Serated "sleeves" for forklift tine attachment

[jimgerken]

I've been handling more tree trunks and limbs than ever before this year. And its always raining too, leading to the problem: when the wood is wet it tends to slide off the sides or front of the forklift tines. I pick up a couple pcs, then go for a third, which works ok when everything is dry, but when wet then the whole load starts sliding around and soon it is all on the ground again. I used to have a grapple, and think that function would help this issue, but came up with a simpler concept to try, with your input. I am going to make a set of sleeves that slide onto the tines, from the front, and clamp or bolt around at the back end of the main horizontal section of each tine. The top of the sleeve will look something like a serated knife, so the wet wood will not slide on it as badly. Or another variation is a hacksaw blade effect, which is directional, keeping the wood from sliding forward too, so I can load more chunks without them sliding forward as I scoop up the next one. Almost anything that is sharp, even a straight shear edge of 1/4 inch thick steel sticking up above the top surface of the tine, would solve the sliding sideways problem. Adding the serated or sawtooth idea may make loading more on there easier.

Yout thoughts and ideas welcome, especially if you have noticed this same problem. Thanks.

 

[bigtiller]

I think the tooth on the top of the sleeve will have to be tall. An inch or more is what I am thinking, other wise it will fill up with wet wood trash and be nearly as slick as just the wet fork.

 

[jimgerken]

OK, finally got back to this idea. Put something together last weekend to try out. May get out to the woods this weekend for a test, so far this concept is unproven. I guess the pics speak for themselves mostly. The main side plate parts were cut on the plasma table. One interesting side note: The plasma always produces an annoying unpredictable 8 degree bevel cut. This time, it actually makes a desired effect. The bevel edge makes the log-gripping seration teeth sharp. For scale, the tines are 'brick tines', measuring about 2 by 2 inches, 48 inches long.

 

[beenthere]

Anxious to see how the new attachments work.

I gather firewood logs using the forks, and know what the frustration is all about.

I'm wondering if/how easy it will be to get under the logs and not just scoot them along. Maybe rolling them on with a peavy or cant hook ??

I have semi-seriously played with the idea of making a single hyd. top hook/arm to stand erect when not used, but drop down onto the log/logs that I get on the forks.

Nice build and envy a bit your access to the plasma cutter and welding tools. But I have access to friend (always too busy tho ) who has these skills. He built my wing plow for me.

 

[picker77]

I'm thinking of a different approach--adding a thumb to my forks. I have a set of Chris Perry forks, and recently added a Greens Machine Shop bucket thumb to my JD 305 loader's bucket/tooth bar combination--basically ending up with a removable narrow grapple. I also purchased an extra mounting base for the thumb. The thumb has been a great improvement in the utility of the bucket, but to increase the versatility of the forks I hope to come up with a way to drop the spare thumb mounting base onto the Chris Perry fork rails, while leaving the forks in place. Since the thumb itself is pinned to its mount, this would hopefully allow quick and easy switching of the thumb from bucket to forks and back when required (well, fairly easy--it weighs 108 lb!). I believe a fork thumb would be very useful in picking up large but lightweight loads like brush piles, and handling things in situations where the sides of the bucket interfere with getting under and picking up long loads such as logs and fence posts.

 

[jimgerken]

"I believe a fork thumb would be very useful in picking up large but lightweight loads like brush piles, and handling things in situations where the sides of the bucket interfere with getting under and picking up long loads such as logs and fence posts. "

YOU BET IT WILL !!! You will love the usefullness of the grapple and fork combo. It is the ultimate unit for brush especially.

 

[saltbranch]

When picking up material that will slide/slip easily on forks at work, I use some split burlap bags or scrap 4" truck tie down straps from work. I use duct tape to hold burlap/straps to forks. The burlap/straps will create enough friction for the material not to slip/slide.
I use this all the time for picking up wire rope cut into 5'-10' length's, sometimes several thousands pounds at a lift. Biggest problem I have is "shaking" off to put into our metal recycle dumpster.

 

[wldrbob]

how big is your plasma? the only time i get any angle to the cut is if im trying to cut to heavy a plate with worn out consumables 3/8 can be cut nicely with mine im looking at a bigger one christmas present for myself maybe

 

[jimgerken]

60 amp Thermal Dynamics cutmast 81, with 1Torch SL60. And yea, the consumables are always worn. Brand new ones are worn after the first project.

 

[wldrbob]

hummm that should be plenty big to cut straight .whats your air supply?and consumables wear way faster if your air isnt dryed ..my consumables seem to last pretty good did 118 feet of cutting in 3/16 plate and never noticed any angle to the cut . costs about 20 bucks to change mine