Zero Turn Radius Forklift

Zero Turn Radius Forklift MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Forklifts 22-4-10 "It's designed to pick up bulk containers of cherries or apples on concrete or asphalt pads," says Jerome Burton who built a oneof-a-kind, 3-wheel zero turn radius forklift to use in his orchard business. He built it to replace the less-maneuverable tractor forks that he used before. The Traverse City, Mich., farmer powered the rig with a 6-cyl., 300 cu in. Buick engine and automatic transmission coupled to a 3/ 4-ton Ford pickup rear end. A fan out of a Mercedes car cools the rear-mounted engine. The forklift is fitted with 34-in. tires on front drive wheels and back. The rear castor wheel, which came off an old Jeep, steers with a hydraulic cylinder and orbit motor. A 12 gpm Vickers hydraulic pump off an old tree pruning tower operates the steering system and controls the forklift. A high-lift mast mounts on front and is fitted with standard 4-ft. forks. It'll lift as much as 4,000 lbs. up to 10 ft. high, Burton notes. To counter balance the machine, Burton mounted two tanks at the rear on each side behind the fuel and oil tanks. They're filled with a total of 8,000 lbs. of lead wheel weights. Width of the machine is the same as a 3/4-ton pickup, Burton says. The sheet steel housing was fabricated at a local machine shop. Its' fitted with a ROPS system and operator's seat off a riding lawn mower. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Burton Orchards, 2785 Kroupa Rd., Traverse City, Mich. 49686-9731 (ph 616 223-4332).

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