Save or Scrap? CAT Towmotor sitting for years. Will it Run??

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  • čas přidán 18. 11. 2023
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Komentáře • 2,9K

  • @drunkdunc8738
    @drunkdunc8738 Před 6 měsíci +807

    The Towmotor co est 1919 were the inventors of forklifts, their early models didn’t have forks and would just tow carts from place to place 👍🍻

    • @ksw501
      @ksw501 Před 6 měsíci +49

      That’s interesting. I’ve worked in the LTL freight industry and have heard fork trucks referred to as tow motors by people who’ve got many years under their belts.

    • @divadyrdnal
      @divadyrdnal Před 6 měsíci +32

      Ha, always heard the term “Towmotor” for “forklift”, now it makes sense! Thanks

    • @fourhillsfarm
      @fourhillsfarm Před 6 měsíci +35

      Beat me to it. Cat bought that company and of course the rights to the name.

    • @grahammctygue724
      @grahammctygue724 Před 6 měsíci +13

      Distributor may be turning under load ,harmonics off be blessed Matt

    • @ColtonBlumhagen
      @ColtonBlumhagen Před 6 měsíci +18

      Pretty sure Clark was the first.

  • @hotasianstepsister3039
    @hotasianstepsister3039 Před 6 měsíci +322

    The small forklift getting lifted by the bigger one is like a mother cat bringing her kittens back😂😂😂

    • @backroadsliving7740
      @backroadsliving7740 Před 6 měsíci +14

      Underrated comment had me dying

    • @dans_Learning_Curve
      @dans_Learning_Curve Před 6 měsíci +6

      YEP 👍 Great comment!

    • @kevinchamberlain7928
      @kevinchamberlain7928 Před 6 měsíci +3

      That's a girly comment! LOL!

    • @TheSRBgamer63
      @TheSRBgamer63 Před 6 měsíci +4

      @@kevinchamberlain7928 It is ,because it is not forklift but wheel loader ....wtf.

    • @hayleyxyz
      @hayleyxyz Před 6 měsíci +17

      @@TheSRBgamer63 you understood what she meant perfectly. don't be a pedant and condescending because you think women aren't interested in engineering/mechanics/old iron.
      I see dudes using slightly incorrect terminology all the time; I doubt you call them out. This is CZcams, not a professional workshop.

  • @leviwhite9
    @leviwhite9 Před 6 měsíci +6

    "Got a screwdriver..., woop yeah things are angry down here...., the lights really did dim, heh heh heh!" That gave me a hearty chuckle as well, especially since you called it beforehand.

  • @slothbones9677
    @slothbones9677 Před 6 měsíci +3

    0:34 we can see here as the mother gently picks up her offspring. Truly a sight to behold.

  • @tardis454
    @tardis454 Před 6 měsíci +238

    Don't give up on the Towmotor just yet Matt. At work we have a mid 70's 15,000lb capacity Towmotor with a Continental flat 6 that had a similar lost spark issue. Our company purchased the machine from a salvage yard where it lived outdoors exposed to the elements for many years. It took some digging, but my friend (who's name is also Matt) found the problem. There are bakelight/plastic pieces that isolate the points assembly/parts from the breaker plate and distributor body. The bakelight/plastic pieces had disintegrated and were causing the engine to randomly lose spark. My friend found some non-conductive material at our shop and made new isolators for the distributor. That solved the problem and the Towmotor has run fine ever since. The distributor in that machine was rusty like the one on your machine due to being stored outside for a long time. My friend thinks that's what caused the isolator pieces to become brittle and fail. It's worth checking out.. Distributor refurb kits are still available as are new/used distributor assemblies. Those old Towmotors are great machines once they're sorted. #DieselCreek

    • @kirdot2011
      @kirdot2011 Před 6 měsíci +24

      I think by the time he reads your comment it will already be a scrap metal...also...that doesnt solve the oil leaking problem

    • @davidnull5590
      @davidnull5590 Před 6 měsíci +12

      Gold star mark. You gave the solution to the ignition mystery problem, good work.

    • @leaderz0rz
      @leaderz0rz Před 6 měsíci +8

      even if he fixes the spark problem, its still dumping oil like niagara falls.

    • @vaderdudenator1
      @vaderdudenator1 Před 6 měsíci +6

      It’s also still a clutch machine

    • @1978garfield
      @1978garfield Před 6 měsíci +7

      I get it isn't worth it for him.
      I hope he makes an attempt to sell it before scrapping it.
      After all if everyone scrapped everything that was "worth more as scrap" this channel would have a lot less videos.
      I fully understand it isn't worth Matt's time to fix this.
      How ever there may be some one else who has the time and is willing to do the engine rebuild.
      Even if he swaps the mast and forks from the AC.
      It is a Cat and there are a lot of Cat collectors out there.
      I fear it has already been cut up but I would love for Matt to offer it for scrap +25% and find a taker.
      Hey, a can dream can't he?

  • @andrewmain3572
    @andrewmain3572 Před 6 měsíci +161

    You should know by now, if a forklift (or in this case a Towmotor) is not leaking, there's nothing left to leak!

    • @whitesapphire5865
      @whitesapphire5865 Před 6 měsíci +7

      If there ain't no oil under the engine, it's because there ain't no oil in the engine?!

    • @mudbunny6388
      @mudbunny6388 Před 6 měsíci +6

      Just like old Harleys, if it ain't leaking, it's out of oil.

    • @johnosborn2704
      @johnosborn2704 Před 6 měsíci +6

      One last thing you might do is check your muffler for being plugged

    • @mountainjeff
      @mountainjeff Před 6 měsíci +2

      @@mudbunny6388 And British cars, of lore.

    • @colestowing8695
      @colestowing8695 Před 6 měsíci +1

      @@johnosborn2704 I thought the same. Could be packed full of rodent condos-that would maybe explain the blow-by too (backpressure)... And then if clearing it helped with backpressure it could even theoretically help with the oil leak

  • @collinlindsey3471
    @collinlindsey3471 Před 6 měsíci +10

    That started single handily carried this entire video. These are always great to watch cause I like looking at old machines run

  • @tbddevelops
    @tbddevelops Před 6 měsíci +33

    My Dad worked in a pallet factory that was just across the road from our house when I was small child in the 80s. 6 year old me, would love to go and stand by the fence and watch my Dad drive around in one of these things moving large stacks of pallets. It wasn't until I was in my late teens that I knew that these were called Fork Lifts. I had always called them Stacker Trucks. Just hearing the sound of this running brings back some fond memories.

  • @sjgerber
    @sjgerber Před 6 měsíci +384

    @Diesel Creek - Towmotor was a fairly popular brand back in the day. The company was founded in Euclid, Ohio in 1919, during the early days of forklifts, right when Hyster and Yale were getting started too. The company operated until 1965, when it became a wholly-owned subsidiary of another forklift manufacturer (Caterpillar Tractor), and production ceased sometime in the 1980s.
    Why share these pictures? Well, Towmotor is an interesting part of our industry history. See, the Towmotor marketing people were pretty savvy. They promoted their forklift as a "one man gang" capable of doing the work of 30 men (aka a gang) using hand trucks. That idea, of a one man gang really seemed to light up the imagination of forklift owners and operators. Soon people were referring to ALL forklifts as “towmotors” regardless of the brand. This was pretty great for Towmotor, but less so for all the other brands. It’s a classic example of a genericized trademark.

    • @DieselCreek
      @DieselCreek  Před 6 měsíci +57

      Thanks for the info!

    • @seanspring8991
      @seanspring8991 Před 6 měsíci +35

      I can still see the old Caterpillar Towmotor plant on Tyler Blvd. in Mentor, Ohio :)

    • @nsbhagwat
      @nsbhagwat Před 6 měsíci +34

      Like using the name xerox for photocopy process.

    • @TheStevedie
      @TheStevedie Před 6 měsíci +22

      Ive always wondered why guys call them towmotors! I'm like its a forklift not a towmotor...the hell is a towmotor? Now that makes sense.

    • @wayneblack7265
      @wayneblack7265 Před 6 měsíci +17

      I have always referred to forklifts as towmotors.when I worked for an industrial service we were contracted to a aluminum foundry. The main use of our forklift was towing trailers with big diesel welders on them. I would take them all over to where they were going to be needs. We had 4 welders and I also done the upkeep on all of the equipment.( Welders, forklift, man lifts and telehandler.

  • @jimburgess9205
    @jimburgess9205 Před 6 měsíci +178

    That starter is a real trooper.

    • @jimmycricket5366
      @jimmycricket5366 Před 6 měsíci +6

      Guaranteed if it was the summer that starter would've been smokin'... And not in a good way!

    • @masterbates7016
      @masterbates7016 Před 6 měsíci

      It was in my prayers

    • @alanprather8399
      @alanprather8399 Před 6 měsíci +6

      I'm suprised it didn't let the magic smoke out. ok it did let magic smoke out.

    • @garysprandel1817
      @garysprandel1817 Před 6 měsíci +30

      Starter needs to be pulled before scrapping and given a place of honor somewhere in the shop for service above and beyond.

    • @Theweldingmillennial
      @Theweldingmillennial Před 6 měsíci +2

      When your engine has no compression, your starters not working very hard 😂

  • @general0ne
    @general0ne Před 3 měsíci +2

    That opening shot was like a mama lion carrying her cub out of danger! 😄

  • @budlvr
    @budlvr Před 6 měsíci +18

    I'd check the rim dimensions and see if you could transfer those pneumatic tires over to Allis (with maybe a little wheel opening trimming. Other than that, good decision Matt!

  • @mattnickeson9049
    @mattnickeson9049 Před 6 měsíci +68

    Much respect for calling attention to you doing something dangerous. Which of us hasn’t been in a hurry and done something stupid only to realize it afterward? It takes a lot of integrity and humility to own and highlight it for others.

    • @TjC2102
      @TjC2102 Před 6 měsíci +5

      Was thinking the same thing. Well done Matt. My grandpa always said it takes a man to admit when he's wrong. It still does.

    • @nigelgrant9693
      @nigelgrant9693 Před 6 měsíci +4

      Well done matt

    • @dougyaroch3380
      @dougyaroch3380 Před 6 měsíci +1

      Very good

  • @Speedycat
    @Speedycat Před 6 měsíci +25

    The sound of your Armytruck in the intro is so cool, i had to rewind to watch the intro again

    • @user-kv7jj6gt4f
      @user-kv7jj6gt4f Před 6 měsíci +1

      Drove a lot a Army miles in an old Duce like that one.
      The horn has a sound of it's own plus love the Turbo sound too.

  • @PaganWizard
    @PaganWizard Před 6 měsíci +32

    I don't think I can recall the last time you threw the white towel into the ring, but you definitely gave it far more attention that it probably deserved. I'm sure that the outcome of this revival was not at all what you were hoping for, but this was still a great video.

    • @MikeT-TheRetiredColonel
      @MikeT-TheRetiredColonel Před 6 měsíci +1

      Agreed, I can't as well, but, even with these occasions, you can still see Matt's skill shine - hell, he got it running after all, right? :) Matt, imho, scrap it

    • @paulsilva3346
      @paulsilva3346 Před 5 měsíci +1

      1:10:46 I disagree something is not working and you need to find it. I think you should dig this forklift back into the shop and see what the reader replies have said😮

  • @hydro2wheel
    @hydro2wheel Před 6 měsíci +28

    This brought back many fond memories of the first forklift I ever operated, a 1950's Towmotor. The shop's chosen forklift mechanic knew of it's history before the shop owned it. It began life in the high rise construction industry. Back then it was raised floor by floor with a crane to move construction material around as the high rise buildings were constructed.

  • @jas-FPV
    @jas-FPV Před 6 měsíci +65

    You show some video editing skillz 🤣
    Nice 👍🏻
    The semi supervillains on the garage door

    • @user-ht1xu4gv2u
      @user-ht1xu4gv2u Před 6 měsíci +2

      Epic graphic on door fix ND SELL SWap down the road

  • @sagewolf8528
    @sagewolf8528 Před 6 měsíci +15

    Semi supervillains logo on the door was a nice touch

  • @Balderoni_
    @Balderoni_ Před 6 měsíci +23

    There was some comments here about not to give up on this one and not to scrap it.. But for real this forklift has so many issues as you said and maybe the worst problems you havent found yet so I do agree on scrapping this. It just doesnt seem to be worth the time and money to get it fixed & that clutch aint really a smooth one to use.
    Thanks for the awesome video and take care Matt ❤🇫🇮

    • @davidelliott5843
      @davidelliott5843 Před 6 měsíci +1

      I used a diesel powered Lancer Boss forklift in the mid 1970s. It had large pneumatic tyres, two gears (one forward and one reverse) connected by a torque converter. The only fault was its open battery that self discharged if left wet after use in the rain.

  • @scatpackdriver2535
    @scatpackdriver2535 Před 6 měsíci +18

    The GM starter sell node back in the day , the contact disc could be flipped over giving you a new surface on the disk . Its been a long time back but it seams like the copper stud bolt contacts could be rotated 180 in the bakelight insulator.
    Thanks for making the video. 👍

  • @guntotingtexan
    @guntotingtexan Před 6 měsíci +42

    My nextdoor neighbors are both retired from Towmotor. They have one and use it as their mail box. He made a mini pallet on the forks and perched on it is the mail box. Pretty cute and a big middle finger to the P.O.A.

    • @jblob5764
      @jblob5764 Před 6 měsíci +2

      Absolutely love that

  • @tarstakars
    @tarstakars Před 6 měsíci +51

    I was a maintenance repairman at a metal Refinery for a very long time starting in the early 70s and we had about two dozen Tow Motor brand forklifts some dating back to the 1940s all powered by little Continental 4 cylinders. I'll tell you what, they were virtually indestructible.

    • @MrNobodyAkaCraft
      @MrNobodyAkaCraft Před 6 měsíci +1

      Back when Made in America meant it was quality! Good old days!!!

    • @steveskouson9620
      @steveskouson9620 Před 6 měsíci

      Those old Continental engines are pretty damn good.
      Doesn't Matt's Deuce (and a half) have a Continental?
      steve

  • @Swirlybum
    @Swirlybum Před 6 měsíci +3

    Old trick with those delco solenoids is to slacken the top contact nut. push the stud in. rotate 180 degrees and retighten and you get fresh contact for the solenoid to contact with.

  • @darkwaterliquor
    @darkwaterliquor Před 9 dny

    Years ago when I worked on VW Diesels (pre 2,000), I would put Slick -50 into the cylinders after I jacked up the car to make the cylinders plumb. I would let the car sit over night, put the injectors back in, start the engine and let it get hot. Teflon in the Slick-50 would help seal the rings for a while to get College students through to graduation.

  • @royhedrick8099
    @royhedrick8099 Před 6 měsíci +104

    An air filter would help starting by causing more vaccum to suck the propane in. Similar to a choke on a gas engine

    • @masterbates7016
      @masterbates7016 Před 6 měsíci

      Definitely. Smaller the engine the fussier they are with air and fuel. I had a Honda spree scooter and without air filter it wouldn't run.

  • @scottyb2727
    @scottyb2727 Před 6 měsíci +23

    It's amazing how serviceable the older equipment is the newest stuff not so much

  • @rockcrusher4636
    @rockcrusher4636 Před 6 měsíci +1

    An idiot in a gas station did just what you did and the battery blew up, started a fire, the entire gas station burnt to the ground and my uncle who worked beside this guy in the next repair bay got 167 stitches all over his body, all thanks to that guy's negligence. Not a scratch on the idiot. It's dam serious, good that you pointed it out. Cheers.

  • @irchrisb
    @irchrisb Před 6 měsíci +3

    Towmotor still has a lasting legacy at Cat. Before TM, Cat part numbers were the 1A-0001 format, or type A. TM brought the 123-4567, or type T, format.

  • @prinzeugenvansovoyen732
    @prinzeugenvansovoyen732 Před 6 měsíci +48

    You should get that roof cage for the small wheel loader and as much steel as you can get from the lift stages, you can use that
    Also you can yank the side shift cylinder and the hydraulic valve
    Battery obviously, maybe keep the counterweight for a tractor weight and the cooler grill as Yard ornament, a cast that says Caterpillar is neat

  • @briancasey4917
    @briancasey4917 Před 6 měsíci +75

    I was a machinery hauler for 38 years. There was a machinery mover/rigger in cleveland that would load/unload from time to time that had Townotor lift trucks from the 1930S/1940s that solid built they would repair rebuild as needed. These guys were old school they would drive these townotors on and off their straight trucks on blocked wood planks. They were one of the best riggers I ever worked with.

  • @squirtdaddy3428
    @squirtdaddy3428 Před 6 měsíci +2

    My dad said back during the Civil War they used them to tow aircraft around in the hangers, Lee said, let's call those things "towmotors" and the name stuck. Makes sense to me@

    • @billsheffield4572
      @billsheffield4572 Před 6 měsíci

      Think you dad was pulling your leg a little bit, EVERYONE knows it was Grant that said that, NOT Lee.

  • @memyself7413
    @memyself7413 Před 6 měsíci

    And the ambiguity award for 2023...................goes to Diesel Creek's, Matt, for this beauty:-
    11.51 "I've seen batteries explode and take people out, and I've tried bringing a couple back, using a welder."
    Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

  • @Farm_fab
    @Farm_fab Před 6 měsíci +129

    For those that might be wondering, the fuel gauge was designed for a gasoline engine, and the forklift was converted to propane, so the gas tank is completely empty for safety reasons.

    • @dans_Learning_Curve
      @dans_Learning_Curve Před 6 měsíci +9

      Saw the gauge and fuel cap on the side. Probably an early conversation before duel fuel carbs?

    • @toddavis8603
      @toddavis8603 Před 6 měsíci +4

      Today's LOADING DOCKS are 90% no smoking areas, so fuels won't ignite as readily as say----1970's.

    • @safcforme
      @safcforme Před 6 měsíci +7

      Watch our US friends head explode when an engine runs on GAS lol

    • @codyselcamino
      @codyselcamino Před 6 měsíci +6

      I work for a forklift repair shop, I get a call once a month or so from customers that say their fuel gauge doesn't work, I have to explain this every time

    • @billtefft4315
      @billtefft4315 Před 6 měsíci +2

      . The name "Tow Motor" comes from the Towmotor Corporation, which was founded back in 1919. The original Towmotor machine did not have forks on the front. Rather, it was an industrial tractor that was made to push and pull carts from one point in a warehouse to another.

  • @mm9773
    @mm9773 Před 6 měsíci +39

    Watching these videos is like checking in with a friend who is into stuff you know nothing about. Just interesting and positive.

  • @blue68chevelle
    @blue68chevelle Před 6 měsíci +3

    O’Reillys used to sell a universal drop in four-cylinder electronic ignition upgrade to replace the points on forklifts. You might check on that. I’ve worked on a few forklifts over the years and I can tell you one thing. Even with a good running engine, if the starter is hung in to the fly wheel ring gear, it takes a tremendous amount of current to turn over that engine. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen people try to start a forklift that the battery was low on. they crank the engine over just slightly, and then the starter hangs in. even with a jump pack and a charged battery they won’t crank over. There was a couple in particular that I worked on all the time and the guys never could figure out how I could get them started after they had tried multiple times. The trick was really simple. I reached in and turned the fan blade which turned the engine over until I heard that tale tell click of the starter disengaging. Then I would hop on and fire it right up. That starter needs to get the momentum going before it engages the teeth on the fly wheel in order to have the torque needed to crank even a freshly ran engine. Another thing about the propane forklifts is your usually running a two stage regulator for the propane. The first stage takes liquid propane out of the tank at high pressure and evaporates it into a gas. The second stage of the regulator takes the pressure down even more to feed into the carburetor. To prevent the first high-pressure stage from freezing up as the liquid propane evaporates into a gas the engine coolant is pumped through the body of it. So, if your antifreeze/coolant is low or not circulating properly the high pressure regulator will freeze up starving the engine for fuel. There was one that was basically worn out, but it was at a small business where I knew the guys, they had already spent a bunch of money with a forklift repair technician who replaced all kinds of stuff, then wanted to do a head job on it, etc. so they called me and asked if I could take a look at it. Like yours in the video it would barely run had no power didn’t wanna stay running. What I finally decided was somehow, the timing had changed just enough that it was firing too late on all the cylinders. So I simply moved the spark plug wires, reverse rotation of the distributor, one tower on the cap. It fired up, and then I was able to adjust the timing using the distributor adjustment. they were ecstatic. When they offered to pay me I told them don’t worry about it. Just remember that next time I need something done. They used that old machine for probably another year before it started having other issues.

  • @michaelmckay9827
    @michaelmckay9827 Před 6 měsíci +29

    Matt these videos are getting better with each one I don’t know what I would do without your channel. Amazing!

  • @Easterndmondbk
    @Easterndmondbk Před 6 měsíci +17

    TOWMOTOR CORPORATION was founded in 1919 and introduced the first forklift industrial truck in 1933. On November 10, 1965, Towmotor officially became a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Tractor Company of Peoria, Illinois

    • @jasonwolfanger4181
      @jasonwolfanger4181 Před 6 měsíci +1

      Also the first machine with that name was a forkless unit designed to push and pull carts in industrial settings.

  • @Revilo0o
    @Revilo0o Před 6 měsíci +6

    Love the Semi-Supervillains ad placement!

  • @cpyart
    @cpyart Před měsícem

    You did all the right stuff. As to loss of spark, i've known a bad earth strap to be the causation. If she were mine, i'd rip out that engine because she obviously needs rings and a regrind of the valves and i'd fit a diesel unit. If time and price is a factor in your area, then strip her for parts and scrap what's left. Nice to watch you do exactly what i would have done before making these awkward decisions. 👍

  • @wileycoyotesr8623
    @wileycoyotesr8623 Před 6 měsíci +10

    Win a few, lose a few, play a few in the rain. The video was well edited and entertaining. Thanks! 👍👍👍

  • @hilham89
    @hilham89 Před 6 měsíci +14

    Nothing like starting the day with breakfast and a diesel creek video.

  • @ctvxl
    @ctvxl Před 6 měsíci +1

    The moment I realized it had a clutch, I said, "Nope. Send it on down the road" LOL

  • @360plussynthetics
    @360plussynthetics Před 6 měsíci

    I had to chuckle at the intro... when big machinery is used to move around little machinery. Come here little fella. Lol

  • @joelwatson3045
    @joelwatson3045 Před 6 měsíci +61

    Checking compression early on in an unknown engine like this is a good idea.

    • @LarryYaw
      @LarryYaw Před 6 měsíci

      That would not make as interesting a video, lol.

  • @richardaustinaustin1890
    @richardaustinaustin1890 Před 6 měsíci +53

    I would actually be disappointed if Matt didn’t use the impact on the spark plugs 😂. Thanks man 👍

    • @msmith2016
      @msmith2016 Před 6 měsíci +3

      But wait, there's more! The oil plug too! Surprised he didn't try to adjust the carb with it.

    • @realemonful
      @realemonful Před 6 měsíci +2

      I was just glad that his bragging laughs did not get him anywhere this time lol 👍

    • @hmallett
      @hmallett Před 6 měsíci +1

      What's the correct torque setting for those spark plugs?
      Matt: "Yes".

    • @msmith2016
      @msmith2016 Před 6 měsíci +1

      @@hmallett Obviously the goal is to hold the spark plug still and find an impact driver big enough to rotate the engine under it.

  • @evan_kumar
    @evan_kumar Před 6 měsíci +1

    OMG! Those letters look like the stickers on the garage door! But they’re not!🤩🤩🤩🤩

  • @silverbackag9790
    @silverbackag9790 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Napa must smile broadly every time you walk in. Funding their kid’s college plans.

  • @Bigdaddyslasher
    @Bigdaddyslasher Před 6 měsíci +47

    The reason I enjoy your channel is you remind me of my uncle, who was heavy diesel mechanic RIP R.G.. He would buy equipment at auctions typically not running and from people who had them for decades refurbished them and sold them. People would say he turned junk into gold.

    • @alanpecherer5705
      @alanpecherer5705 Před 6 měsíci +1

      Turning junk (some would say s**t) into gold is an absolute classic and very honest way to add value = make money. I had a fabulous business doing just that with specialized computer terminals in the 80's and 90's. Nowadays there seems to be very, very few opportunities to do that, with the exception of houses and older cars. And the older cars are usually over the top Hollywood or exaggerated eg; somebody puts 1200 hours into a 1961 Ford Fairlane rustbucket wreck and they sell it for $56,000. Right, happens every day. What I'm saying is, you don't see too many people using 25++ year old anything these days.

    • @Bigdaddyslasher
      @Bigdaddyslasher Před 6 měsíci +2

      @alanpecherer5705 I watched him turn junk into cash until the day he died. He had the knowledge and skills with tools to do it. He built custom bolt action rifles in his machine shop because his hobby was long-range competition shooting. He didn't have a son but a daughter, and she wanted nothing to do with his business. When he died, she got it all and sold it all the same week. She only loved the money amd still does.

    • @barrytipton1179
      @barrytipton1179 Před 6 měsíci

      Bet you miss him

    • @Bigdaddyslasher
      @Bigdaddyslasher Před 6 měsíci +1

      @barrytipton1179 Every day, he was my buddy, and I learned a lot from him, and we hunted together for years. He was my mom's baby brother at 6" 11" tall LOL

  • @oliverwilson6162
    @oliverwilson6162 Před 6 měsíci +5

    Awww, such a cute beginning! Momma CAT picks up it's kitten by the scruff of the neck

  • @oddwad6290
    @oddwad6290 Před 6 měsíci +1

    As a self trained street mechanic , I picked up about 10 old forklifts over the years . The small towmotors(precat) had many issues , but usually the same . Blown head gaskets between 2 cylinders , Worn steering joints , but joints could be adjusted for wear ( remove counterwieght for ease of access ) and very worn reverse/forward gears barely catching . Still I loved my small Towmotor lifts . They would start everytime and were extremely maneuverable in very cramped places . I had a 391 and a "LT35" plus other makes .They were very handy in a metal shop and tons of fun . Best tool ever . Enjoy your videos they bring back many fond and not so fond memories .

    • @johnstinnett1571
      @johnstinnett1571 Před 2 měsíci

      I just picked up a V30B yesterday. It will be a project.

  • @joelfluth2999
    @joelfluth2999 Před měsícem

    @48:40 love the emotion we're all sharing

  • @inasnap7133
    @inasnap7133 Před 6 měsíci +7

    On November 10, 1965, Towmotor officially became a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Tractor Company of Peoria, Illinois.

    • @danh2134
      @danh2134 Před 6 měsíci

      I think they closed up shop in Peoria and now in Texas

  • @jacobspence5288
    @jacobspence5288 Před 6 měsíci +46

    Matt’s dance whenever something fires up for the first time cracks me up ever single time. Keep up the awesome content man! 👍🏻

  • @brunokhelloul4277
    @brunokhelloul4277 Před 6 měsíci +10

    One of your best ones for a while mate, so satisfying when they start😊

  • @brianschuit8271
    @brianschuit8271 Před měsícem

    Love the telehandler content! ❤ I have a 2007 jlg 1055 4.5 Deere motor
    Get a slide on boom attatchment or quick attach boom to make picking easier from the back of you sea cans..
    Also be very cautious of side loading the boom when pushing a truck or yourself out when stuck.. especially when extended! With the boom in the mud and machine turning the boom bends and is ruined. Straight back only. No wheel turning

  • @donstaggers5298
    @donstaggers5298 Před 6 měsíci +3

    Caterpillar bought the tow motor company in 1965 or 66 to get into the forklift business . Towmotor the one man gang !

  • @ez1913
    @ez1913 Před 6 měsíci +18

    She probably needs a new pressure regulator for proper LPG carburation. Makes them tough to start.
    Nice find, Matt. Good for parts. Thanks for sharing.😉

  • @pjoter71
    @pjoter71 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Best background action, carton of delight 😆

  • @AdamVest
    @AdamVest Před 6 měsíci +1

    "If you want to save them all then you become a crazy cat lady" -- Matt 😂😂

  • @michaelpage7691
    @michaelpage7691 Před 6 měsíci +4

    My mate stuck a 4 cylinder Toyota motor in his which he runs on gas. Magnificent little forklift. 🇦🇺😁👍🏻

  • @JAAulde
    @JAAulde Před 6 měsíci +3

    6:37 Matt: “Where’s the dipstick?”
    Me, immediately: “He’s holding the camera.”😂

  • @4Him4u2
    @4Him4u2 Před 6 měsíci

    I’ve never seen you not able to save one of these relics. Oh well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Heroic effort!!

  • @ski3rcraz10
    @ski3rcraz10 Před 6 měsíci +1

    I no joke just happened to start scrolling CZcams for a good video to watch while I am doing some other work and out loud said “yes! Never mind my next hour is booked” to which my wife said why, and I showed her you had released a new video. Can’t wait.

  • @oddvardmyrnes9040
    @oddvardmyrnes9040 Před 6 měsíci +31

    Seeing Matt's happy face through the smoke bring a smile to my face. A wise man said; happiness is enjoying the simple things in life. 🙃

  • @ypop417
    @ypop417 Před 6 měsíci +36

    Matt The booms may switch from one to the other. Also you may be able to swap the tires and rims giving you pumatic tyers for driving outside.

    • @jstar1000
      @jstar1000 Před 6 měsíci +3

      I was about to post that about the tires and wheels myself.

    • @wrangler6977
      @wrangler6977 Před 6 měsíci +1

      Same here I am glad that I read this before commenting, however the Cat was rated for 2200 lbs and the Allis Chalmers for 5000 lbs. You will have to be sure that you can keep the original 5000 LB rated hydraulic cylinders and that the Cat carriage can handled that load. Also I would suggest that you invest in a Depstech bore scope, you will be able to pull the spark plugs and see what kind of shape the cylinders and valves are in, along w/ many other helpful uses. I love mine, helps me see what is going on before I get started.

    • @ypop417
      @ypop417 Před 6 měsíci

      @@wrangler6977 I believed the ratings decrease is due to the addition of the side shift and or height increase. Both have impact on the capacity.

  • @billholemo2518
    @billholemo2518 Před 5 měsíci

    Towmotor used to be a forklift manufacturer many years ago. Cat bought towmotor out back in the 40s,50s toget in the game. Cat n Clark are the most Difficult to work on. Nissans are the Best. 😊.

  • @TheNortonio
    @TheNortonio Před 5 měsíci +1

    "Al Gore machine".... I see what you did there. 😆😆😆

  • @tbirdracefan
    @tbirdracefan Před 6 měsíci +5

    We once had a Towmotor branded forklift at a company I worked at in the 80's. It was an old one and had a learning curve but was amazingly reliable.

  • @MapleHillMunitions
    @MapleHillMunitions Před 6 měsíci +32

    I was 15 and taking automotive classes at the local trade school. We had a CAT forklift that had the exact same issues. Compression, spark, timing, fuel, firing order, etc was always good. Never did get that engine out to see if it had jumped time internally. I need to check in on it 😂

  • @davesworkshop2714
    @davesworkshop2714 Před 6 měsíci +1

    You need to keep that starter Matt 😂. That was a heart breaker. Suffered the same myself, went to do a will it start on a Case 1394 with the engine full of water. Got her rolling but no way would it fire. So much cranking that I carried 2 starters so I could swap out rather than waiting to cool. 3 videos, a set of rings, 1 piston and 4 exhaust valves later I got it to finally fire up. Just like that old CAT I'm looking forward to it heading for the shredder 😅😅. Somethings just don't want to be saved. Keep up the good work 👏

  • @keyman42
    @keyman42 Před měsícem

    I enjoy watching thanks for your time putting it all together. I am retired 72 years years old in Arkansas.

  • @jodydoakes8754
    @jodydoakes8754 Před 6 měsíci +10

    I worked in a couple of factories many years ago. All forklifts, forktrucks were called Towmotors, regardless of brand. Some of them were actually Towmotor brand.

    • @alcopower5710
      @alcopower5710 Před 6 měsíci +3

      Like many people call a reciprocating saw a Sawzal (Milwaukee) regardless of manufacturer. 😂

    • @MrNobodyAkaCraft
      @MrNobodyAkaCraft Před 6 měsíci +2

      And there was Kleenex in the office.... LOL 🤣

  • @davidhainline6357
    @davidhainline6357 Před 6 měsíci +24

    Have you considered installing an Eye Wash station in your shop? Could save someone’s eyesight one day.

  • @bricelamey4358
    @bricelamey4358 Před 6 měsíci +4

    “You called it a sparkalator….”
    You and Derrick have helped me so much through this tendon recovery process I’ve been working through.
    I a hung fan of your content . Thank you

  • @ernestrhoades5147
    @ernestrhoades5147 Před 6 měsíci +1

    I worked on those yrs ago i was a cat mechanic ,if its not smokin it will run a nother 20 yrs , oil leaks are common from the rear seal the seal holder is aluminum and must be replaced as they warp.

  • @Dinggo0
    @Dinggo0 Před 6 měsíci +18

    I love these long videos reviving the dead even if it's just to give them their last breath. It is interesting to see these machines, fun to see you complain about them and educational to learn the procedures to follow when finding yourself in those dead ends that can blow the fuses of more than one... and in the end, it was just a weak switch making ground contact. It's good to see it reach a successful end (the start-up) even if it's not the best of results, but not to see how the towel is thrown in... so I hope to continue watching many of these videos in the future! greetings from Argentina!!

  • @Farm_fab
    @Farm_fab Před 6 měsíci +3

    Matt, the only things I see of value on the Cat forklift would be the gauges, the hydraulic pump, the power steering reservoir and maybe the steering valve. The tires and wheels might be worth a few bucks to the right guy, or you might be able to get different wheels for the Allis, and use them on there.
    Years ago, I knew a guy that had a motorcycle engine he utilized to power his forklift. It sure sounded funny when he used it, but it did the job.

  • @Denis-tu1pd
    @Denis-tu1pd Před 6 měsíci

    In my 1926 Oldsmobile I use 50 weight racing oil and my 1936 Chevy gasser 50 weight racing oil . The 1926 Oldsmobile book says 50 weight oil awesome video.

  • @tfatcher
    @tfatcher Před 6 měsíci

    Matt, You made the right call...may she rest in peace. But your video was GREAT! It was better suspense than watching Monk track down the killer. You are amazing.

  • @jackbraithwaite8345
    @jackbraithwaite8345 Před 6 měsíci +25

    Good episode Matt. I think you are making a good decision to send it down the road, maybe parting it out to friends, reference the engine to your "Continental" friend. But you might want to think twice about the starter. That thing hung in there like a Champ. Maybe it will work in another application, ya never know 😅. Looking forward to your next adventure. 👍🇺🇲💪

  • @michaelpowers5143
    @michaelpowers5143 Před 6 měsíci +9

    Matt, I found this information: many companies built variations, Towmotor's "one man gangs" were so popular that all industrial forklift trucks were generally referred to as "towmotors." Since they were considered essential cost-saving equipment, one Towmotor performed the work of thirty men with hand trucks...

  • @red_3dp981
    @red_3dp981 Před 4 měsíci

    I hate to say it, but I gotta agree with you on this one. After that 2nd compression test, I think she is done. It's old and worn out. In my opinion you would need to check the wiring for the lost spark, at the minimum tear off the head and check the pistons, replace some seals and clean her up and that is just to get it runnin again right. Not mentioning what other things may be wrong with her that you haven't found yet. Plus with that manual trans in it, it just isn't worth the time and money. It would be better to take parts to make your other one better and then scrap/part her out. As others have mentioned you might be able to make those wheels work, but it is hard to say honestly. But either way, I love the videos man, keep up the awesome work. I love seeing people bring these old equipment back to life and see if they can still be used anymore, instead of just throwing them away.

  • @dieseldoctor2221
    @dieseldoctor2221 Před 3 měsíci

    Matt you are a true mechanic and not just a parts changer i like the way you figured out what the problem was with that starter an repaired it TRUE MECHANIC!!!

  • @Stevestractoradventures
    @Stevestractoradventures Před 6 měsíci +12

    As you say can't win them all. Was curious how the power was comeing along. Hopefully by now all hooked up and good to go

  • @davidwelling9471
    @davidwelling9471 Před 6 měsíci +9

    Used to be able to rotate the contacts 180 degrees in the solenoid and it worked fine.

  • @Timothy-lb2vr
    @Timothy-lb2vr Před 2 měsíci

    That was the most through and complete tune up on an internal combustion engine I have ever seen. You should sell a copy of this video on the open market CONGRATULATIONS

  • @williamsullivan9401
    @williamsullivan9401 Před 3 měsíci

    Older propane forklifts had a pre-heater for the fuel. Coolant lines and fuel lines run in and out of a thing that is round, and about 5" in diameter, and maybe 2" thick. A lot of them had a primer button in the middle- kind of worked like a choke. You could push it manually for more fuel. I seem to remember that they were normally electrically activated.

  • @KE4GBW
    @KE4GBW Před 6 měsíci +17

    Thanks Matt for mentioning the power company being there. I was wondering where you were at on that. Hope you get your heat and stuff going soon.

  • @objektivone3209
    @objektivone3209 Před 6 měsíci +6

    A respectable youtube channel

  • @richardturk7162
    @richardturk7162 Před 6 měsíci

    Glad you added a little oil to the engine I was worried for a minute..
    Keep the forks and sell the engine to someone that is into them but make him take the whole thing.

  • @jesterr7133
    @jesterr7133 Před 4 měsíci

    I worked with used batteries for over a decade, and I have charged and tested probably 20 thousand or so in my lifetime. If you want to try to bring one back that has been sitting for years, the trick is to take your time. To start, hook it up to a known good battery with jumper cables for a couple of hours to establish a base charge, then trickle charge it for about 24 hours. If it charges about 10.7 volts on the trickle charge, then it will probably be ok. If it goes above 10.7 on the trickle charger, then put it on fast charge for another 24 hours or so, regardless of what the voltage is after the trickle charge. Sometimes a battery can show a full charge after a trickle charge, but will not hold it if it sits for any length of time. If you follow these steps, the battery will come back around, as long as the cells have not delaminated. I brought back a 17 year old battery that had been in a car that hadn't run in 9 years without changing the acid. I jumped it off and charged it on several machines over 4 days, but it was good as new when I was done, and held at 11 under load after sitting on the shelf for a week. Also, the brands have a lot to do with it. AutoZone/Duralast/Valucraft batteries are the best on the market, with Everstart, Autocraft, and Interstate coming in right behind. Deka and AC Delco batteries are garbage.

  • @andrewg2322
    @andrewg2322 Před 6 měsíci +18

    Love the battery explanation, said alike to someone who may have seen one or two blow up accidentally on purpose. Good to know 😂💪🏼

    • @robertandjodijackola4901
      @robertandjodijackola4901 Před 6 měsíci +2

      Had battery acid from my stupidity explode I to my eyes. I flushed my eyes constantly and still could not see for 10 minutes. Probably needless to say, I wear glasses now.

    • @wrenchingwithrob6001
      @wrenchingwithrob6001 Před 6 měsíci

      Thought the same thing as he was arcing the starter. I’m glad he mentioned “don’t do this “ to the masses!

    • @v65dreamer
      @v65dreamer Před 6 měsíci

      I was at Wal-Mart and heard the boom and the scream caused when somebody hooked jumper cables to the battery. NOT something I'd like to experience.

  • @danhard8440
    @danhard8440 Před 6 měsíci +23

    don't forget the load center for the weight rating
    so a 2200 pound load rating at 12" center means you have 1100 at 24" and 550 at 36" and 275 at 4 foot which is about the length of the forks

  • @dryroasted5599
    @dryroasted5599 Před 6 měsíci

    One of my first jobs was in the stationary engine shop of a heavy equipment dealer. I worked with a crusty old German fellow whose accent made him barely understandable. He had a lot of odd terms for stuff that I hadn't heard before; including calling the forklift a "Towmotor." Finally one day I'd had enough and I exclaimed, "It's a forklift! Everyone calls it a forklift except you! Why do you call it a Towmotor?"
    He scowled at me and pointed, "Because that's what it is. Look, it says so right there." I looked where he had pointed, and barely legible under the rusty, scabbed paint, was the impressed moniker, TOWMOTOR. I haven't heard a forklift called that again until today.

  • @tekvax01
    @tekvax01 Před 6 měsíci

    My father worked for GMC for 40 years; they always called them tow motors!

  • @arcanewyrm6295
    @arcanewyrm6295 Před 6 měsíci +12

    Yeah, exploding batteries are no fun. Had one blow on me several years ago, actually on a forklift while I was at work in a box plant here in Ohio. I had been using this lift (and others) daily for months. All our lifts were serviced at regular intervals by an outside contractor, too, and they were pretty adamant about doing it right. Anyway, I had parked this thing next to the maintenance department to step out and have a smoke. It had been operating perfectly... Then I came back in from my break, hoped back on the lift, and as soon as I turned the key on, *_BOOM!_* Battery exploded like a bomb under the seat, and the engine compartment caught fire. Reminded me of those ignition-activated car bombs you see in movies. Nearly shat myself in my hurry to get off the machine... A quick-thinking maintenance tech ran over, popped the propane tank and lifted the hood, and cut the negative battery cable while another guy extinguished the flames underneath. The lift was salvageable, no permanent damage, but I'm not sure there same could be said for my undershorts. Probably the most interesting day I had at work that month.

    • @mikerubynfs
      @mikerubynfs Před 6 měsíci +1

      They produce hydrogen and oxygen just to make it a bit more explosive! Part of my apprenticeship was in a battery shop, the dents in the workshop roof where they rebuilt batteries was from the tops hitting the ceiling if all the hydrogen wasn't fully vented when a blow lamp was used to melt the pitch holding the tops on.

  • @karlmckinney8469
    @karlmckinney8469 Před 6 měsíci +4

    At work we had an old Lewis-Shepherd forklift which we referred to as the tow motor. We replaced with new Yale forklifts and we just naturally called them tow motors. I think we just were used to saying “where is the tow motor “

  • @douglasknight7400
    @douglasknight7400 Před 5 měsíci

    As an old wet clutch air cooled motorcycle guy we have always loved the diesel motor oils esp. Rotella.... (zinc!)....... That being said, I noticed you dont say "not a sponsor"..... Im just curious but if you are..... good for you being a good guy, helping many and promoting a great product.

  • @bluebirdpod
    @bluebirdpod Před 6 měsíci +1

    the moving video overlay on the garage door was a nice effect !

  • @chrishayn
    @chrishayn Před 6 měsíci +5

    Already know the answer is SAVE!