1954 NAA with Kirchoff Forklift Conversion
By: Charlie Hardesty
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I purchased the forklift in the spring of 2000 while finishing up an addition and remodel project on our house. My contractor was aware of my obsession with Ford Tractors and was telling me about this forklift that a previous employer had. I was so happy because I had seen it several times but couldn’t track down the owner. Needless to say, my contractor connected me to the owner and I purchased it. It was not in running condition and had been sitting in the same spot for several years.
Once I got the unit home it did not take a tremendous amount of work to make it usable. I also found that it was sold by the same place I landed my first paying job. Midwest Industrial Equipment, previously a Ford Tractor Dealership, had installed the Kirchoff forklift conversion and sold it (probably in the 1960s) to the contractor I bought it from.
A Useful Workhorse
When I first got it, I had always kept a loader tractor around to load and unload tractors and equipment as I bought and sold things. After the first summer of using the forklift, I realized I no longer needed to keep a loader tractor around. I even found I used the forklift way more than a loader tractor. I was able to use the forklift while doing remodel and addition projects on both the house and the pole barns. What I did find though is it was too fast, even in first gear. It had a Sherman forward / reverser in it that was extremely convenient but it restricted me from adding a Sherman over / under transmission to slow it down.
The Restoration Begins
Several years later, probably 15 or so years, I was able to obtain a Howard gear reduction unit for it. Sad part was, the tractor could definitely use some freshening up so I knew it wasn’t going to be a couple week job. Since I used the forklift on a pretty regular basis, I was unable to take the unit out of service for several years.
Finally, late October in 2024, I was able to take it out of service and start the rebuild and update process. First, I freshened up another engine, then removed the forklift mast and roll cage. Once it was in the shop, I tore it completely down to the bare frame. As you can see in the pictures, I fixed anything that was wrong with it, added the Howard Gear Reduction unit, replaced the engine with the freshened up one and made improvements to the aftermarket power steering system (power steering pump mount, reservoir, chain drive adjustment etc.), brake linkages and parking brake system. Replaced the clutch, brakes, alternator, hoses and many other parts. Rebuilt the lift cylinder, replaced the lift roller chains and freed up all the chain idlers.
The Results
During the rebuild process, I cleaned all the components, did some minor body work and repainted everything. The weight box and support frame was rusted beyond repair so I built a new one and added brackets to mount suitcase weights and chain holders instead of filling it with old parts and concrete like the original one was.Though it was many hours of work for nearly six months, it is now all completed and working like a champ. Extremely well worth the efforts.
Written May 25, 2026
Thanks to John Smith of Old Ford Tractor for allowing us to use this information.