I was finally able to get the drive motor off the forklift!
What a lot of work that was!
Also, while I was really making sure to keep my fingers away from giant capacitors and crushing-weight motors, I managed to smash my skull into the pointy corner of the motor compartment swing door.
Good thing I was wearing a knit cap, or I would have either lost consciousness or be at the hospital right now getting stitches. Ouch! (Where's the smiley with the band-aid?)
The drive motor does have a shaft on it, but it isn't nearly as big as the large pump motor - that weighed about 120-140 lbs, the drive motor only weighs just under 90 lbs.
I also removed the controller electrics. Most of it is all together on a plate of aluminum which was held to the forklift frame by one bolt. The trick was to get at all the places the heavy battery and motor cables went too. Once I was able to figure all those out, it came right off.
I also got an e-mail from my wife today:
"Hey Ben,
If you get a chance - could you please look for the bathroom scale?
Thanks
Kristin"
No, I am not making that up...
More photos available at:
my photo page 2