[MattsAwesomeStuff]

That's how all really cheap projects work: they don't count most of the actual cost.

Actually I think Damien was picky that he actually bought this stuff, because the £1000 car was a challenge project and he wanted it to be fair.

The only think from under his desk were the power transistors, and he said if anyone really has trouble finding any, he'll ship them some for free.

 

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

I somehow find that hard to believe.

Forklifts last decades. When I went to the scrappers last year, I was pulling apart forklifts from the late 60s and 70s.

People are probably skimming your emails and wondering about them having replacement DC motors in stock, and telling you no that they don't do that.

Listen to the advice. Emails probably aren't going to be helpful. Actually go down to the shop and talk to the guys in the back or make a phone call. Start off by saying it's for a project and wondering if you could strip some parts off something that's garbage to them, or if they have old motors you could use.

You might have to wait a month for something to come in that they're scraping, but, motor salvage isn't that highly valued, especially compared to 5-15 years ago.

This isn't some esoteric use-to-be, probably once a month someone comes here and asks for advice on pulling a forklift motor, and I can't think of anyone who tried and failed to succeed on their first attempt at their first yard. Maybe you're in a weird zone where what works for the rest of the world doesn't work for your area, but, I'm doubtful. I suspect it's your approach.

 

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

It all requires you to actually go there however, instead of sitting at the computer

I think we're all sending the same message.

"Try the steak it's delicious"
"Okay good advice. So I ordered salad and I'm disappointed. Does anyone know how to order a meal here that will taste good?"
"Yes, the steak, just order that, it's delicious. Dozens of us have ordered it before. Trust us, it's good every time."
"Oh I see, that makes sense. So I ordered garlic bread and it's just not as good as you guys are describing the steak to be. This is really frustrating, I just want a good meal."

 

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

Imagine have a load of motors on the floor taking up space or a big wad of cash in your hand?

That's not how it works.

Here's a better picture:

1 - Forklift repair shop has a warehouse customer saying their battery doesn't last a full shift anymore.

2 - Forklift repair shop looks around and finds a broken down forklift being sold cheap because they can't get it off the lot (it weighs 5x as much as a car). They buy it and transport it back to the shop.

3 - Forklift repair shop lifts out the battery which is near the end of its life, but still has another year or two on it. They swap it with the warehouse customer's battery.

4 - The dead battery might go in storage for someone even more desperate, or, if completely dead, the battery is still worth $0.30/lb, for 1000 lbs that's worth yanking.

5 - The Anderson connectors and some of the safety gear that's expensive to replace and often smashed gets yanked off. The mast and forks get removed, it can be put onto any other lift no problem.

6 - They dump the carcass in a field until there's a slow enough day to haul 3 or 4 of them to the scrapyard.

...

What they don't do is carefully disassemble every component from every junk forklift and then warehouse it all. It's not worth the labor. It's generally not even worth anyone's time to yank the motor out (poorer areas it will be). It's probably been a decade since anyone even asked for one, and if they do need one, they just wait a few weeks until the next scrap heap comes in.

...

I sent the emails to 40 places. 6 people have called me all saying the same.

People keep telling you, no one is going to take the time to answer an email to help you out on a project. They deal with people interested in spending $20,000-$80,000 at a time.

Its hard to drive to all these places. They are scattered here there and everywhere.

At the very least, pick up the telephone and call and ask if it's okay if you stop by and can have a look through their junkyard for a motor that you could use for a project.

Then drive out to just the one repair place that seemed friendliest. Literally the first one I called hooked me up, twice.

Again, you're ordering salad and struggling with why it doesn't taste like the steak we're suggesting.

 

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

This illustrates the issue well - the expectation usually given is of £100, but the reality in this case is £350. I understand the shopper's disappointment.

*nod*.

Fair enough.

I guess there's also a sampling bias in the people giving advice. By virtue of having done that, they're at least moderately experienced and connected. You're seeing the success stories. I somehow doubt Ireland is so different from England, and while Damien suggests you can do this all day (along with his battery deals, and controller deals), how much of that is something "anyone" can do and how much of it is something he can do because he's been heavily into the EV scene for 10 years and knows everyone and knows what types of things to say and what types of conversations to have even with strangers.

 

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

Is there a marketplace here for posting things like this for sale?

Generally no, because shipping is more than buying the motors locally.

But for someone already shipping a used motor across the continent because it's all they can find... I dunno, maybe?

There's only been a couple times someone said they couldn't find a motor, you'd be waiting months in between, and DC conversions are on their way out.