Loader bucket tines & grapples

[bigsnowdog]

What I really need is a grapple for my loader bucket, as I have a lot of as in roughly 250 conifers 30 feet tall I have to cut and move. A minor detail is that I can't afford a grapple just now. Or a chipper. :-(

I am thinking of making some forks or long tines to attach to my loader bucket. I have a John Deere 5500 with a JD540 loader. The loader has a 7' wide, high capacity bucket.

My question: Have any of you fabricated tines for such a task, and if so, what did you use for material? I intend to simply cut lengths of material, then drill the material and the bucket and bolt them on [unless some other, better idea emerges here]. I consider C-channel, or round or square bar. Mild steel or T-1?

Thoughts on this?

 

[bigsnowdog]

No one?

 

[EMB5530]

have you searched the posts for grapple there are some real good ones I have seen on here couple Ive seen were made of shanks from box blades.
If I build onethats the way Im goin b/c it will save a lot of time cutting out of 1" and then heating hardening and heating toughning.

 

[bigsnowdog]

have you searched the posts for grapple there are some real good ones I have seen on here couple Ive seen were made of shanks from box blades.
If I build onethats the way Im goin b/c it will save a lot of time cutting out of 1" and then heating hardening and heating toughning.

You will note the post says I can't afford a grapple.

 

[EMB5530]

You will note the post says I can't afford a grapple.

the tines for the box blade around here are about $30 a piece I know a sheet of steel is a lot more than that. and forks ha forget about it.
I guess I dont get what your askin tho my mistake.
Do you have some free supply of material to make something or what?

 

[Mistyridgefarm]

I made log forks from leaf springs from a 1 ton truck. Using the center hole and one burned on the end, I mounted to existing buck holes using grade 8 bolts, washers both sides.

I only used two for my JD520 loader w/ standard bucket. They work very well for moving whole trees or logs. I prefer them over my fork attachment for this kind of work. The springs are very tough and have endured a lot of abuse cleaning up after hurricanes. I'd estimate they have moved over a thousand trees.

I do want a grapple something fierce but not sure I want to add the hydraulics to make it work at this point. The new tractor is just on the horizon and it WILL have third function loader and a grapple!

Oh, total investment for the spring forks was about $50, but that was fifth-teen years ago.

 

[bcp]

I made log forks from leaf springs from a 1 ton truck. Using the center hole and one burned on the end, I mounted to existing buck holes using grade 8 bolts, washers both sides.

Any photos?

Bruce

 

[bigsnowdog]

I find myself wondering if the leaves would have too much curve. Or were they fairly flat? I can see a little curve having advantage.

Neat idea, and tough material.