Best steel for manure fork tines?

[lynrob]

I've been looking around for a manure fork for my tractor and skid steer. They seem expensive for what they are so I'm thinking about building one myself. (or maybe I'll discover why they cost so much ) The frame seems straight forward but I'm not sure what to use for the tines. The commercial ones say they are made of spring steel or axle steel and are generally inch and a quarter to inch and a half in diameter.
Can any of you guys tell me what grade of steel would be best for this use? It seems to me that I would need something strong, tough and abrasion resistant with the ability to spring back if bent slightly. I know very little about the various types of steel other than the mild steel I've used for welding projects. I've been googling trying to educate myself but, so far, I haven't found much useful info.

 

[nwngunner]

i would use the big round bale forks, my local steel supplier has a bunch of them. I am sure they are scrap price. Also your local ag dealer may have them with the sleve they slide in to. Usually they are cheap.

 

[rockinmywaypa]

just go to a wrecking yard and pick up used axles like I did. Weld them on and you're good to go. I got ones from half ton pickups and also use axles for hay prongs for round bales.

 

[tthopskin@yahoo.ca]

just go to a wrecking yard and pick up used axles like I did. Weld them on and you're good to go. I got ones from half ton pickups and also use axles for hay prongs for round bales.

thats the way i would go too ..and will last as long as any

 

[LD1]

Yep, used axles is going to be the cheapest route.

If you insist on buying steel, axles are usually 4140. Which is about double the strength as plain mild steel.

 

[lynrob]

Used axles it is! Thanks to all for the idea.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I bought one from a dealer years ago that was made of mild steel, trust me it did not work.:duh:

 

[kdm0811]

Several years ago, I owned a job shop that manufactured the "spear" used to lift and rotate the round bales so that they could be wrapped with plastic. Those were all made from 4140 pre heat treated steel bars. Unfortunately, that are alloy is not readily weldable.

 

[strum456]

I used torsion bars from the front suspension of some kind of suv.

 

[Renze]

i bought 9 tines off a wholesaler for 12.50 euro each. Its not worth your time to collect torsion bars or halfshafts and see them break at the welds after a couple of hours.

 

[lynrob]

Thanks Renze! That was my first thought but after looking around, the best I have been able to find is $57.50 apiece. At that price I could nearly buy a complete manure fork. Maybe I need to look around more.

 

[lynrob]

Those were all made from 4140 pre heat treated steel bars. Unfortunately, that are alloy is not readily weldable.

Thanks! Is 4140 machinable after it is heat treated? If the bars aren't too much maybe I could have a local shop sharpen them and put a threaded hole in the end for mounting. What diameter bar would you recommend?

 

[LD1]

With the right tooling, yes 4140 is machinable after heat treating. The pre-heat-treat stuff is not to bad to work with. It usually isnt hardened very hard. Not usually as hard as it is capable of. I made some BH pins and bushings with the stuff, and it still drilled and tapped fine.

Not sure what you got in mind for mounting, with threaded holes and all, but I wouldnt rely on only a bolt for strength. Maybe just a bolt to hold it in a tight piece of pipe that is welded to a frame??

1" -1-1/4"" should be about right.

 

[lynrob]

Maybe just a bolt to hold it in a tight piece of pipe that is welded to a frame??

Yep that's what I was thinking, I've seen that arrangement in several commercial models. thanks.

 

[mhoun]

Where is the wholesaler located, name and number please.