Forks bucket forks on ebay

[MFChief]

Has anyone seen or had any experience with these forks that are currently on ebay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7523815655&fromMakeTrack=true

I really like the design with the ability to easily adjust the forks without loosening and re-clamping, just like a real fork lift.
Terry

 

[8561]

That is a very interesting design. I like it, but as the owner of regular clamp on forks, I have to say moving them is very easy and just not that big a deal. The idea does look like it would work well, although I wonder if it adds an extra step or two to the mounting process. It looks like it would and since I never leave my forks on longer than it takes to do the particular job at that moment, I think that the extra set up time would be a disadvantage to me.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

I thought they might also keep the forks square to the bucket. I gather that one problem with the simple clamp-on forks is that they can get nudged out of square fairly easily.

Cliff

 

[MFChief]

Tim,
As far as I can see from the photo's, the attachment is the same, you're just clamping down with the stub arms rather than the actual fork.

Cliff,
I think you are right about the shifting aspect, the tie-in between the clamp arms with the bar should make it harder to move them to the side, seems like it would be a more rigid setup.
Terry

 

[RedRocker]

That's a pretty slick design.

 

[8561]

I say go for it and let us know how they work.

 

[renz]

At first I thought this was a pretty slick design as well, but further looks at the photos brought up these comments/questions:

1. The design limits how wide you can place the forks. For carrying lumber or logs, I'd prefer to have the forks spaced as wide as the bucket width allows.

2. There are no vertical load stops or provision for them. Previous posts have recounted some scary moments with logs rolling onto the hood of the tractor. Seems to me that load stops are a must.

3. This is probably unlikely, but what if a dip in terrain shifts those sliding forks and the load off to one side of the bucket? I would imagine the leverage of the load keeps those fork fingers under the bucket pinched pretty tight, but still, no surpise is a good surprise with a load on.

4. The forks are made of U-channel stock, not rectangular stock like most pallet forks. Anyone know the relative strength of these two shapes?

Still like the ingenuity though...

 

[MadReferee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The forks are made of U-channel stock, not rectangular stock like most pallet forks. Anyone know the relative strength of these two shapes?)</font>

When I built the forks that I posted in the Build-it-Yourself forum I used 3" x 4.10 bar channel (4.1 lbs per ft). The total length of each fork was 51" including what was under the bucket. The working length was 36". This design will easily carry 1000 lbs which is nore than most loaders for under 30 hp tractors will lift. Rectangle tubing at 3" x 2" x 3/16" and 5.6 lbs per ft, while more expensive, would be overkill.

Most pallet forks I have seen are solid steel and rated at 4000 lbs or more. This is way over kill for most CUTs.

 

[MFChief]

Thanks guys for the excellent questions, all good things to know.

As far as the vertical load stops I agree they would be a good thing, but from what I have seen few if any of the clamp on fork designs have that feature.

I agree that the ability to spread the forks as far as possible is a good thing, not only for lengthy loads, but I believe it is a good idea to clamp as close as possible to the end of the bucket, the bucket would be much more rigid there, and less apt to flex.

As MadReferee says, the channel forks are pretty strong probably not as strong as the box tubing types, but the seller says the forks are good to 1600 lbs, way more than my sub cut Massey can lift!

I emailed the selled to ask how long the bar is and if he could supply different lengths for different buckets, I'll let you know what the answer is when I hear from him.
Terry

 

[MFChief]

I got a quick response from Greg the seller, here's part of his reply;

"the total bar length is 48in. end to end, the clamps sit in from the end 1 in. so outside of clamp span is 46 in. i can make any size , shipping would be more if i ship over 48 in. "

The 48 inch size is just about perfect for me, my bucket is only 48 inches.

I think I'm going to give it a try, I'll let everyone know how it works out when I get them.

Thanks again for the great discussion.
Terry