forks

[dirt clod]

I was given a set of forks that is made to use on a bucket that has hooks on top of the bucket that the top bar of the forks hook into like the industrial tractors have. The set I have was made for a ford compact tractor a little smaller than my kubota. would it be better to have hooks cut out of plate steel and mount the hooks as they was are would it work as good to make the forks slip on and clamp on to the bucket like the ones you buy after market and cut the top part off?

 

[ronjhall]

I would like the forks to be mounted on a cross bar. With bottom of forks resting against cutting edge.
Do you have a picture of your forks?

 

[SpringHollow]

We had several forks made like the ones you just received. It is very nice to be able to drive up to them, curl your bucket to grab them and off you go. There are some places on the web that sell heavy duty "hooks" that might be the right size for yours.

Ken

 

[dirt clod]

maybe I need to take to the local welding shop and see if hooks can be fabed

 

[dfkrug]

I was given a set of forks that is made to use on a bucket that has hooks on top of the bucket that the top bar of the forks hook into like the industrial tractors have. The set I have was made for a ford compact tractor a little smaller than my kubota. would it be better to have hooks cut out of plate steel and mount the hooks as they was are would it work as good to make the forks slip on and clamp on to the bucket like the ones you buy after market and cut the top part off?

I have tried several styles of bkt forks, including the clamp-on style and the
hanging style. I fabbed a few sets of the hanging style before I went to
a complete fork frame that replaces the bkt. In comparing clamp-on and
hanging, I think hanging are much better. I have seen the clamp-on style
fatigue and tear the steel at the clamp points inside the bkt. Most likely
this part of the bkt carcass is only 1/8" thick.

To get the max benefit from your hanging forks, make sure that whatever
hook mechanism you use, make it so the forks go on and off without having
to get off the tractor.

 

[gotrocks]

Here is a pic of my forks. I have been using (and abusing ) them for a couple of years. On level ground I can set the forks flat on the ground and "uncurl" the FEL and then (if I don't knock forks over) ease back into place and curl the FEL and have the forks ready to go.

 

[BTDT]

Here is a pic of my forks. I have been using (and abusing ) them for a couple of years. On level ground I can set the forks flat on the ground and "uncurl" the FEL and then (if I don't knock forks over) ease back into place and curl the FEL and have the forks ready to go.

Nice setup. That looks like it puts a lot of stress on that bucket lip. Have you thought of beefing it up any? Here is a simple mod you can make to keep forks from falling over.