[Squidlings]

Im in the uk and ive been phoning and visiting the local forklift specialists. They all have the same tune. The big 12" motors havent been seen for 10 yrs. They all went to recycling. Now fork trucks use 8"

He had loads of those to sell me.

Im converting a mazda rx8 it weighs 1350kg

Would an 8" be ok? Say i used a 120-140v battery?

Or would anybody know how to source a bigger motor?

Im looking on Alibaba and found this...

https://m.alibaba.com/product/52551...ml?spm=a2706.amp_sc_detail.recommend_products

I suppose it all rings correct because the tutorial vids are around 8yrs old so maybe the big dc motors are hard to find?

Thx for any tips or hints.

 

[Squidlings]

Thanks for your reply.

This is terrible news. Ive bought the car thinking the motors are super easy to buy.

I cant afford an all singing ac setup just yet.

These 8inch motors look like pump motors. I think they are from the old style fork trucks just not the traction motor. I wonder if i could put 2 together to make 1 motor? Hmmmm

Id need to look at them again.

Mr Damian Maguires €1000 ev conversion is fantastic however now im realising he is using parts from under his work bench 😁

Ok tine to role up the sleeves and do more digging.

 

[Squidlings]

ha...to true, to true... not to mention all the equipment welders, engine hoists haha.

Hey, what do you think about the alibaba series wound motor?

 

[Squidlings]

Its a great set of videos however he said he already had 3 dc motors under his desk which he got years ago before they were rare by emails companies with fork in the names. These motors havent been seen for 10yrs is the constant responses im getting. They go straight to scrap for the cash.

 

[Squidlings]

Thx. Ok my hopes are increasing slightly. Im starting to see old forks landing on ebay. Nothing local enough to me to jump on.

All the breakers dont stock traction motors. One guy phoned me from my email send out. He said he has a supplier and will get me some quote...he wouldnt give me his suppliers name though.

I think im going down the buy an old fork truck, take out the fun bits and scrap the rest. Hell, i might even build my own foundary and use the steel to make some new sils for my car.

But i started another thread with my experience procuring a dc motor in the uk. Your right, i beleive patience is the key here.

 

[Squidlings]

Ahhh cool. Your not the fella who did the web post regarding a fork truck. You hot 2 pump motors ans a traction motor? If thats the case, you inspired me to look for the full trucks.

Why wasnt the motor suitable? Didnt work or just to big?

One concern i have... is spending lots of time and money on an old fork motor. Then like u...it not being suitable or the brushes arent good and u cant get hold of any.

I think for $1750-2700 for a kostov might be another good option. But then then the whole point was to make something cheap to learn how the process works.

Well...lets just see what turns up.

 

[Squidlings]

Managed to find a used one of these...

https://www.lectura-specs.com/en/mo...-forklift-trucks-jungheinrich/efg-df-18-11801

It says the hoist motor is 9kw which sounds good. But it uses 2 small drive motors.

The guys says its a dc motor but i cant see any info.

Whats do u think?

 

[Squidlings]

Found that it does have dc motors. But not sure which kind. Are there many varients in fork truck? Ie swries wound, brushless?

 

[Squidlings]

Me too GE That sounds like heaven.

In uk, they they get good money for scrap so the big motors go straight there. Imagine have a load of motors on the floor taking up space or a big wad of cash in your hand?

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

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

Im starting to nail this though and a great opportunity has brought itself forward. I think im about to buy 4x 48v dc series wounds motors tomorrow for £400 they are from 1996 they look in decent nick fron the pictures. Might get the pump motors too. Maybe even the potentiometers if i can.

Excited. Super local as well.

Its not easy over here in the pond. Plus what im doing is super rare end.

Bought a pack of 10x AA batteries which adds up to 12volts to test them!


😁

 

[Squidlings]

Thx piot... motor rewinds is a great idea! That sounds far better than fork lift repairs. I wouldnt have thought so but u could be right.

Any way im making more progress.

Salad is better than steak. Ill stick with the dressings 🥦��

 

[Squidlings]

Hey matt, not sure we are on the same page here. Yes ive sent 40 emails, ive driven to 3 of these places, ive directly called several and they are all saying the same thing.

So ebay appears to be the best place looking for a full fork lift, advertised as spares and repairs.

Your telling me thats not how it works and your probably right, but im telling you my experiences. Your making me sound like im sat at a computer all day, its pretty funny.

Since scrap metal prices are/were so good, whenever a fork breaks down, the dealers say...look at this shiny new forklift with a lithium battery. Youll not have any issues with this sir.

Anyway...uk isnt as big as US and most of the popular places dont have anything lying around.

Ive found this place which is selling 2 catapillar forks. Both for £850 for spares after their batteries failed. If i can get 4 motors, ill recondition 3 and sell them on 😏

Im loving this project, however, sourcing old items takes time. You need to keep an eye out for months not days.

Batteries is the next big sticking point. Ive made a 15kw lipo pack, but want to double it. I build with old 18650's sourced from laptaps and thats a big long job.

Maybe i should have just bought a model x? Wheres the fun in that though? My mates think im nuts building this rx8, but that shouts pride. A model x shouts...ahhh model x's are cool as well.

Just woke up, 8am here.

 

[Squidlings]

Just wanna say, i appreciate all your help and ideas. Im getting there, im working hard but im simply expressing my experiences.

I cant help it if im being told 1 thing and the market works in another way.

Like somebody said these people want $20-100k customers, not mr i want 4x motors for £400 🤪

 

[Squidlings]

Thx Remy, Your feeling this global ecomomic crash too? Im a bitcoin boy. I carefully watch the markets. I hadnt added the thought of an economic crash to getting cheap ev parts though. Thanks for that. I suppose another key is holfing some assets which people will be willing to exchange because its sounding bad for the USD. Maybe some gold, silver or crypto.

Right, hold tight, im off to salvage me some speed.

 

[Squidlings]

The catapillar forks had 7" dc series wound. Each had 3. 2 drive and 1 pump. Super gutted, but he was a good guy, and said he would keep an eye out.

The search continues... and the theme that the old big motors are hard to come by rings true. Ill find one of these babies... ill find one. But tonight, its extra lettuce on that salad.

 

[Squidlings]

sure man, whats the deal? Sounds good.

 

[Squidlings]

Ohhh man, i budgeted £500 for my dc motor. Id be all over one like a trap on chips if i could find one.

Ive found another forktruck which "looks" ideal but its 4hr drive and the advertiser isnt responding to my requests for a pic of the motor. I mean...he is selling the full forklift for £600. He just wants it gone.

Oh man, that 12" on american ebay looks stunning. Thx for the thought.

What do u think about these traction motors from china? Alibaba has a 12kw 72v. Looks big but again. They arent getting back to me regarding a price.

I know something will come up.... ive even toyed with buying a tilt trailer to buy and sell fork trucks. The batteries are worth £450 per ton at the recycling center. Plys the ferris metals of the main unit. I just gut the motor and controllers etc.

Yes there are leaf motors on ebay. But i imagine they are much harder to install and control right?

 

[Squidlings]

Kevin, you have my attention. Tell me more please. What vehicle and what performance do u achieve?

 

[Squidlings]

Was it a 7" motor? I went there the other week. I think 8" was the biggest he had.

 

[Squidlings]

He said £250 to me 😜 with the pump