Allis Chalmers FT 20-24 forklift

I have an Allis Chalmers FT 20-25 fork lift that I use around my shop.  It has a 2 speed transmission, high and low.  I've always just let it stay in low but am now trying to get the shifter to work so I can select high or low.  It appears that the high/low selector on the forward-neutral-reverse lever is supposed to move the inside of the vertical tube to select high or low range.  I took the whole apparatus off the machine and attempted to free up the interior shaft but am unable to do so.  However, about half way down the shaft are two holes that go about 1/2 way into the shaft and looking into the holes it appears that the shaft is solid and the inside is not hollow.  I can get the high/low range to change by moving the entire shaft up and down and am wondering if this is the way it actually works.  I cannot find a parts manual that would depict this.  Does anyone know how this function works?  It sure looks like the inside of the shift pipe is supposed to move but I sure cannot get it to do so......

Thanks for the quick reply!  So, you are saying that the rod inside the shaft used for forward and reverse moves up and down to go from low to high range? 

Yes up and down.  I  Have a 40-24, but should work the same.  The forklift before was the same, but someone had locked out the range shift.


Edited by PaulRoidt(WI) - 06 May 2024 at 2:34pm

Guess I'll take it back apart and put it in the press and see if I can get it to move.  Problem is the ball on the end where the shift lever fits as going to bend easily.  Guess I could make a new inner shaft without too much trouble.  This is becoming a challenge now!  lol