Anyone bent their brush fork ?

[Renze]

....if so, what make and model was it, Whats the weight of the tractor pushing it, and how long and how intense have you used it ??

I'm thinking of making one. When i makes one the way i think it's right, it won't budge. But my tractor cant lift an idiot proof machine so i'll have to do some trade offs.

Can anyone show practical examples of what is too light, and what is just enough ?

I'd rather learn from someone else, than to piss over the electric fence myself

 

[Renze]

By the way, i am thinking of a Faver style fork because i have rectangular square stock 60ﾗ40mm (2.5" x 1 1/2") around, bought cheap from someone else's cancelled project.

 

[Xfaxman]

I can't find any information on a Faver Brush Fork, do you have any pictures?.

Do you mean a Favor Grapple Rake? Grapple Rakes | Faver

Here is the brush fork that I made about ten years ago for picking up cedar trees:

 

[Renze]

Yes, thats exactly the make and model in was looking at. I want an all purpose grapple to use for brush, logs, debris and manure. And sell my manure grapple because it's teeth arent built to dig roots and branches get weaved between them, bending them down so they will dig sod instead of the branches on top.

Even with a cross tube in the front, those 3/8 inch plates of many popular cheap brush grabs should bend side ways pretty easy. I dont like that.

 

[Xfaxman]

The Rake Shop also builds that style, no cross bar grapple: www.TheRakeShop.com / Root Rakes Grapples Attachments & Skid Steers

 

[Renze]

I have 5 rods of 1.22m length which means i come short for a 7 tine grapple. I want them at least 24 inches long, but i can accept a V notched weld in the area where the gussets add strength, for two of the forks.

Because i take these bars as point of departure, i am limited to the straight bottom forks like the Faver.

Dont know when i will start, perhaps next winter

 

[Xfaxman]

Here is another straight bottom design to look at: Super Duty Grapples - Gorilla Grapples

This is my 6 tine narrow, note how the top tines extend below the bottom tines, when fully closed:

They also make a ten tine narrow and a ten tine wide:

 

[Renze]

Here is another straight bottom design to look at: Super Duty Grapples - Gorilla Grapples

This is my 6 tine narrow, note how the top tines extend below the bottom tines, when fully closed:

Yes thats the way its most usable: So i can extend the top tines to rake back material, without risking to bend my tipping cylinders if i'd had to tip the fork out fully to be able to rake back..

Apart from that, using two 1 3/4 by 5" crossbars that alone weigh 120kg, is too much of a burden on my 1500kg loader. heavy wall pipe provide more torsional stiffness per pound. I must carefully consider where i need thickness and where i can save it. If i had a wheel loader, this Gorilla was the only way to go if i wanted things to stay apiece...

I will calculate the bend resistance of my 60x40mm bars, before sketching any of the gusseting between them. Though to me, the V shaped openings between the gussets of the Faver seem useful to me for clearing brush, so the brush runs into the V and the fork doesnt skip over it, merely stripping leaves and some branches off the brush... ?

 

[Xfaxman]

Yes thats the way its most usable: So i can extend the top tines to rake back material, without risking to bend my tipping cylinders if i'd had to tip the fork out fully to be able to rake back..
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For raking with the top tines, it would be in this position, your tipping cylinders would be near full retraction, so not likley to bend the rods. The top tine cylinders would be fully extended, but due to the angles and leverage, I don't think they would bend.

I will calculate the bend resistance of my 60x40mm bars, before sketching any of the gusseting between them. Though to me, the V shaped openings between the gussets of the Faver seem useful to me for clearing brush, so the brush runs into the V and the fork doesnt skip over it, merely stripping leaves and some branches off the brush... ?

I have never used either of my grapples for clearing brush, so no experience there.

I use the brush hog and a tree puller for brush removal.