3pt Fork Lift

[LFEngineering]

I've wanted to build this for years, but never found the right parts forklift. That was until a few weeks ago.

It's a little on the heavy side weighing in at 500lb empty, but I plan on doing some weight reduction in the coming weeks.

The forks offer a 6ft lift height, not including the lift of the 3pt itself.

The forklift cylinder is a single action and my aux circuit is dual action so I plumbed the return line into transmission tank with a spare QD allowing the pressure to dump when lowering.

 

[Hiptfarms]

Nice. Congratulations.

 

[Republic of Texas]

Now that is super cool!

 

[ruffdog]

How much hydraulic pressure do you have available to the fork lift cylinder and what diameter is the lift cylinder?

 

[4570Man]

How much hydraulic pressure do you have available to the fork lift cylinder and what diameter is the lift cylinder?

Not very much because a forklift uses big cylinders and the leverage disadvantage is only 2-1. A tractor operating pressure would be plenty.

 

[Jstpssng]

That's a rugged looking unit. You will find a lot of uses for it.

 

[ruffdog]

Not very much because a forklift uses big cylinders and the leverage disadvantage is only 2-1. A tractor operating pressure would be plenty.

I was just trying to calculate how much down pressure (total weight exerted on 3pt from lifting with forks + fork unit) on the 3pt if tractor pressure was put to a large cylinder. Add that number to the weight of the lift @ 500lbs. The final lift potential might be much more than what is considered safe for the tractor of this size.:2cents:

Tractor Tools Direct - CM 3-Point Forklift - YouTube

 

[ptsg]

Nice :thumbsup:

An hydraulic top link is very nice in this application as it allows you to tilt the mast.

That's a very common setup here for the orchard farms to move plastic pallet boxes full of fruit around.

 

[fatjay]

What are you planning on lifting with it? What are your 3pt arms rated at? My kubota is only rated at 1300lbs at the bar, less at 24".

 

[Mendonsy]

It seems like that big single acting cylinder would need a lot of oil to lift to full height. Is that going to cause problems for your tractor??

 

[LouNY]

I have a similar unit it works quite well, definitely works better with a hydraulic toplink,

 

[4570Man]

I was just trying to calculate how much down pressure on the 3pt if tractor pressure was put to a large cylinder. Add that number to the weight of the lift @ 500lbs. The final lift potential might be much more than what is considered safe for the tractor of this size.:2cents:

Tractor Tools Direct - CM 3-Point Forklift - YouTube

Forklifts don’t have down pressure unless it’s one of the 3 wheeled delivery forklifts. Even a little forklift will lift a lot so it’s probably going to wheelie the tractor.

 

[ruffdog]

Forklifts don’t have down pressure unless it’s one of the 3 wheeled delivery forklifts. Even a little forklift will lift a lot so it’s probably going to wheelie the tractor.

I know there is no HYDRAULIC down pressure. I was talking about pressure or weight on the 3pt while lifting an object.

 

[fatjay]

It seems like that big single acting cylinder would need a lot of oil to lift to full height. Is that going to cause problems for your tractor??

That's a very good point. Single action cylinders deplete the oil. Your tractor doesn't have a huge reservoir, a gallon disappearing into the cylinder can cause your reservoir to run dry.

 

[4570Man]

I know there is no HYDRAULIC down pressure. I was talking about pressure or weight on the 3pt while lifting an object.

Unless you’re taking the mast off the smallest of forklifts lifting the front of the tractor off the ground will be the weak link. My forklift is pretty hefty for a warehouse model weighing 12,000 pounds but I’ve lifted and moved 10,000 pound loads with it. I attempted a 15,000 pound load which it almost did. And even then it was lifting the back off the ground not stalling the hydraulics. My buddy has a much smaller Toyota that weighs about 6500 pounds and it effortlessly moves 2500 pound pallets. Forklifts are small but mighty.

 

[ruffdog]

Unless you’re taking the mast off the smallest of forklifts lifting the front of the tractor off the ground will be the weak link. My forklift is pretty hefty for a warehouse model weighing 12,000 pounds but I’ve lifted and moved 10,000 pound loads with it. I attempted a 15,000 pound load which it almost did. And even then it was lifting the back off the ground not stalling the hydraulics. My buddy has a much smaller Toyota that weighs about 6500 pounds and it effortlessly moves 2500 pound pallets. Forklifts are small but mighty.View attachment 628813

No, the 3pt of the OP's tractor might be the weak link. Just because a forklift mast can lift a heavy weight doesn't mean a small tractor can safely support it.

 

[LFEngineering]

I use my set of small 3pt forks to lift 800-1k. Based on the weight of the mast itself I'm going to keep a close eye on it lifting over 500lbs.

It's not going to end moving tons of pellets, but it sure beats unloading steel or or bags of mulch from the truck bed by hand.

 

[4570Man]

No, the 3pt of the OP's tractor might be the weak link. Just because a forklift mast can lift a heavy weight doesn't mean a small tractor can safely support it.

The lifting attachment is almost certainly stronger than the other weak links. I doubt you’d hurt the 3 point before the front of the tractor lifts off the ground. One modification that would make it better is moving the mast closer to the axel.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

That's a very good point. Single action cylinders deplete the oil. Your tractor doesn't have a huge reservoir, a gallon disappearing into the cylinder can cause your reservoir to run dry.

Install a surge tank to hold the additional oil with an overflow to the system reservoir. It would have to be a closed system.

Ron

 

[fatjay]

Install a surge tank to hold the additional oil with an overflow to the system reservoir. It would have to be a closed system.

Ron

Right but I'm not seeing that on his. I have 2 kubota's, it doesn't take more than a quart to go from the bottom of the dipstick to the top, he's going to run it dry. Since the hydraulics are shared with the engine/transmission, that can cause some real damage very fast without an aux tank.