over the years Iv'e had and seen several engine covers fail on Cat" DP50 & DP50K forklifts. Breaksge occurs where the seat mounts, it cracks all the way around enough to causr the seat to actually seat on top the engine dip stick. This always happens after warranty has expired. I'm talking about 40 ~ 45 forklifts since 1995 having the same problem. Our local Cat dealer says there's nothing they can do except replace the engine cover at the customers expense. We have tried reinforcing and replacing, even the new replacment fails after a couple years of use. Just wondering if anyone has the same problem or not. I would like to see Cat step up and finnally address this problem.
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I have seen that problem on other brands with stamped steel engine covers. The area where the seat sets on is thin and stress cracks start around the bolt holes for the seat slide tracks. We used to take 1/4'' by 1'' steel bar stock and match up the holes for the seat bolts, extending past holes about an inch front to back , put them between seat tracks and hood. It helps displace the weight and helps keep the hood from cracking around the holes. Pneumatic trucks, especially with "Solid" tires that are operated on less than desireable surfaces are rough on engine covers and the seats as well. The rest of the truck in that product line is very durable and will stand up in some very harsh enviroments.
We just got a dp back today a used repo so I dont think they babbyed it.Back tire looks as if it has been drug on a grinder.Hood is free of cracks.Mast hoever is a diffrent story.So how do you charge a man that has filed bankruptcy for repair cost?Ya we will eat tthis one
I don't mean to single out one brand, but with this brand and model series Iv'e seen the most frequent breakage. Pneumatic & Solid pneumatic tire forklifts are designed for uneven surfaces but not for pot holes or rail road tracks that's just common sense. This failure is a weak link and should be addressed by MCFA.
Ive seen these failures on all brands not just cat and as ED stated harder use faster break.
I have seen these failures in all sorts of trucks, not just cat 50s, and almost always they are worse where the truck is used on rough unpaved surfaces, worse where the driver is a really big person, and worse where the truck is driven hard and fast over railroad tracks and potholes. as you noted, most often they last long enough to outlast the warranty period. I have also welded additional steel to the cover to 'harden up' the area that cracks, for those drivers. I am not sure why someone would expect the factory to make better something that normally outlasts the warranty, and I am not exactly sure why someone would single out a certain brand and series of units unless that was some sort of clue to the failure. isn't the design on the cushion tire LPG trucks cowling pretty much the same? doesn't the cushion have even more 'jarring' that causes that sort of metal fatigue in normal operation?
edward t
It's the engine cover (cowling just as I clearly stated in my post. I'm not certain where your coming from with your reply but, I assure you these are normally driven forklifts as the manufacture intended. I was looking for more of a constructive type suggestions although I can appreciate yours.
are you talking about the engine compartment cowling, the part to which the seat is mounted? or are you talking about some other engine cover? if you operate a truck as a rough terrain truck because it is diesel powered and has pneumatic tires, then you should expect some failures, if you purchase a rough terrain truck you might not see those same failures, besides, the trucks are warrantied for so long because that is how long you can be sure they will last....
if you want to go "baja" buy a bobcat, in my humble opinion...
maybe your operators need to loose some weight?
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