Brush Forks - Second Attempt

[chim]

The first pair was several years ago for the L3200. Post# 18 in the link below has a brief description of them. The pictures in the link don't show a couple add-ons that made them pretty much self installing. Sort of like the "early photo" in an obit. Since those forks were custom made to fit the L3200 pin on bucket, they went along with the tractor when it was sold:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...hp-kubota-bx2350-2.html?highlight=brush+forks

I do use brush forks fairly often and it didn't take long to miss them. Since the L4240 has a QA bucket, these forks will be on a QA frame. A few months ago there was a super heavy duty frame on FB Marketplace for a reasonable price. Yesterday the project was started. Nothing will happen today, but this coming week should be productive. I'm in the middle of restoring another Caroni RFM, but the need for the forks is greater, so the deck was put on the saw horses in the background. The 5' RFM will just be for backup, rough stuff, trimming or fun on the Ford.

Here's the start. Had to remove the vise from the welding table to get a nice surface for everything to fit. Bale spears (48") were chosen because they are strong and can be replaced easily if they would get damaged. The pieces shown are all tacked and ready for welding. Two pieces of channel will be added between the top and bottom horizontal tubes for added strength. Gussets will be welded between the spear bushings and the bottom tube. I'll add a slotted angle on the top tube for chains. There will be a headache rack to keep the brush from rolling off the back. It will be bolt-on for easier repairs if damaged. Still need to come up with some loops or some method of being able to attach a rope or binder for that odd load.

 

[MF RED in MT]

That's going to be a great set of "brush Forks" when you are finished.

I built my brush forks about 9 years ago and during the summer they are installed on the FEL bucket most of the time.

I also installed a 3/4" hinged plywood deck on top of the forks with a wood framed type of headache bar.

I have some bungees on the vertical wood frame mainly to secure tools, etc...

My brush forks slide into the bucket and are fastened with three 1/4"-20 grade 8 machine screws taped into each side of the bucket for easy on/off.

Here's a couple pics:

 

[chim]

Made serious progress today. With the exception of a little cleanup and paint, they're done. They hauled their first load of debris from down near the creek.

 

[Big Barn]

Pretty awesome! Nice work

 

[GeneV]

Chim, that's pretty cool. Also, MF Red, can you post a pic of the forks as they attach to the bucket? I wanna fab me up some debris forks.

 

[dlctcg]

Chim.... Nice Job!!!

 

[chim]

Chim, that's pretty cool. Also, MF Red, can you post a pic of the forks as they attach to the bucket? I wanna fab me up some debris forks.

Since you said bucket, I guess you mean the forks in the link in my first post. The angle iron grabs the bucket edge and the chains and binder lock it on. After the pictures in the link I did add a couple tabs and two chains on the front side. That made it easier to install. It is just a matter of parking the bucket over the forks, dropping the two chains in the slots, and curling the bucket. The added chains don't perform any duty except helping with the installation. The design was to get something simple to work with the pin on bucket.

The new forks got a good workout yesterday while doing some tree removal. The headache rack was handy.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Nice work Chim... something like that to slip on my forks might be in my future. 2 pallet forks can move brush, but 3 more tines makes a huge difference.

 

[resq2piper]

SA-WEET:thumbsup:

 

[MF RED in MT]

Made serious progress today. With the exception of a little cleanup and paint, they're done. They hauled their first load of debris from down near the creek.

Very nice job, if you paint em MF Red, I'll make an offer for em... ha

I really like your planning that makes it easy to remove and replace/repair the bale spears, many times I have used the propane weed burner torch to straighten a fork or two and then spray it with water hoping to toughen up the fork/s again.

I also really like how tall you made your headache rack so the limbs/brush don't end up on top of the tractors hood.

Gene, I'll see if I can get a few pictures of my brush forks tomorrow for you.

KC