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Turret FAQ's

How much does the Turret Cost? 

Turret cost and installations vary depending upon the application, lift heights, capacities, lift truck manufacturer, and various procedures that differ from application to application.

Superior Engineering manufactures the Turret Master attachment to mount the unit integrally inside the mast of a counterbalance lift truck.  On most occasions, Superior Engineering installs the Turret Master, but in some cases, Superior Engineering ships the Turret Master to a lift truck manufacturer for a factory installation.   Before factory installations are set, many hours of engineering and meetings occur between representatives from the manufacturer of the lift truck and Superior Engineering to discuss the installation, perform testing, and create a standard procedure with this manufacturer.  If Superior Engineering sells the Turret Master to a dealer, Superior Engineering must do the installation at Superior Engineering’s facility.  Superior Engineering does the installation because there is a lot of prep work to do for the installation.  Prep work includes cutting the carriage hanger bars horizontally and lengthening the bearing spread between the upper and lower bearing, and spanning the distance of the spread with replacement steel. Superior Engineering also contains the upper carriage bearing within the mast and increasing overlap in the mast rail sections. Finally, Superior Engineering inserts a lift cylinder sleeve into the free lift cylinder by considering the finished fork height. 

According to the American National Standard Institute (ANSI), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and Occupational Hazard and Safety Administration (OSHA), Superior Engineering must perform a tilt table test on all trucks on which Superior Engineering installs the Turret Master.  Our personnel can only complete this or a person qualified by the lift truck manufacturer.  Therefore, when shipping the Turret Master to a lift truck manufacturer for factory installation, all testing is complete on that particular truck and mast combination. It has also been approved for factory installation by the engineering department at that specific lift truck manufacturer.

If you are an end user, you will need the cooperation of your local lift truck dealer to obtain the proper data tag, so it is a good idea to include them from the beginning if you are utilizing a used or existing forklift.  

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Can I install the Turret in my shop?

Unfortunately, no.  According to the American National Standard Institute (ANSI), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and Occupational Hazard and Safety Administration (OSHA), Superior Engineering must perform a tilt table test on all trucks on which Superior Engineering installs the Turret Master.  Therefore, our personnel can only complete this or a person qualified by the lift truck manufacturer.  

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What are the Recommended Aisle Widths?

For an unguided truck, we recommend load depth plus 24".

For a guided truck, we recommend load depth plus 18".

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What is the forklift's right angle stack and turning radius with the Turret added?

You should use the lift truck manufacturer's recommendation for a load size of 60 x 60.  This will be your right angle stack and turning radius recommendations.

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Can we install this on a 3 Wheel Forklift?  

We only install these units on 4-wheel, counterbalance forklifts.  There is very little side stability when installing this unit on a 3-wheel truck.  The stability triangle of the unit doesn't allow for residual capacity and is unstable during operation.  

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If I have an existing forklift, can you install the turret?  

Using your truck as long as it meets specific criteria is possible. Used truck masts must be refurbished to like new conditions and tightly shimmed.  If not, the truck will be rejected.

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Do you need the battery for the forklift?

For electric trucks, the battery must be shipped to Superior Engineering BEFORE the truck is scheduled to arrive.

It is always nice so that we can move your truck, BUT more importantly, it is required when doing the tilt table test.

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Can I use it with push-back racking? 

Push-Back Racking is not recommended for the Turret application and should not be considered a viable rack option.

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How do we get the data plate changed on the truck?

Only the manufacturer can rate the lift truck and supply a new data plate for the truck, but we do our part in helping with the process.  The dealer is ultimately responsible for obtaining approval from the manufacturer and filing the proper paperwork to receive a new data plate.  Once the turret is installed and we have performed the tilt table test, we supply that data to the engineering group at the respective manufacturer.  They will match your request with the test and generally have no problem sending you a new data tag to place on the truck.

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How should my forklift be configured? 

1.  The Truck must have two (2) Auxiliary hydraulic functions plumbed to the carriage.

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2. In almost all cases, Polyurethane Drive tires are required for side stability. Superior Engineering must approve the use of pneumatic tires or standard cushion tires. Using pneumatic tires or standard cushion tires usually results in a diminished capacity. Therefore, the Poly-Tires are NOT included in this quote and must be on the truck before shipping to Superior. Superior Engineering will install the Poly-tires for you at an additional charge.

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3. The truck must have a wide stance or wide tread drive axle with a minimum out-to-out dimension of 48".  Sometimes, a wider stance is required and will be evaluated per order.  In many cases, this can be accomplished by flipping the tire and pressing the extra offset to the outside.

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4. The Turret Master attachment is integrally mounted.  We use your carriage and modify it to become part of our Turret.  The truck can be shipped to Superior with any ITA class carriage.  Superior will use your existing carriage, carriage hardware, chain anchors, and hose termination.

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5. Because of our modifications to your mast and carriage, you should add 31" more lift than your top shelf height for a triple-stage mast and 36" more lift for a quad mast. This is necessary because we modify your carriage when we make it part of our Turret Master by adding 18 additional inches between the top and bottom bearing on your carriage.  We then contain the topmast bearing inside the mast rail. These two dimensions add up to 24 total inches.  If you now add 7" for lift-off, this will give you the 31" that is needed.  The quad requires a little more spread between the bearings, thus giving you the 36" needed. For quad applications, please contact a Superior Representative to qualify the application.

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6. The Turret Master does not come with forks.  Class II ITA forks must be used. The forks should generally be 4-6" shorter than your load depth.

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7. Installing the Turret Master onto the lift truck generally requires 12 to 15 business days.  This assumes that the truck is delivered on schedule and that we have received the installation purchase order six weeks before the truck's scheduled delivery.  

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8.  The top shelf to clear ceiling dimensions must be at least 50".  

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9.  Superior Engineering will restrict the back tilt of your mast to 1 degree. Forward tilt will remain the same as it was when shipped to Superior.

10. Maximum Hydraulic Pressure: 2000 psi. Maximum Hydraulic Flow: 5 GPM for the pivot function. 10 GPM for the traverse function.

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15. A Turret Worksheet must be provided along with the purchase order. The information provided will be the basis for the capacity and lift height that Superior tests.  

 

17. Used truck masts must be refurbished to like new conditions and tightly shimmed.  If not, the truck will be rejected.

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