JD QuickAttach building

[Kfbeal]

I see several bale spears or front attachments for a JD FEL, and I saw a home-made bracket to hook onto the JD quick attach of a JD loader.

Has anyone made any homemade? I called the local JD dealer and each bracked was $43/each and the pins on the bottom were $11/each. That's not high, but that's $100 just in attachment to the FEL.

I saw one with flat iron cut out and half a pipe welded inside of that and can't find that thread now and I've searched for 3 nights so far.

Any ideas?

 

[kennyd]

When I bought the two sets I used, I paid about $35 for both hooks and both pins.

I know that does not help you though...although I do remember the 1/2 pipe method once-I believe it was on a set of forks IIRC.

I just did some searching, using "hooks" under my username:

Post #1 uses some angle iron.

Post#2

 

[nate_m]

You can see pics of how I made mine from scratch in this post:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/131783-fel-pallet-forks-carry-all.html

.375 x 2" flat and a 1.125 hole saw made the top side. Pins purchased from TSC

 

[Kfbeal]

So, you're the culprit I've been looking for. I guess searching for bale spear wasn't the answer.

I recalled the angle iron also, and mentioned that to a guy at work yesterday but couldn't find your posts. That was more than likely the method I would use as it would be easier for me to fabricate with a chop saw.

I currently have 4 - 4"x4"x40" square tubing roughly 3/16 that was cut off an 8-row hipper (row disc is what some call it) to make it a 6-row roughly 15 years ago. It's still in very good shape and I want to make a front bale spear out of. All pieces are approximately 40" so my uprights are going to have to be on the outside with open ends up top since it's not wide enough to go all the way across. Not a big deal, I could cap them I suppose. I plan to make this where I can hook a 3ph bale spear up to this since I already have one. I plan to make the hook-up cat I and cat II up front so I can remove the entire bale spear. This way I can use it for more than just that. I plan to weld hooks, add a hitch coupler, etc. on there.

Thanks for replying here, it helped a bunch. Now to print those out and get an idea on how I can do this on my future setup. You folks are very ingenious when it comes to modifications and new ideas. Now if I can re-learn how to fire up the old Lincoln 225 AC welder up and make a bed instead of a mud-dobber's nest I'll be alright.

 

[Kfbeal]

Do you think 4x4 box tubing is too heavy? The total width is 44 1/2" wide by 24" high. I had this material is why I opted for 4x4. My tractor is a 5103 with 512 FEL and plan to move round bales with it. I'm not sure the weight difference between 3x3 would make that much of a difference?

I've got the frame cut out and tacked together last night, but started having second thoughts about the size of it. 3x3 tubing runs approximately $12 / ft. around here and I was trying to eliminate having to purchase it.

 

[kennyd]

4x4 sounds big to me! I used 2x3 on mine...

Why not take a picture of it the way you have it now and let us see what it looks like it?

 

[Kfbeal]

Yea, I got it all welded today and might just scrap the whole thing and buy some metal. It's pretty darn heavy now, but I'm sure the tractor will handle it. I might just weld some hooks on it and use it for pulling stuff, etc.

Is the 3" horizontal or vertical?

I would think horizontal for more strength? If I mount a center bale spear, I have a piece of 3x5 I could put in the center to weld the pipe coupler the spear slides into.

 

[kennyd]

Is the 3" horizontal or vertical?

I picture is worth how many words?

 

[Kfbeal]

I'm just wondering if I should flip the top and bottom pieces so the 3" is horizontal so I can tack in an upright in the center for the center spear? Nice work by the way.

 

[kennyd]

I dont see why you couldnt do it that way...just make the intersection of the top rail and the side uprights right where the hook goes.