Big Joe walk behind forklift?

I think it says PDM-20-106

Gunner

"The importance of morality is that people behave themselves even if nobody's watching. There are not enough cops and laws to replace personal morality as a means to produce a civilized society. Indeed, the police and criminal justice system are the last desperate line of defense for a civilized society. Unfortunately, too many of us see police, laws and the criminal justice system as society's first line of defense." --Walter Williams

Gunner wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

It WILL come in handy. If its the 2K lb model, it will pickup a Bridgeport. Best have concrete though, its heavy and you're gonna bury it in the dirt! Gunner, you really need to find a concrete truck with extra concrete in it! Take care buddy Marty

If it's like the one I had you will sooon find that it's not a real forklift or pallet jack- it can't pick up a skid off the floor because of the forward legs. It's a 'lifter' for moving items from rack to rack.

-Carl

I have had one for several years that has the "outriggers" under the forks. Great for a small space and shuffling things about. I just set blocks under whatever I wanted to be able to move. If yours is wide enough to stradle a pallet, you might be able to go to ground to pick it up but I would not try to roll around on anything but concrete or wook with any kind of load. The wheels, on mine at least, are too small to spread weight out on a soft surface. I'd bet yours will sink in any surface with give to it up to the frame. Now if you had some plywood or mdf sheets around, it would probably do pretty well. Respectfully, Ron Moore

I had both a LITTLE JOE and a BIG JOE at the computer repair warehouse. The little one was, indeed, only useful for pallets or items smaller than 30" across, because of, as you say, the legs.

But think I remember the Big Joe having had a span of about 50" between the roller arms. I seem to remember we could kick most any normal-sized pallet off the floor.

LLoyd

On the day of Fri, 31 Mar 2006 10:53:58 GMT... Gunner typed these letters:

If it's like the Big Joe pallet jacks I've used the ground clearance wasn''t but like 2" and the wheels were solid. They worked fine on flat level concerete. It might run across hard packed, dry, completely flat dirt without a load. but, I'll bet it wont with a heavy load.

I've seen some larger Schreck pallet jacks that had been modified to lift things from the top instead of pallets. They the forks welded to the mast upside down about 6" apart and a heavy steel plate welded across the end of the forks with a lifting hook attached to the center. I thought that was a neat idea.

Devonshire

I have a Crown walk behind, and the outriggers are adjustable. I did just have it serviced recently, and was very happy with the company that worked on it. Let me know if you need a number.

Thanks

Jason

I have a big joe, but might is counterbalanced (no outriggers), I find it very useful for moving things. Mine has transitor speed control, allowing one to slowly and gently move, say, a 100# vice up to the mill, without hitting the mill. This is why I bought it.

You don't say if yours has outriggers or is counterbalanced, the problems with outriggers are well discussed here.

You will want to investigate the kind of controls - some are pretty rough, others (the transitor models) smooth and controlable.

I really would not recommend it for dirt floors. It will concentrate a lot of weight on small hard tires. Concrete. Concrete is your friend.

bmw

I've had a Big Joe for 20 years. I've got the manual. Parts aren't cheap but are readily available. I'd replace brushes in both the hydraulic pump and the drive right away. When you take out the brushes, keep careful track of exactly how they went in and which brush is in which location. If you lose this and try to reinstall anyway, you will put them in wrong three times with the motor running backward before you get it right. (Don't ask me how I know this). Also take a look at the main motor contactors, file them down to clean pit free surface or replace. After you do all this the machine has twice the power.

My big Joe won't do anything but concrete floor. Small hard rubber tires. They are much more maneuverable than a forklift. AND A HUGE ONE, they don't hit the OSHA forklift requirements for small employers.

Karl

Yup..this has outriggers and very small wheels..so i suspect its gonna be a PITA to use around the place. Ill fix it up and sell it and maybe find a small pneumatic tired forklift with the money

Gunner

"The importance of morality is that people behave themselves even if nobody's watching. There are not enough cops and laws to replace personal morality as a means to produce a civilized society. Indeed, the police and criminal justice system are the last desperate line of defense for a civilized society. Unfortunately, too many of us see police, laws and the criminal justice system as society's first line of defense." --Walter Williams

Gunner, I have a Big Joe that has been sitting in the same spot in the shop for the last 20 years. Never move it, but use it every day. I have a steel plate on it. 3' x 4' x 1" thick. It is the handiest workbench you will ever have. I hate to bend over or squat down when working on something. So for things like push type lawnmowers, generators, small air compressors, I just lower the plate, roll the work piece onto the plate and raise it up to a comfortable height. Plate has enough mass that it also makes a good anvil.

LOL..thats not a bad idea! I got it off the trailer tonight..all 4 bats were about half charged..raised and lowered pretty good. Its the traction motor that has an issue. The brushes are Missing ..gone..vanished from the motor, along with the square thingies that pass the wire through the side of the case (I think).

I think the traction motor has two sets of windings..as there are 4 heavy wires going to it..well..two attached..and two dangling

Gunner

"A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."

- Proverbs 22:3