Found a great use for bolt-on pallet forks.

[BigD23]

Loader Forks Bucket Skid Tractor Pallet Fork Deere - eBay (item 390243903176 end time Sep-30-10 20:07:59 PDT)

Found these 2 3/8" drill pipe forks to be strong enough for my full size backhoe. I agree the binders are key to making these low cost forks stable.

I had to add to the OEM chain due to my one yard bucket and did spread a cheap imported chain hook when trying to load a stack of plywood that made the pump bypass when trying to curl the bucket but no harm was done to the pipe forks.

Any cheap hack of a fork solution will have limitations but after giving ours a workout in a building project i would buy another set tomorrow if they came up missing.

Thanks for the link, Gale.

Don

 

[PeterK]

tractor bucket loader forks clamp on skid debris logger - eBay (item 220631073329 end time Sep-29-10 18:56:01 PDT)

I have these for my BX24 from groundworks. They are made extremely well and great for picking up and moving brush as well as a few logs at a time.

 

[Ezlivn]

Thanks a bunch for the e-Bay link...I just bought a set of these. Very useful to have around for the price.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I think having tall stakes in the loops is key to help judge the angle of the forks that you can not see.

The looks of the flat tubes I prefer over our 2 3/8" round ones but round will out function the flat tubes.

Each fork weighs about 30 lb on our round drill stem forks but get the same weight limits with the flatten tubes they weight 60 lb each. I do not want a set of forks that require a set of forks to handle.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Good to know. My used BX came with a set. I know they won't lift real heavy pallets, but throught they would be useful in moving some stuff around the house.

We are starting to build a collection of pallets when we clean up/organize things we put it on a pallet so we can move it if needed without manual labor.

 

[JJZ 109]

Be carefull you can tighten too much and bend the bucket.
James K0UA

True. I bought some 1/4 or 3/16 flat steel about an inch or 1 1/4" wide and bent it into a U shape so that it gets between the bucket and tightening bolt but wraps around the rest of the clamp area. Seems to do a fair decent job of saving the bucket bottom.

 

[check]

True. I bought some 1/4 or 3/16 flat steel about an inch or 1 1/4" wide and bent it into a U shape so that it gets between the bucket and tightening bolt but wraps around the rest of the clamp area. Seems to do a fair decent job of saving the bucket bottom.

try checking out the ones on BXpanded.com - they are just clamp-on and seem to be a great idea.:thumbsup:

 

[JJZ 109]

try checking out the ones on BXpanded.com - they are just clamp-on and seem to be a great idea.:thumbsup:

Wish I'd known about these before I ordered Payne's. I'd say that the only drawback is similar to any other clamp on is that you still can't see through the bucket when approaching your target. Other than that I like the mounting method much better than my current forks.

 

[jimcolt]

Theres a guy on NH Craigslist that makes very nicely built clamp on forks from 800lb rating to 2000lb, prices are the lowest I have seen. He uses a cnc plasma to custom cut the slot on the clamp assembly so that it fits the bucket, cantilevering the load between the slot and the underside of the bucket. The clamp screw is only there to hold the fork on, no load is on it. The lightest ones are made with 2 x 2 x 3/16" wall, 800lb rating, and only weigh 23 lbs each. Heaviest are 2 x 4 x 1/4" wall, rated for 2000lb, and are fairly heavy! Here are some pictures:

 

[KubotainNH]

I made pallet forks for my little tractor and the bucket is off when I use them. The tractor can only pick up a small amount so removing the bucket helps and you can see better. It only takes 10 mins to swap and man are they useful.