I don't know very much about forklifts, but I purchased this AC forklift about 2 months ago to use around the farm. It is very old, mid 1980's I believe, but it has performed great for the task at hand. Recently, while in forward/low gear, you could hear this whinning type noise coming from the front. It progressively got worse, until today, when I heard the noise, the front end locked up, as if the brake was applied. I stopped, and started again, could go about 10 ft. then the noise occured, and I was stopped. I took the floorplate out to take a look. At the end of the driveshaft, prior to going into the front axle is something that resembles a torque convertor. The emergancy brake linkage goes into it at the bottom. I think that is where the noise is coming from, but not sure. Any ideas what the problem might be, and how to fix it? The brakes work well via the brake pedal, and the emergancy brake holds very well when applied. I had some people using the forklift, unsupervised, and I suspect they could have left the emergancy brake on while trying to go forward, but am not sure. Any tips you can give me will be appreciated, as I plan on working on it tomorrow to see what I can do. Parts for something this old may be hard to find, and the nearest "big" town to me, is Wichita Kansas.
thanks,
coadman
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Nice one ETS1, I guess Coadman has has shown the AC a gas can and match by now. But nice to know in my ignorance of that machine I was somwher near the point............Dave
Coadman: That is the emergency brake drum at the input side of the differential. Been awhile. But I think you can take out the four bolts and slide the drum back to check brake lining. If not you will have to remove drive shaft. Brake shoes have return spring and they may have broke. Hand brake is mechanical, operates this brake. Make sure it is releasing? Your service brakes are operated by hydraulic in the drive wheels. Just like your car,from a foot operated master cylinder. Also check your drive wheels for locking up? Back tilt your upright or mast. Raise the carriage to get the forks out of the way. Place some oak wood if possible under the outer rails of the mast. Then tilt the mast forward. This will get both drive wheels off the floor if you have no jack available to get wheels off the ground. Put truck in neutral and release hand brake. Both wheels should turn freely? I one turns all most all the way around then locks? You may want to remove and check the bull gear & jackshaft inside? Axle has a gear on the end of it. And wheel inside has a ring gear on it. Some times bolts break and get stuck between gears? Good Luck ETS
Hi Coadman, I don't know anything about Alice Chalmers fork lifts, but you don't seem to be getting any answers from any experts! The unit you discribe in the drive shaft sounds like a "transmission brake" normally used as a parking brake, allthough you describe the emergency brake linkage is connected into it. I guess it is either a drum brake with shoes or maybe a disc brake. So get in there and check it out. I think you will find overheating damage due to the machine being driven with the brake applied. Hope this helps. Let me know how you get on. Good luck Dave
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