mjncad
Super Member
Alchemysa provides good advice concerning the use of wood for mock ups...it's light, it's cheap, and it's easy to work with before the metal working tools get put to good use.
Forks for my FEL
- Thread starter EddieWalker
- Start date
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pat32rf
Veteran Member
On the Kubota(17hp) I had I made a small set of forks for carrying logs but I ran one cross-piece across inside the rear of the bucket, drilled it and the bucket then welded the nuts to the forks. A second cross-piece across the front caught the front edge of the bucket and kept everything square. Mine only stuck out about 2ft beyond the bucket but it was enough to get under a log and curl it back to the edge of the bucket. I also bolted on a set of "horns" at the top of the bucket to keep a log from coming over the top and back at me.
Since then I have switched to a JD with a QD bucket and will never go back....;-)
Since then I have switched to a JD with a QD bucket and will never go back....;-)
OP
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
My Dad has been using the Forks with excellent results when it's not raining, but until today, I havne't tried them out myself. It's been raining for the last three days with well over an inch every day, not to mention last month was the wettest on record. It's just mud everywhere.
I know better, but I'm going stir crazy, so I decided to take out some trees and saplings where I'm going to build a gazebo for my hot tub.
Taking them out in this mud is easy, just push, and they come out. Then I turned around and just drove the forks under the pile, lifted and curled. It was very easy, and I was suprised at how much I was able to pick up. It seemed to me that the branches were all intertangled with each other and helped hold the entire mess together.
I drove to the burn pile through some nasty mud that I really shouldn't have, but did anyway. I figured that if I was dumb enough to be doing this, I might as well go for broke. I'll just have to deal with the massive ruts when it dries up. If it dries up. hahaha
My only complaint is that I should have built them years ago. Something this simple to make that didnt' cost very much really is a must have attachement.
Eddie
I know better, but I'm going stir crazy, so I decided to take out some trees and saplings where I'm going to build a gazebo for my hot tub.
Taking them out in this mud is easy, just push, and they come out. Then I turned around and just drove the forks under the pile, lifted and curled. It was very easy, and I was suprised at how much I was able to pick up. It seemed to me that the branches were all intertangled with each other and helped hold the entire mess together.
I drove to the burn pile through some nasty mud that I really shouldn't have, but did anyway. I figured that if I was dumb enough to be doing this, I might as well go for broke. I'll just have to deal with the massive ruts when it dries up. If it dries up. hahaha
My only complaint is that I should have built them years ago. Something this simple to make that didnt' cost very much really is a must have attachement.
Eddie
Attachments
OP
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
The flowers are what's left of a water fountain/bird bath that we put in the wrong place. I've already moved it to it's new location, but the flowers are iffy if they will be saved, or not.
Eddie
Eddie
scott_vt
Super Member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2004
- Messages
- 7,360
- Location
- east wells,vt
- Tractor
- 1986 MF 1040, 1942 Farmall A, 1949 Farmall Super A
Afternoon Eddie,
I have been following along and waiting for the finished project, looks very good to me ! I would think you would need to use some discretion on how much of a pile to lift with that big machine, to prevent any bending etc ! But a low budget project and your gettin the job done nicely! I have a few piles of brush around my property, and it would be nice to have something like that to carry them out to the field come burn time !
I have been following along and waiting for the finished project, looks very good to me ! I would think you would need to use some discretion on how much of a pile to lift with that big machine, to prevent any bending etc ! But a low budget project and your gettin the job done nicely! I have a few piles of brush around my property, and it would be nice to have something like that to carry them out to the field come burn time !
OP
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Scotty,
I'm not sure about what it can handle, but figure anything that I can fit on it is worth trying. My lift rating is something like 4,000 pounds, so it's not that big a deal to pick up trees and brush. I was worred about the strength of the forks, but they will support the weight of the tractor when pushed down at a an angle. I could have built them lighter and without all the re-inforcements, but I don't know how much lighter. hahaha
Eddie
I'm not sure about what it can handle, but figure anything that I can fit on it is worth trying. My lift rating is something like 4,000 pounds, so it's not that big a deal to pick up trees and brush. I was worred about the strength of the forks, but they will support the weight of the tractor when pushed down at a an angle. I could have built them lighter and without all the re-inforcements, but I don't know how much lighter. hahaha
Eddie
3RRL
Super Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2005
- Messages
- 6,931
- Tractor
- 55HP 4WD KAMA 554 and 4 x 4 Jinma 284
Eddie,
I can't believe I missed this thread altogether! What a nifty idea. Great job in doubling (or more) the capacity of your bucket for brush and stuff like that. I really like it.
I can't believe I missed this thread altogether! What a nifty idea. Great job in doubling (or more) the capacity of your bucket for brush and stuff like that. I really like it.
OP
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
We've been using it allot lately and have come up with some mistakes and things I'd do differently.
The first problem was the fine thread, one inch bolts striped out almost right away. I thought fine thread would be stronger then corse thread, but that wasn't the case. I replaced them with corse thread, grade eight inch and a quarter bolts. Those are holding up great!!
The five teeth were catching debri between them and causing all sort of problems. My Dad thought that if I welded on some flat stock on top of the teeth, it would stop the logs and branches from wedging inbetween the teeth. This worked for that problem, but created another issue.
The flat stock made it impossible to get the teeth into a pile of debri to pick anything up. It cought on just about everything.
I cut that off and then removed two of the teeth. The three remaining teeth are the ones with the bolts on them and also the strongest. This works the best.
Don asked earlier about the angle of the tips. I did it like I saw in the picture of the one I was copying in the Northern Tool catalog. I should have done it the oposit eay and created a sort of skid. The points tend to dig into the ground the way I did it. Next time, I'll make them so they slide on the ground.
The 2x4 tubing is bending. It's a combination of things, but mostly because my dad doesn't have a soft touch. He comes from the bigger hammer crowd. If it doesn't work the first time, hit it again even harder. hahaha
When these are totoly destroyed beyond salvage, I'll build another set with the 2x4 tubing on it's edge.
For what it cost to buy the material, it's turned out to be a very handy, usefull attachment. I'd highly recomend it to everyone who has a FEL and needs to move trees, branches or brush.
Thanks,
Eddie
The first problem was the fine thread, one inch bolts striped out almost right away. I thought fine thread would be stronger then corse thread, but that wasn't the case. I replaced them with corse thread, grade eight inch and a quarter bolts. Those are holding up great!!
The five teeth were catching debri between them and causing all sort of problems. My Dad thought that if I welded on some flat stock on top of the teeth, it would stop the logs and branches from wedging inbetween the teeth. This worked for that problem, but created another issue.
The flat stock made it impossible to get the teeth into a pile of debri to pick anything up. It cought on just about everything.
I cut that off and then removed two of the teeth. The three remaining teeth are the ones with the bolts on them and also the strongest. This works the best.
Don asked earlier about the angle of the tips. I did it like I saw in the picture of the one I was copying in the Northern Tool catalog. I should have done it the oposit eay and created a sort of skid. The points tend to dig into the ground the way I did it. Next time, I'll make them so they slide on the ground.
The 2x4 tubing is bending. It's a combination of things, but mostly because my dad doesn't have a soft touch. He comes from the bigger hammer crowd. If it doesn't work the first time, hit it again even harder. hahaha
When these are totoly destroyed beyond salvage, I'll build another set with the 2x4 tubing on it's edge.
For what it cost to buy the material, it's turned out to be a very handy, usefull attachment. I'd highly recomend it to everyone who has a FEL and needs to move trees, branches or brush.
Thanks,
Eddie
hunterridgefarm
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2005
- Messages
- 2,117
- Location
- Western NC
- Tractor
- Kubota L3130DT, Kubota L185DT, JD LX277
EddieWalker said:
Eddie,
The forks seem to work good. Be sure to post pics (I know you will) of the gazebo. My wife has picked several places where we are building that she wants a gazebo. I told her I found four nice trees I could tie a tarp to.
Now I'll tell her I have to wait and see what Eddie's looks like. So now the pressure is on you........she'll join TBN now....send you a lot of PM's......sorry