Forks for FEL

[ACHINBAC]

Hanging out to dry - finally finished the forks for the bx24. They also provide a base for the carrier I'm planning to work on today. If you check the pic of the fel, you'll see why I had to pad the forks - it accomodates the additional thickness of the 1/2 x 4" cutting edge. Also welded a web on the back to stiffen them a bit.

 

[Willl]

Are you planning to mount them to the bottom of the bucket ?

 

[ACHINBAC]

They hang off the lip of the bucket and one bolt holds their tails to the bottom of the bucket. The pic of the fel is old and doesn't have the two holes drilled in it yet. The bucket edge is pretty stiff now with the additional cutting edge though I can install the strut from the fel hitch assembly to stiffen it further if the forks loaded flex the bucket edge. I tried standing on the tip of one before they were painted and got minimal flex (175#) and don't expect the hydraulics to handle much more.

 

[Sherweld]

Very nice!
I hadn't thought of using channel with a partial web for forks. I was always thinking used commercial forks, heavy flatbar, or rectangular tube. Great idea, thanks.

 

[excelagator]

Those look dang nice!!. Neat color BTW!

 

[ACHINBAC]

No laughs here all you big tractor guys - this is a toy for me, otherwise I wouldn't have dialed it in. Some pics of the finished forks, and the carrier to follow on the next post.

 

[ACHINBAC]

Carrier is 3/4" marine ply with glass fabric layed on the top & epoxy + milled glass to seal the bottom. Bucket brackets are 2x2 stainless scrap angle cut to shape. Bottom has 2 strips of EPDM rubber registered to the forks.

 

[ACHINBAC]

Top has 3M skid tape strips applied. First load was (today) components for a wine cellar to be installed in Chatham.

 

[Egon]

That is nice very work.
The cutting edge must really stiffen up your bucket?

I too have bolt on Forks on the Kubota B7100 but they are much shorter and made from cut down truck springs. For a carrier the forks get a wooden pallet placed on them. Mine surely do look as nice!

 

[stimpee]

Top has 3M skid tape strips applied. First load was (today) components for a wine cellar to be installed in Chatham.

Nice work. I also really like what you did for lift hooks/rings on your bucket. I think you just sold me on that approach!

Steve