Making 3 pt pallet forks

[jayste]

MJPetersen,
nice job on the forks. I am also a fellow without a FEL and have built a set of forks for my tractor as well. I'd put the pictures on here if I had some. (I might get a little beat up though- they're not painted!) Anyway, we made ours similar by using channel iron. During the summer months I mainly use mine for picking up my other implements so my WONDERFUL wife can mow the grass where they sit. We're like a fine oiled machine: her mowing, me moving all done with hand gestures & facial expressions, Haha! Have fun with that lathe. That's one thing on my wish list.

Joes427Vette, Nice job! Forks, man-basket and all! Necessities when you have a FEL!

JohnDeere3720, What?! A step-mom with a Bobcat?! Now that's my kind of woman!

[MJPetersen]

Originally Posted by jayste

(I might get a little beat up though- they're not painted!)

I was looking at the forks yesterday and thinking that I ought to finish them out (close all the open ends and smooth off some splatter) to get them ready for paint. Right now I would not dare leave them outside as they would be rust in seconds!! I have a list of things that need paint this spring as I made several mods to my implements so that they fit my quick hitch. Also the Hitch itself needs some paint. At least the added time allows me to check the functionality of an implement, so that if it need a modification I can do that BEFORE paint. It is a bit cold here yet, but maybe in May.

I was pleasantly surprised the forks were as strong as they were. By moving the lathe around now I know that the forks will handle all the 3 point will lift and more. The lathe crated weighed over 1000 lbs.

I did use the lathe to center drill the shaft the forks slide on and threaded the hole so that now I have a bolt and a washer in the end of hte shaft to retain the rod. I did not take a pic but will sometime as I finish the forks out.

You are welcome to post your pics here, but you will get more looks if you start a new thread with your construction.

Mike

[Oldmax]

I built this set for my tractor like you I do not have FEL. It Works for small loads "I use Half pallets".

[Eric_Phillips]

Mike,
I am a little late to this party but I was just doing some research on making some forks and came across your post here. Nice forks. The only complaint I have is no pictures of you driving the tractor while riding on the hood That would be something I would do to.

[MJPetersen]

Yes, That would have made a good pic, especially as I was sitting as far forward as I could and still reach the steering wheel and the clutch pedal.

Since I posted last on this I did get a chance to close up the open ends and have sprayed some spray can primer, but I have not painted anything this summer. It has been a cool--very cool and very wet summer. Great for lawn growth, but not so great for painting outside. I keep thinking that I am going to get to it but have not yet.

I plan to use mine for moving pallets of firewood around. I can stack it on the pallet and then move the whole pallet into the shed for storage. I can even load up the pallet with the smaller stuff as I cut up the tree where it falls.

Mike