Bucket Forks on a TC 30 ??

[storemannc]

Any one using Bucket forks on a TC 30 or smaller tractor? Do they work well with the lower lift capicity? What do you use them for? I am trying to decide if they are worth the money.

Storeman
2006 TC 30 7308 Loader

[scuvnut]

Up until September, I had a TC33D. There were three types of bucked forks I looked at - ones that you attach with binders, ones that simply attach with thumb screws and then ones that did both. After much consideration, I opted for the ones that did both. Here is what I found:

First, the loads you can lift are very limited. Remember that you will not be able to lift the same weight as you can with your FEL as the load is now in front of the bucket and the weight you can lift dramatically drops off. Also, as the weight rises, the greater the need for rear ballast or the rear end of the tractor will simply lift off the ground.

If I attached only by thumb screws, the forks were great for lighter landscaping chores. I could load them up with branches and brush, but I had to keep an eye on how much I put on them, as the lower lip of the bucket could start to bend under the load and I did not want to damage the bucket.

Thus, putting the binders on limited the bending of the lower lip, but the actual working load is quite limited and I was not overall impressed at all.

I guess I had dellusions of grandour that I would be able to move around the 19 pallets of pavers I had bought. That was not going to happen. On a standard pallet, at best, I could lift it only if there was a few layers of pavers, so I ended up off loading them by hand into the bucket to move them around.

Unloading a bunch of two by fours from my pickup worked well, but better of they were stacked closer to the bucket and higher, than going out further on the forks.

I switched to a TC40DA which has a quick tach bucket and forks (not just because of the forks, but because it has a cab with a/c and heat!!!). The lifting capacity is far improved with this as the load is back much further which is a great mechanical advantage.

Hope this helps.

[Egon]

I have some homebuilt forks for my 16 HP Kubota B7100. They are truck springs bolted to reinforced portions of the bucket. They serve me well. They come in handy for lifting logs within the weight limits and have even been used to spade a garden. They also work well for removing stumps.