Forks bucket forks on ebay

[MFChief]

Has anyone seen or had any experience with these forks that are currently on ebay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7523815655&fromMakeTrack=true

I really like the design with the ability to easily adjust the forks without loosening and re-clamping, just like a real fork lift.
Terry

 

[8561]

That is a very interesting design. I like it, but as the owner of regular clamp on forks, I have to say moving them is very easy and just not that big a deal. The idea does look like it would work well, although I wonder if it adds an extra step or two to the mounting process. It looks like it would and since I never leave my forks on longer than it takes to do the particular job at that moment, I think that the extra set up time would be a disadvantage to me.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

I thought they might also keep the forks square to the bucket. I gather that one problem with the simple clamp-on forks is that they can get nudged out of square fairly easily.

Cliff

 

[MFChief]

Tim,
As far as I can see from the photo's, the attachment is the same, you're just clamping down with the stub arms rather than the actual fork.

Cliff,
I think you are right about the shifting aspect, the tie-in between the clamp arms with the bar should make it harder to move them to the side, seems like it would be a more rigid setup.
Terry

 

[RedRocker]

That's a pretty slick design.

 

[8561]

I say go for it and let us know how they work.

 

[renz]

At first I thought this was a pretty slick design as well, but further looks at the photos brought up these comments/questions:

1. The design limits how wide you can place the forks. For carrying lumber or logs, I'd prefer to have the forks spaced as wide as the bucket width allows.

2. There are no vertical load stops or provision for them. Previous posts have recounted some scary moments with logs rolling onto the hood of the tractor. Seems to me that load stops are a must.

3. This is probably unlikely, but what if a dip in terrain shifts those sliding forks and the load off to one side of the bucket? I would imagine the leverage of the load keeps those fork fingers under the bucket pinched pretty tight, but still, no surpise is a good surprise with a load on.

4. The forks are made of U-channel stock, not rectangular stock like most pallet forks. Anyone know the relative strength of these two shapes?

Still like the ingenuity though...

 

[MadReferee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The forks are made of U-channel stock, not rectangular stock like most pallet forks. Anyone know the relative strength of these two shapes?)</font>

When I built the forks that I posted in the Build-it-Yourself forum I used 3" x 4.10 bar channel (4.1 lbs per ft). The total length of each fork was 51" including what was under the bucket. The working length was 36". This design will easily carry 1000 lbs which is nore than most loaders for under 30 hp tractors will lift. Rectangle tubing at 3" x 2" x 3/16" and 5.6 lbs per ft, while more expensive, would be overkill.

Most pallet forks I have seen are solid steel and rated at 4000 lbs or more. This is way over kill for most CUTs.

 

[MFChief]

Thanks guys for the excellent questions, all good things to know.

As far as the vertical load stops I agree they would be a good thing, but from what I have seen few if any of the clamp on fork designs have that feature.

I agree that the ability to spread the forks as far as possible is a good thing, not only for lengthy loads, but I believe it is a good idea to clamp as close as possible to the end of the bucket, the bucket would be much more rigid there, and less apt to flex.

As MadReferee says, the channel forks are pretty strong probably not as strong as the box tubing types, but the seller says the forks are good to 1600 lbs, way more than my sub cut Massey can lift!

I emailed the selled to ask how long the bar is and if he could supply different lengths for different buckets, I'll let you know what the answer is when I hear from him.
Terry

 

[MFChief]

I got a quick response from Greg the seller, here's part of his reply;

"the total bar length is 48in. end to end, the clamps sit in from the end 1 in. so outside of clamp span is 46 in. i can make any size , shipping would be more if i ship over 48 in. "

The 48 inch size is just about perfect for me, my bucket is only 48 inches.

I think I'm going to give it a try, I'll let everyone know how it works out when I get them.

Thanks again for the great discussion.
Terry

 

[renz]

These forks are probably old news to a lot of forum members, but anyway, here are two links to forks I'm considering. They both incorporate a load stop to some degree. Just received the price list from MDS, and the 1000 lb units are $425 a pair and the 2000 lb are $455, FOB PA. Your ebay jobs look like a bargain in comparison, Terry!

MDS Homepage

Caldwell web page

 

[MFChief]

I'm never going to be happy I quess, I like the fork set on the MDS site that hooks to the top of the bucket too, it has the sliding arm feature and has the vertical stop capability you had talked about. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Terry

 

[renz]

With your 48" bucket, it sounds like the ebay forks are just the ticket, and it seems that they're built by a good old-fashioned, entrepeneurial, personal service guy. Go for it!
Thanks for starting the discussion -- by focusing on pallet forks I've come up with lots of new ways to justify them...just like the tractor!

 

[MFChief]

I hope your right, I did order them, and I will let everyone know how they work out as soon as I can.
Terry

 

[CoolMF]

I bought a set a few monthes ago. I am pleased with them. They are stronger than my tractor (MF2300) , but I don't think they would be strong enough if your tractor was much bigger. They are very easy to use and adjust in seconds (width).

 

[MFChief]

I'm glad to hear you are happy with them. You and I have the same tractor/loader combination, so that give me confidence that they will work out for me.
Terry

 

[Jibber]

I'm in the market for forks too. I'll be anxious to hear how they work for you. My brother, who sells heavy equipment, has warned me against buying anything without the vertical backstop.. cage, grate or whatever. He says without it I'm going to end up squished under some sort of heavy load.

 

[MFChief]

I know what you mean about the backstop, I definetly would like to have something also. I may look at adding something to the forks if possible. One advantage of the design I ordered it that you should be able to leave the stub arms in the same position all the time when installed, that would make it easier to design a backstop to work with them (I hope!).
Terry