Forks Loader forks on 3pt iMatch

[beenthere]

Finished retrofitting the Deere loader forks to attach to the iMatch quick hitch so I could lift pallets of dried, split firewood and carry them to the house. Followed a pic posted here sometime back for the inspiration to do the fabrication.

Pic shows the first pallet of wood yesterday (no snow yet).

 

[beenthere]

Lined up iMatch between 'new' forks and 3pt arms showing the 1¼" rod welded across for lower hooks to engage, and the top brackets and pin with bushing for the top hook of the iMatch to engage.

 

[beenthere]

Another angle showing the rod welded across the bottom of the forks (can see weld marks on both sides) and the top bracket with pin and bushing in place. It is ready for the iMatch to engage, or it is ready for the quick tach hook-up to the FEL. Used it in both positions today. With snowplow on, and without the FEL on, wood will be hauled in using the forks on the iMatch (drop the ballast box, and pickup the forks).

The time will come when the T-n-T will be real handy adjusting these forks to slip into the pallets. Maybe this spring, if all goes well. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JackIL]

Very, very clever and practical!!

JackIL

 

[GoodGuy]

beenthere....
Nice setup, I've been looking at that as well & I'd appreciate it if you could post a close up pic of the back of the pallet fork attaching plate. I notice that your top mount on the pallet fork attaching plate is not adjustable; would you change that if you had to do it over again ?? Thanks

 

[GoodGuy]

You were reading my mind. While I was typing, you were posting. Any other pics would be great !!
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[beenthere]

Thanks for the compliment (JackIL as well). I can't think of a reason to make the top adjustable. The three hooks on the iMatch are fixed in position, so I don't see any need to do more than make the receiving pins fixed to match. Do you have something in mind I may have forgotten?

I will try to get a pic of the back, but the 1¼" diam bar is about 4" longer on each end than the opening between the steel plates to which it is welded, and it is welded tight against those plates. One pic shows the two weld lines in the paint pretty clearly. Position is the only critical determination.

With the weldment that I did, this fork won't fit the 3pt arms, as the bar across the bottom is too large for either cat I or cat II. It's stuck on a quick hitch for sure. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Here is a pic after dropping the pallet and pulling out the forks.

 

[GoodGuy]

I've read discussions that not all attachments will work with the Deere I-Match, therefore that's why having an adjustable top mount might be a benefit. I've attached a pic of an example as to what I'm talking about. Just curious as to whether or not you've had any compatibility issues. I'm impressed with your setup, Thanks for the pics.

 

[beenthere]

I hear what you are saying now (I'm sometimes a bit slow eh).

I've addressed all my problems with attachments matching the iMatch (older non-conforming 3pt attachments) with a quick visit with my welder. When finished, they fit the iMatch forever, as well as the other standard quick hitch's. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Then whenever I back up to an attachment, I know all three lift points (hooks) on the iMatch will meet in line with the attachment, and I don't have to get off and repin the top hook. I'm just a bit lazy in that respect, I guess. The only one I have to fiddle with is the rotary cutter (but have to get off to attach the PTO drive anyway, so not a problem.

 

[JayC]

You did a great job with that conversion. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Are those forks the Deere floating tine or fixed tine forks? What is the difference? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[beenthere]

Thanks. These forks are the floating or sliding kind. They slide back and forth on the heavy rod at the upper part of the frame. The forks came with a locking collar that has a locking set screw to hold each fork from sliding on the rod. I didn't like that arrangement so left the collars off when I assembled the forks.
Instead of the collars, I added large washers on either side of each fork, and then made spacers out of pvc pipe, cutting about an inch out of the side wall of each one. These spacers can be seen in the above picture (3rd one), and snap in place between the washers to make changing the spacing of the forks just a matter of removing a spacer, then snapping it back on the rod after sliding the fork over.
The various tasks I use the forks for, and the different settings for different pallets, make changing the fork position a fairly frequent event. May be digging out rocks one moment, picking up brush piles, carrying logs, moving pallets, or digging flat limestone rock - whatever that means different positions for the forks. I don't think I could survive with fixed-position forks.

 

[bugstruck]

Nice job! Not much a little ingenuity can't conquer. Sparked idea # 14??? You guys... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Now I just need to develope a few more skills. I ordered the welding book this morning. It's all your collective fault you see. If my wife had any sense she'd take this computer away from me. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif