Found a great use for bolt-on pallet forks.

[TonyF]

You can try welding a large thick washer on the bottom inside of the bucket to catch the clamp screw. Careful though, you can hit the forks hard enough to bend the screw. I have the forks from atvxpress on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Clamp-Loader-Bucket-Skid-Tractor-Pallet-Fork-chain-/290480699612?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a1ffb8dc

I also welded little vertical "wings" on the sides of the forks that hit against the bucket lip to keep the forks aligned. I can take a picture and post it tomorrow.

 

[randy741985]

Theres a guy on NH Craigslist that makes very nicely built clamp on forks from 800lb rating to 2000lb, prices are the lowest I have seen. He uses a cnc plasma to custom cut the slot on the clamp assembly so that it fits the bucket, cantilevering the load between the slot and the underside of the bucket. The clamp screw is only there to hold the fork on, no load is on it. The lightest ones are made with 2 x 2 x 3/16" wall, 800lb rating, and only weigh 23 lbs each. Heaviest are 2 x 4 x 1/4" wall, rated for 2000lb, and are fairly heavy! Here are some pictures:

Do you know if this guy still makes the forks and how to get in touch I cant find it on NH?

 

[JJZ 109]

try checking out the ones on BXpanded.com - they are just clamp-on and seem to be a great idea.:thumbsup:

I did check up on those forks, but Harry from BXpanded tells me that they won't work on the bucket of an LA403 loader on the B3030.
I ended up buying a SSQA for the tractor and a set of skid steer attach forks locally on Craigslist.

 

[BXinNH]

Randy,

I think the guy with the NH craigslist ad is silver lake fabrication. Silver Lake Fabrication - Belmont, NH - 603-630-5658 I don't know anything about them but I have seen their ads many times. Hope this helps.

Matt.

 

[jenrow33]

I bought a set of pretty heavy duty pallet forks for 120 bucks on Ebay. Hey the skid steer type start at $495, what a deal, right! Wrong.

When you start picking things up they don't stay straight even tightened done with a long bar for leverage.

But, they will be great to get the skid steer pallet forks off the delivery truck when I get around to buying them.

All kidding aside, you can pick up logs and heavy brush, but you have to work carefully and you still have to get off the tractor to loosen them and straighten them out quite often, so they will only do in a pinch.

Should have listened to the posters who recommended not to bother with them.

I called a local forklift company and got a pair of 48" forks that were replaced as "normal wear" in a factory (nothing wrong with them). Then I found a fram from a forklift at a different local factory that they had removed from the fork truck as part of their process. I then purchased a QA mount and used it, the forks, and the frame as the foundation for my QA pallet fork project. Had to buy a bit of steel from a local supplier, but when all was said and done I had less than $200 into my QA forks. I'll post pictures as soon as I have the ambition to go outside and take some!

I bought a QA adaptor from Horst Welding for my L3400 in order to switch to a snow plow quickly. Now I wouldn't have it any other way than QA!!

 

[montelatici]

I called a local forklift company and got a pair of 48" forks that were replaced as "normal wear" in a factory (nothing wrong with them). Then I found a fram from a forklift at a different local factory that they had removed from the fork truck as part of their process. I then purchased a QA mount and used it, the forks, and the frame as the foundation for my QA pallet fork project. Had to buy a bit of steel from a local supplier, but when all was said and done I had less than $200 into my QA forks. I'll post pictures as soon as I have the ambition to go outside and take some!

I bought a QA adaptor from Horst Welding for my L3400 in order to switch to a snow plow quickly. Now I wouldn't have it any other way than QA!!

How many hours between running around, finding the stuff sndf doing the work. I suspect that that these are pretty expensive forks if manhours are considered.

 

[Code54]

I had bolt on ones at first and while they worked they are a bit of a pain. When I bought my new tractor and got the SS quick attach I ordered a SSQA frame style set and will never go back - they are really nice and work far better
Good luck

 

[jenrow33]

How many hours between running around, finding the stuff sndf doing the work. I suspect that that these are pretty expensive forks if manhours are considered.

True, though if I charge myself a lot for man hours, this site is pretty expensive for me too!