Brush / Log Forks

[SPIKER]

I would say you need to reinforce the center tang with a vertical hunk of steel, tube or bar stock or channel will work from the mounting point of the center up to the cross bar. this should prevent most of the twisting down.
I built a 3 point set that i use, works well I attached angle iron along the 3/16" 2x2 tube. i cut the 3/16 thick angle notches to hold chains from slipping down each outer side. I've picked up logs that maxed out the 3pt and not bent it. one is tweeked some from lifting end of a 30'x 30" maple log high enough to get chains under it.
mark

 

[SPYDERLK]

Got some more scrap and made some progress. So far, this is how they look. I tested them, & they definitely need to beefed up a bit more, the middle fork felxes the angle iron it seats in under heavy loads. Also will be adding the smaller forks in between. I would love to make this look nicer, built with all square tube, but with my tight budget, I need to keep cost down. This was built w/ all scrap, so far it cost me about $100.00.

Some 2.5" or so round tubing welded in the throat of the angle spanning between each fork would handle the torsion loading on that angle iron. I would leave out the small forks -- it going to make it too "busy".
larry

 

[Huskerplowboy]

Did you buy the quick attach hooks and pins from Deere, or fab them yourselves. If I remember right, I had looked a while back and the formed hooks for the top and the pins for the bottom were avaliable as service parts that could be welded on your own project. I had been thinking about a special grapple bucket or something at the time and thought that might save some redneck metal forming making the upper hooks.

 

[J_J]

johnnydel29 ,

Just my opinion, but the forks near the bottom of the frame need a lot more support. Right at the lip on the bottom is where you will probably bend the fork/frame with enough weight is lifted. What is the wall thickness/size of the box tubing, and length of the forks? I would add gussets on both sides of each fork, Maybe 4x4x6 triangle, or larger. With the forks that long, you will try and lift more than you should.

 

[pat32rf]

I found that by extending the uprights on mine to about 24-30" it became much more versatile and stable when carrying stuff on a skid/pallet. It gave me something to strap refridgerators, 45gallon drums, garbage cans and the like to so they wouldn't tip off. It also prevented round logs from coming back over the top when loading them on a trailer or log pile.
I only used two teeth instead of five but made them out of truck axles welded to brackets which gave me width adjustment. When I need them longer I slide 2" square 1/4"wall tubes over them. I can come up behind my son's skidoo, run the forks under the running boards and lift it into a pickup bed.