Thanks guys for the kind words. I am very satisfied with the strength of the channel forks. The strengthening has made the forks stronger than will ever be exceeded on my tractor. I am sure that I will use them for many things. I can now move implements around in their parking places to keep the grass growing and to mow. I can carry loads of bricks around and lots of other things. Maybe even stack and store firewood on pallets. Lots of possibility. I anticipate being able to change them over to the
FEL, when I make it some time.
One thing that I want to in finishing them up sometime is to drill and thread a hole in the end of the main support rod to fasten a retaining plate. I noticed that the shaft shifted about an inch to one side with the load. I made the shaft removable so that I could put on other fork designs--a fork for composting materials, for firewood (with a grapple like holder), and other things. The support shaft could be pulled out and the other set of forks put in very quickly.
Mike