Can a Forklift Fork be cut down to make a round bale spear?

[aczlan]

I am looking at making a hay bale mover for a loader to move around 5x5 round bales and I have access to some 4"x42" forklift forks.
They are rated for 2500# each and I am wondering if I cut them down to a point at the tip (tapering out to 4" over the first 2 feet), would they be usable as bale spears, or would they just bend?
Anyone tried this?

Thanks

Aaron Z

 

[Scook222]

They shouldn’t bend even after you cut them down. I would be more worried that you would spear the bale deep enough that it would be hard to get off the fork. I have a neighbor that has about the same length pallet forks spaced out to the farthest setting on the forks on his front end loader and he loads hay with the pallet fork like picking up a pallet. He moves 5x5 and 5x6 bales and loads them on flat trailers and hay van trailers and they work really good.

 

[aczlan]

I have tried moving bales with forks underneath them, but they always seem to stick when I'm trying to back out.
This is also going to go on a loader versus on a forklift mast, so I want to make sure that I have something sticking into the bale so it can't roll down the loader arms and onto the operator.

Aaron Z

 

[Wagtail]

Could you describe (or show a picture) of how the forks attach to the FEL?

Honestly, a couple of 'replacement' purpose-built bale spikes, available at any rural supply store or, even, at my dealership's parts department would be cheaper than the effort it would take to whittle down both of your forks to 'sort-of' suit a purpose. Plus, no matter how much you whittle them down, they'd still be heavier than actual bale spikes.

I'm thinking that you could cut the forks off just after the bend (on the horizontal), then drill a hole that would accept the threaded end of the bale spike. A washer, lock-washer (split-washer?) and nut to attach.

Keep it simple.

 

[aczlan]

Could you describe (or show a picture) of how the forks attach to the FEL?

Honestly, a couple of 'replacement' purpose-built bale spikes, available at any rural supply store or, even, at my dealership's parts department would be cheaper than the effort it would take to whittle down both of your forks to 'sort-of' suit a purpose. Plus, no matter how much you whittle them down, they'd still be heavier than actual bale spikes.

I'm thinking that you could cut the forks off just after the bend (on the horizontal), then drill a hole that would accept the threaded end of the bale spike. A washer, lock-washer (split-washer?) and nut to attach.

Keep it simple.

I would probably weld a piece of tube to the upright part of the fork and put a round bar through that.
Time will tell, I also have a forklift mast for the 3 point that I could use the cut down fork for.

Aaron Z

 

[M5farms]

the answer is YES. I split one down the middle with a torch then put both sides together and weld together. the butt end will be a hair over 2" wide so I ground it down so it was 2" square and it will fit a 2" receiver hitch . it helps to blow out the pin hole before you weld them together . I will try and find the pics of it.

 

[M5farms]

 

[jmc]

View attachment 606938

View attachment 606939

M5, well done.

OP, my neighbor made one out of a salvaged car or truck axle. (They're probably hardened) Used it hard for decades.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I just slide my forks right under the bales, the bales rest nicely and securely between the forks,

with some practice, you won't break strings, and you won't even have to stop,

Having the grapple with the forks is REALLY nice, I can move the grapple out, to push a bale off the forks when I'm stacking up high, like in a barn...

SR

 

[aczlan]

Pushing bales off was my issue, when I lowered the forks enough to set the bale down, they were pulling down the next bale. Probably need more practice.

Additionaly, I would rather have the "accident proofing" of the spear in the bale if it's on the loader vs under the bale.
I will have to grab a fork and play with it.


Aaron Z

 

[Xfaxman]

I added a bale spear to the Speeco Ultra Fork. The base is designed to bolt on and the spear is held in with a pin:

With a 5x6 bale, front SSQA or 3 point:

 

[Fallon]

Titan 6" Pallet Fork Hay Bale Spear Attachment 55 lb Capacity Skid Steer

Most farm stores sell the same spears for $50 or so. Just need to make some mounting lugs. I'm sure cutting forks will work. Probably going to end up with a rougher spear than getting a factory made one, or even just using an old axle shaft. Mounting the main spear in the center of the frame will give you much better safer results than a spear at the bottom of the frame.

 

[aczlan]

Titan 6" Pallet Fork Hay Bale Spear Attachment 55 lb Capacity Skid Steer

Most farm stores sell the same spears for $50 or so. Just need to make some mounting lugs. I'm sure cutting forks will work. Probably going to end up with a rougher spear than getting a factory made one, or even just using an old axle shaft. Mounting the main spear in the center of the frame will give you much better safer results than a spear at the bottom of the frame.

I am thinking of something like this one, but as a loader attachment:
Titan Clamp on Hay Spear Attachment | Dual Spear

Either using dual spears (but they are closer to $100 each near me), or 2 forks.

Aaron Z

 

[4570Man]

I think the truck axle is a lot more promising candidate over the forklift fork. It shouldn’t be hard to find one in a junkyard or scrapyard or towing yard.

 

[M5farms]

I think the truck axle is a lot more promising candidate over the forklift fork. It shouldn’t be hard to find one in a junkyard or scrapyard or towing yard.

Axles do fine but hard use they will bend . My spear will not bend . That's why I built this one .

 

[4570Man]

Axles do fine but hard use they will bend . My spear will not bend . That's why I built this one .

Your spear is a lot better design than just cutting the fork into a V. The OP only has a medium to large compact tractor. I think a big truck axle would take all the abuse it could offer.

 

[Renze]

Its a bad idea to cut down a fork, the jagged edges are crack initiations.

I bought extra strong bale spears for 15 euro a piece, put four of them in a fork so i can also stir trampled bale plastic out of the field when im out there putting a bale out.

 

[MH8675309]

A single spear will work OK but having a few short (10" or so) spikes under the spear and off to the sides will help you control the bale when you lift it. If you pick up a bale with a single spear it will spin unless you get it dead center very time (and who is that good?) and sometimes will spin anyway. Double spear is the best although I dont own one I have run a skid steer that had one and if you're going to be stacking these bales consider biting the bullet and buying a 2 tine.

 

[aczlan]

A single spear will work OK but having a few short (10" or so) spikes under the spear and off to the sides will help you control the bale when you lift it. If you pick up a bale with a single spear it will spin unless you get it dead center very time (and who is that good?) and sometimes will spin anyway. Double spear is the best although I dont own one I have run a skid steer that had one and if you're going to be stacking these bales consider biting the bullet and buying a 2 tine.

The spear that I have now is a commercially made 3-point hitch spear with two spikes like you mention on the sides. That works very well, but it does not let me stack them high enough and if I'm going to be building a loader attachment, I would rather put two spears or cut down forks on it so that I can use it for moving pallets as well.

Aaron Z

 

[Xfaxman]

The spear that I have now is a commercially made 3-point hitch spear with two spikes like you mention on the sides. That works very well, but it does not let me stack them high enough and if I'm going to be building a loader attachment, I would rather put two spears or cut down forks on it so that I can use it for moving pallets as well.

Aaron Z

Have you considered adding a QA plate to it so it will fit front or rear?

Here is a pallet fork frame that SSdoxie did: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/286916-combination-ssqa-pallet-fork-qh.html