FEL/3pt pallet forks build

[petes]

We bought 40 used stall mats(100-ish lbs each and awkward as heck) on Saturday, "un-in-stalled", moved, loaded and unloaded them on my trailer. I decided I don't want to move them by hand again from where they are stacked... That, and a couple other ideas/project (paletized power-aerated composting bins, carryall, brush piles to be moved, etc.) justified prioritizing a pallet fork build next.

Design goals are:
FEL and 3pt mountable
48" long
Reasonably light weight (Kubota B7100, 500lb FEL capacity), but strong enough.
Adjustable width
Down-force capable (when on FEL)
Multi-purpose FEL/3pt frame (future hay sweep, bale pickup, snowplow, grapple?)

The frame will be 2x2 dual rail, 48" wide with FEL pin and 3pt pin ears. I may make a pin quick-attach while I'm at it to make switching from bucket to forks easier, but don't really want the additional ~3" space and weight which will both decrease already meager lift capacity.

Forks will be removable from the frame. They'll "drop down" over the top and bottom rails and either clamp or have a jamb-cam against the top rail that forces them down/holds them in place. I've got some figuring yet to do on that...
Use as many materials I already have or can get cheaply from the scrapyard

I started construction Sunday afternoon. Progress so far:
Forks cut from a 3"x5"x0.25" box tube. 3" wide 48" long, 2-1/2" at the big end tapered to 5/8 at the small end. (Love that plasma cutter!)
Notched to to fit over 2x2 frame rail
1.5 x 1.5 x 7" angle welded in the notch to reinforce the "big" end end, and will keep the forks aligned perpendicular to the frame.
Boxed with 0.187 cut from plate. (Welding out the boxing tested the dutycycle limit on my MIG... DOH!)
Then it was time for supper...

 

[JB4310]

Looks good so far, can't really see enough of the design to critique it any further.

I will say having forks that work both on the FEL and 3pt is a great option.
I took a standard FEL fork set and simply modded it to attach to my quick hitch.

Especially handy on my spare utility machine that has no loader.


JB

 

[magicheater]

What is your target weight?

 

[petes]

What is your target weight?

Target is around 100 lbs, but I haven't actually calculated it out. Forks will weigh about 30 lbs each when done, the frame will be another 40 or so. I estimate the weight of my bucket at around 125 lbs, so should have about the same if not a little more FEL lift capacity in-close.

 

[petes]

Design sketches showing angles at extremes. I tried to spread the loader arm end to curl cylinder end as far apart as possible to get as much "curl" force as practical when the forks are level. They should tilt up 15 degrees and down (loader lifted high) to 45 degrees. We don't have any hills steeper than 15 degrees, so I shouldn't loose anything off the front

I think I've figured out the fork root to vertical member... sure would be easier if they weren't removable! The downside is the load will be 2" further forward than if the forks were welded/integral to the frame.

I didn't get any more fabrication done on the forks... 2 days ago I hauled home a $250 Craftsman/Atlas 12x36 circa 1940-ish metal lathe and spend my day disassembling, cleaning, adjusting and getting it going. Now I'll be able to make my own weld-in bushings to tighten up my FEL pivots, whoo hoo!