Forks, Bolt-On, Do they work ?

[Scrambler82]

Hello,

I am thinking of getting set of the Bolt-On Forks to move, what I consider, a lot of dried Brush !

Do the Bolt-On Forks work well ?

Do they fall off ?

What do you think of moving Brush with these Forks ?

Thanks for your time,
Stay Safe,

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

They will work, you might have to tighten them occasionally, depending on the stresses you put on them. If they are too close together towards the center of your bucket, you may also bend the bucket lip.... again depending on the forces you are applying to them.

Would I dig out roots with them? Probably not....

My neighbor has a set and just used them to carry around 25-30 4" x 8' fence posts to distribute them were needed... the forks worked perfectly. He then used them with a sheet of plywood to unload about 10-12 bags at a time of wood pellets from his truck into the shed. Again they worked perfectly.

 

[whistlepig]

They do work. I wouldn't dig out roots with mine but they do work for moving heavy 4' x 8' heavy rubber mats and for moving trees and limbs that I have cut up.

 

[rademamj1]

Yes they will work just fine for moving brush piles, small logs and even light duty pallets. Keep them on tight when in use.
You will always find creative ways to put them to work.

 

[CobyRupert]

Yes and no. I had them for a while. They’ll get a lot of jobs done if that’s what you got.
You shouldn’t over do it with them, but if you’re like me, you will.
And then you’re trying to unbend the threaded clamp bolt if you ever want to take them off, or worse yet trying to unbend the bucket edge when you overload it.
Being further out front, the lift capacity of your loader is reduced vs. a quick connect set of forks.
I added a fork stabilizer bar between them that helped a lot so they stay straight. I still use that bar on my quick connect forks. Getting the stabilizer to stay on the forks is tricky, being metal on metal. Wedges of wood between the bar’s bolt and forks helped. Now I chain the stabilizer bar to the fork frame so it doesn’t slide off the forks.

Clamp on Fork Stabilizer for Medium Duty Forks

 

[Tinhack]

I made a pair out of 1" square shafting I found at a salvage yard. The shafting is hard so I'm thinking it came from a farm machine. In any case, mine extend to the rear of the bucket (underside) and clamp to the leading edge. They extend out from the bucket about 24". Not only do I move brush and logs with them but also dig up cactus. I can pierce the ground near the bottom of the cactus and just roll the bucket back to pull it up. The cactus simply falls into the bucket and I can haul it away. Works really well. Soil dampness plays a huge roll in how well.

This photo shows them out at the ends of the bucket (for brush). When digging cactus, I move them in closer together.

 

[k0ua]

Do they work? YES
Are they useful? YES
Are they a compromise? YES
Do SSQA forks work a lot better? YES

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

As long as you are stacking the brush on top of the fork tines by hand, and not trying to plung the fork tines into the pile of brush, they will work.

But plunging the fork tines into piles of brush will just cause them to turn every which way but straight. Linking the 2 tines together with the optional stabilizer bar will help.

I had a set. I grew to hate them. Was sorry I wasted the money on them (just north of $200 I think?), and bit the bullet and finally bought a fork frame and fork set (SSQA). I gave my clamp on set to my neighbor for free. I told him not to cuss me when he uses them. He has an old JD with a pin on bucket.

If you have a pin on style front bucket on your FEL, then the clamp on forks are better than nothing. But if you have an SSQA equipped FEL, I would recommend just getting the full attachment.

 

[Boeing]

I bought a pair to lift water tanks out of a high trailer. (I don't have a well and have to tanker in my water) A full water tank is over 2000#. I quickly learned that my FEL is rated at 1000# and from that subtract the weight of the bucket AND the "bolt on" forks. Now we're down to about 650#....so that about 80 gallons of water. OK, I siphon 210 gallons out and "lift" the 650#. Here is the answer to your question.....A pallet or fluid tank is narrow requiring the forks be bolted about 18" apart. Assuming it is centered on your bucket you are guaranteed to bend the bucket with that kind of weight. NEXT, as others have said the fork bolts need to be tightened to an unrealistic torque. Some suggested a wood wedge or shingle over the the steel bucket. I use old tire strips which hold the tight bolts a bit better. They WILL move left and right no matter how tight the bolts are. You cannot use a "tie brace" if you are picking up a pallet or tank. Many suggested getting a "fork attachment" and drop the bucket. Good advice. (and good luck)

 

[GeneV]

Do they work? YES
Are they useful? YES
Are they a compromise? YES
Do SSQA forks work a lot better? YES

I second that emotion.

 

[GeneV]

I got the bolt-ons. I only install them when I absolutely need to, which is too bad coz I would use forks a lot more if I had ssqi forks.

When I mount them, I always put them over the reinforced part of my bucket lip. Sometimes I put the cross-brace half-way up, so that it adds support underneath the forks to help keep brush from falling through.

 

[r porter]

i thought they worked fairly well. but you must use the chains to chain them on and stabilizer bar is also necessary. i never had any trouble with then coming off or getting loose because i chained them on. the stabilizer keeps them straight so they dont twist or turn sideways.

are there better options out there, yes. as long as you dont try to overload them they do the job.

i could pick up large bales of wet hay with no trouble. i also unloaded pallets of corn which had to be the limit of the forks before bending the bucket. the chains may have saver me there.

 

[shooterdon]

As long as you are stacking the brush on top of the fork tines by hand, and not trying to plung the fork tines into the pile of brush, they will work.

But plunging the fork tines into piles of brush will just cause them to turn every which way but straight. Linking the 2 tines together with the optional stabilizer bar will help.

I had a set. I grew to hate them. Was sorry I wasted the money on them (just north of $200 I think?), and bit the bullet and finally bought a fork frame and fork set (SSQA). I gave my clamp on set to my neighbor for free. I told him not to cuss me when he uses them. He has an old JD with a pin on bucket.

If you have a pin on style front bucket on your FEL, then the clamp on forks are better than nothing. But if you have an SSQA equipped FEL, I would recommend just getting the full attachment.

My experience as well

The guy I gave mine too bent them the first day moving logs.

If you get them just be careful

 

[whistlepig]

Were buying my bolt on forks a good decision and worth the money? Yes to both.

 

[ruffdog]

I have the HD clamp on forks and they worked good the few times I used them. I also have 2 of the connector stabilizer bars that I have not needed yet. Now that I have a ssqa, I would rather have good pallet forks.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[airbiscuit]

Here are poor man forks from another TBN thread - would work for brush.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

We have chain on forks that we can swap from loader to loader but I am serious about a clamp on receiver hitch for moving empty trailers.

The chain or clamp on solutions are a hack but with care can save the back.

 

[Big Barn]

One could liken the question to “Erection Cream..does it work?”

The answer would be “SURE if you want it to..”

 

[chim]

Never had any pallets to deal with. My forks get used for brush and branch cleanup. In that application having more than just a pair of forks helps prevent losing debris through them. So far I've built two sets for two different tractors. The first set was built from scrap materials. The second time around, I bought an SSQA frame and 5 bale spears / sockets. Added some bracing and spill rack.


https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...hp-kubota-bx2350-2.html?highlight=brush+forks

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/424324-brush-forks-second-attempt.html