bucket forks

   / bucket forks #1  

dqdave1

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2005
Messages
1,499
Location
N. E. Ohio
Tractor
tc- 29d
I would like to hear comments on bolt on or chained on bucket forks; are they worth it and where did you get it from.
Dave
 
   / bucket forks #2  
Purchased a set up bolt on bucket forks in 04 for $469 at the local Case/Kubota dealer, they had to order them in, do not recall what brand they were but came from a local distributor. They work quite well, have used them on the JD backhoe and the Kubota, not on the NH as the Kubota will lift quite a bit more. After moving one crate of winter squash last fall, went to the NH dealer and picked up a set of quick attach forks as eight hundred pounds of weight so far out front made the back end a little light.

That is the problem with the bolt on or chain attached forks, they are good as long as the item that you are lifting is light. All of the weight that you are lifting is beyond the lip of the bucket, esp if you have a loader with such a limited lift capability as the 7308.
 
   / bucket forks #3  
http://www.paynesforks.com/light.htm

They have what seems to be a nice set. I don't believe you would need the heavy duty.
I purhcased a quick attach set from local dealer and love them. Cost was $850.
Make sure you are aware of roll back if you plan on picking up things that can roll. ie logs.
Some forks don't have anything to stop rolling when you roll your bucket back, which in turn can land them on your hood or head.

If you know a good welder, I e mailed "madreferee" and he has a nice set of plans he would probably send you. Very nice looking.

good luck. I love mine!
 
   / bucket forks #4  
dqdave1 said:
I would like to hear comments on bolt on or chained on bucket forks; are they worth it and where did you get it from.
Dave

If you have welding skills I offer a free set of plans for clamp-on bucket forks. Several hundred TBN'ers have already received their plans and some have actually built the forks. Building them is simple and requires just a long afternoon. If you want a set PM me with your real email address.
 
   / bucket forks #5  
dqdave1 said:
I would like to hear comments on bolt on or chained on bucket forks; are they worth it and where did you get it from.
Dave

Dave, I have a set of 48" chain-on forks that I like, but they can be a pain to use if you aren't careful. Dumbdog mentioned that they are out in front of the bucket lip and that takes away from the maximum lift. That is absolutely true. You will lose at least 1/2 your lift, maybe more. Also, if you don't get the chain binders tight on that type, it is easy to hit the tips on something and make the forks go askew. On the bright side, they are easy to install or remove, but a toothbar can cause that to be be troublesome too.

Easily, I'd say the Q-A forks are preferred, but if you don't use them often and can put up with the limits of bolt-on/chain-on forks, they are 1/3 the price and functional. I'm not ready to sell mine yet.;)
 
   / bucket forks #6  
I had a set of bolt on bucket forks and hated them. I found them to be very unsafe as they were prone to twist toward to the bucket without notice causing a load to fall. I guess if you are a casual user and only use them for light loads you may be okay. I just value my life too much to use them. I've been using Woods 4000 lb capacity quick attaches for years now and love them.

Andy
 
   / bucket forks #7  
As Jinman says the chain on forks are easy to use and are less expensive than a QA fork system but have their limitations. Depends on how often you are going to use them. I've use my chain binder attachable bucket forks for moving roundbales and 3'x3'x8' square bales for the horses with my TC40D. It does get a little light on the rear even with filled R4's and a box blade on the back but if you take your time its no problem.
Stonefox
 
   / bucket forks
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Thanks for all the replies. Sorry for late thank you; but had problems with this site as it changed over and then had many business problems that took time to resolve.
Thanks again.
 
   / bucket forks #9  
Not a problem Dave. I was too busy with the end of school as this thread was running and am glad to have found it.

I have a QA bucket and a 3 point carry-all. I am considering doing a little welding on the carry-all to set it up so I can pick it up with the QA loader. If that works, I think I'll try setting the grapple to work with it.

If anyone has tried this or knows some reason I shouldn't, please let me know about it.
 
   / bucket forks #10  
Since you have a QA bucket, check the used equipment market before you buy chain-on or bolt-on forks.

I just got a set of QA forks, the real deal that looks & works just like a fork-lift truck, from my JD dealer for $600. He had them on consignment from a guy who had rolled his tractor & his wife made him sell it.

Sure, they are used, & the paint isn't shiny, but they work really well, and to me, are about 100 times more desirable than bolt on forks.
 

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