home made bucket forks

[gerard]

Here's a set of clamp on forks I made in about 45 minutes with some scrap stock I had laying around. Not real heavy dutys but well enough for carrying long objects, trees' fenceposts and the like.

 

[gerard]

closeup

 

[cj7]

hey I see you have one of those L2500's too.


How much weight have to put on the forks so far?

 

[gerard]

Lets see, I weigh 180 and can do dips from the very end of them without a problem. I piled on 8 horse standards the other day, they weigh about 40lbs each. The square tube was thick walled (3/16" walls) so they're a little stronger than they look.

 

[s1120]

Looks good. I like the way you have them clamp on. Quick, and easy.

 

[Mrwurm]

Gerard, I'll take a set for me and keep a set in reserve for GolfGar4. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Please make mine NH blue and GolfGars should be one each NH blue, Kubota orange, and throw in an extra one John Deere green (cuz ya never know) /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

How soon can you have them to me? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Mrwurm]

OK gerard, seriously, can you give me a few dimensions and material sizes so I can duplicate your masterpiece.

Remember, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

 

[gerard]

I used 1 1/2 inch thick wall square tube for everything. The thick wall is 3/16" thick vs 1/8 for "normal" tube. I only used this because I had a 10 foot piece laying around so my dimensions were kind of dictated by what I could do with 10 feet! I just drilled a 1/2" hole through the top peice, welded a nut to it, used some all thread and welded the handle to that and whalla! (The 1 1/2 " just happened to be the perfect size to slip over the bolt on tooth bar. Sometimes you just get lucky!!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif).

 

[Mrwurm]

Cool /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Thanks

 

[cj7]

Also how long is the spacer that is between the upper and the lower tube? This is out on the edge of the bucket?

 

[gerard]

The spacer is the same 1 1/2 inch tube the rest of the forks is made from. just worked out that was what I needed to be able to slip over the bolt on toothbar. If I didn't have a toothbar I would have needed a smaller spacer and probably would have just used some flat stock. The forks extend 36 (I think, I'll measure later and re post if not 36) inches from the bucket lip.

 

[cj7]

Thanks I am working on a set for mine. As like you I am using what is laying around. I have some 2". 1/8" wall tube scrape from a job. I am lining the inside with some 12g strut. I will prabably end up andding some spacers on the clamp since I do not have a toothbar yet. (someday) My forks will be 36" from the spacer in front of the bucket edge. I have the metal all cut so if I get time I will weld them togather tonight. I am also going to cut a wedge at the end of the forks and plate the opening.

 

[cj7]

btw. How do you like your L2500? Do you run a finish mower with it?

 

[gerard]

Count me as a very satsified customer. Bought it new and just turned 300 hours. Good workhorse and no problems. I don't use a finish mower. I cut about an acre of finish grass and bought a 46 inch lawn tractor new for less than I would have spent on a finish mower. Also have a lot more maneuverability with a lawn tractor. I cut the other 9 acres with a 5 foot bushog but only cut it a few times a year.

 

[cj7]

Still working on mine. Looking god so far. Just have to add some spacers and the clamp rod.

Maybe some paint!

will try to post pics when done.