Gotta convert loader to Quick Attach

[Xfaxman]

Looking good. :thumbsup:

You may need to build in some extra rollback angle into the fork frame.

 

[CanDo]

Sure does and looks great. Now you well have to change the name of your tractor to SkidDeere.

Hehee! Hadn't thought of that... good thing the "skid marks" will be up front and not visible from the rear. :laughing:

 

[CanDo]

You may need to build in some extra rollback angle into the fork frame.

Yes, that's a good thought. I have a fair rollback with the bucket now and that relative angle is going to remain the same, but I think that most of the commercial fork sets do have some additional built in. Thanks!

I've been looking for some ideas for the fork carriage but haven't seen anything that grabs me yet. Need strong but light.
Remember, "strong" is a relative term and my little wimpy Model 70 loader is not the workhorse that most of you all have. Therefore, I can afford to give up some beef in exchange for a savings in weight.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

 

[sd455dan]

Excellent work on the conversion, compared to the relative hack job I did on mine.
Anyway the roll back angle was the hardest thing to get right for me.
In fact wish I had added a little more angle- so that if the forks were used to say pop a small tree or rock out of the ground the forks could be curled back a bit farther to pivot under an in ground object to pop it out a bit more.

Once again Very Very nice work.:thumbsup:

 

[CanDo]

Excellent work on the conversion, compared to the relative hack job I did on mine.
Anyway the roll back angle was the hardest thing to get right for me.
In fact wish I had added a little more angle- so that if the forks were used to say pop a small tree or rock out of the ground the forks could be curled back a bit farther to pivot under an in ground object to pop it out a bit more.

Once again Very Very nice work.:thumbsup:

Thanks, but I have to disagree with your assessment of your own work. I was just over to your skid steer to (fast attach) pallet fork conversion found at http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/369451-skid-steer-fast-attach-pallet.html?highlight= and, as I commented there, I liked it!

I do appreciate the "angle" concern with the forks (which has also been expressed by Xfaxman earlier) and had been wondering if I really needed more but you gave a great example of how you might need a bit more in order to help "pop" out a small tree or rock. Food for thought!

Oh, as I looked at your pictures of your forks it seems that they are relatively short like mine. I'd love to see a picture of the carriage and how it is constructed - especially if you made it yourself. I'm looking for some ideas that will balance weight (spelled "LIGHT") against something strong enough to do the job. Keep in mind that I don't have a monster tractor and am not going to be able to pick up much more than 700 lbs (static weight) although I realize that dynamic or working weight may require some additional consideration... and then a bit for safety. :scratchchin:

Anyway, any pictures and/or ideas would be appreciated.

 

[sd455dan]

thanks CanDo
I will try and take a few pictures of the fork frame,-
It is an old New Holland L778 skid steer, fork attachment- so it is pretty heavy, but a similar build with possibly some lighter slightly smaller, and thinner steel might be a great combo for your FEL especially if utilizing a better than (mild) grade steel?..

I also really liked the earlier posters (zmansmac) cross bar design that could be used all by itself for lifting and towing. Great post.
TBN is my favorite site on the web -
All kinds of great ideas and people willing to help- and I always learn something new.








got a couple pictures of the frame ( camera still has a cracked lens so sorry about the quality)
also measured the forks and they are the 36 inch by 4 inch wide versions.
started thinking the square edge on the brackets was unneeded and cut an angle into them
Hope the pics are helpful of the frame

 

[stuckmotor]

Looking good. :thumbsup:

You may need to build in some extra rollback angle into the fork frame.

I've been meaning to add some load catchers to the top of my fork frame before my luck runs out and something rolls back and kills me.

 

[rswyan]

I've been meaning to add some load catchers to the top of my fork frame before my luck runs out and something rolls back and kills me.

:thumbsup:

I did that last winter ... the original guard was only 1' higher than the pallet fork frame. I made it 3' high, for a total of about 4 1/2'.

 

[CanDo]

What a country! Just got back a few days ago from a trip out to Yellowstone and then down to Salt Lake City. My wife and I drove across the northern route (mostly 2 lane) and then came back to Michigan using 80 which of course is expressway. With all the various exploratory side trips we put on 4700 miles and every mile was worth it! A great two weeks!

Anyway it was now time to finish the conversion project and I remembered to take a few pictures to share.

Here's one showing the "test fit" to make sure that I didn't have to make any last minute alterations prior to welding in the cross bar - and also to make dead sure what the measurement should be for that crossbar.


After getting the dimension for the cross bar, cutting and welding it in (and adding a bit of paint) it's back to the loader for another test fit... gotta love it when a plan comes together.


It was now time to bite the bullet and hack off the ears off of the bucket - no turning back now! After hours of grinding and some pounding out to straighten out some dents in the bucket, I had it prepared to receive the bucket side of the quick attach.


I used the loader side of the quick attach to line up the lower pins and the upper pockets which were then tacked in place and then with loader side removed the bucket side was all welded up. Here's a close look at the left side of the bucket.


And one of the bucket after it has been picked up by the loader. So easy!!!


The bucket only sits out 3/8 of an inch from the original and it weighs in about 20 lbs heaver because of the crossbar, pins, plates and pockets. Now, all that's left to do is clean and paint.

Finally, I want the thank those of you who helped out with ideas and comments as this project was developed. It was very helpful to mull over the comments and suggestions and I even conceded to go with a bigger crossbar in order to have the ability to add a receiver tube some time down the road - something that I hadn't even considered prior to the suggestion.

(NOTE: I also hope to finish up the fork carriage design and build but I'll post the update to that under the separate thread that I started entitled: "Need help designing a carriage for a set of forks")

 

[Xfaxman]

Neat :thumbsup: