prevent your retainer bolts from entering their holes in the frame when you tried to remount the weight.
The solution for that was to weld up the worn away material from the ramped surfaces enough to replace what was missing from the ramps and from the counterweight.
If you have never lifted a counterweight off before, you need a heavy chain (5/16" links minimum, 3/8" preferred) that has a single grab hook on one end only, about 5 feet or longer.
After you get the propane tank bracket off, you will see 2 large holes in the top of the counterweight.
You drop the end of the chain down through one hole and using a coat hanger or wire, you fish the end over and up through the opposite hole in the counterweight. It may be necessary for you to remove the airflow grille in the rear of the counterweight (if it still has one) to manipulate the chain.
The counterweight weighs around 3,300 Lb. so you need another forklift, or an overhead hoist of sufficient capacity to do this job.
If we could post photos here I could show you exactly where the bolts are. You will need to have your eyes about 8" to 10" above the floor at the rear of the truck to see the bolt, or bolts inside their recess pocket of the CW.

If you are standing behind the forklift looking at the counterweight, it will be down towards the bottom center. Usually there is a pin you have to pull up and out of the way to get to the bolt. I dont know the exact size of the bolt but it should be a socket size of around 2 inch. Its a pretty big bolt. It bolts the counterweight to the frame.

Thanks, that helps a lot, the bolt is the part I haven't found yet. Can you give me any more information about that? Is it one bolt centered across the machine? Where in regards to the radiator? Can I see it from the top? About what size is it? Does it run vertical?

The forklift is at a different location about 20 minutes away so I can't just go out and look at it. The tank, bracket, and top covers are off but not the small cover over the radiator yet, so I hope I'll see it once that comes off.
Thanks a bunch,
Jim

Ok, First you take the propane tank off. Then you take the propane tank bracket assembly off of the counterweight. Take the radiator cover off, it is between the hood and the counterweight. Then at the very bottom of the counterweight there is a big bolt that bolts the counterweight to the frame of the lift. Take that bolt out. Then there should be 2 fairly large holes in the top of the counterweight. Run a strong chain down one of these holes and back out the other hole. This is how you will pull the counterweight. Then with another forklift, over head crane, or a hoist with a 2 ton capacity or greater pull up and back on the counterweight. The counterweight sits on hooks made on the frame of the lift. When you pull the weight and reinstall be very careful and go slow as damage to the radiator and or exhaust system may occur. This is how I would pull the counterweight.

Sorry, wrong model number, not sure how that happened. It's a FGC25 Propane.

Jim

Jim, If your model is in fact a FBC25 you don't have a counterweight. The battery is the counterweight. There is a panel on the back of the lift. 2 bolts hold it on the lift. Inside should be the contactor panel.