My bucket forks.

[TheRealBuzz]

Well I'm not a fan of bucket forks but with no time to build a full QA system for my BX I threw this system together. They worked out pretty good and now that I've sold them with my BX to get a new GC2400TLB I realize how indispensable they really were. So I'm posting this a little belated to give them they credit they deserved 2 years ago.

They are quickly attached to the bucket using 2 spring latches from Princess Auto. The forks are fully adjustable side to side along the main beam and are kept from flipping up by tabs that hook under the leading edge of the bucket. The only modification to the bucket was drilling a 1/2" hole in each side for the pins.

Sorry the pics are a bit small, they were taken with my cell phone.
Hope you enjoy

 

[Train]

I've been trying to decide what method to use to attach mine and I just found it. Can you give us a little more info like, how are the latches attached to the tube? What size and gauge is the tube? How far do the forks extend from the bucket edge and how much weight would you guess that system is good for?

 

[TheRealBuzz]

The latches are welded to the tube. The tube was sched. 40. it's the heaviest part. The forks were about 3.5' long. They were solid enuff for more than the loader could lift anyway. Maybee 400lbs at the mid point.

They were great for moving stuff around on pallets and for moving logs. I was going to make some brush forks and some other things using the same attachment method.

 

[Scotty370]

Those are 'slick'! Thanks for sharing! ~Scotty

 

[Chilly807]

Looks like I have a new project lined up for after Christmas. Thanks for posting the pictures!

Sean

 

[HiTechTed]

I like this design. The ones I have and the ones I always see have the individual forks clamped to the bottom of the bucket, and they flex a bit.

Also on those pins, when you pull them is there a way to lock them in the open position, so you don't have to hold one while reaching for the other pin?

 

[Army grunt]

Thats a good looking setup..tks. for sharing
Army Grunt

 

[mwb]

I like this design. The ones I have and the ones I always see have the individual forks clamped to the bottom of the bucket, and they flex a bit.

Also on those pins, when you pull them is there a way to lock them in the open position, so you don't have to hold one while reaching for the other pin?

Those latches have a "lock open" position; when you want to close the latch just rotate the handle 90 degrees and it springs closed. I think the latch is intended for a heavy duty gate latch; I used one on my tilt trailer.

Found a picture of it:

 

[Aquaman]

LOVE IT!! Looks easy to build, handy to use, and best of all, it should work! Great job!

 

[mroldstyle]

Did you have any problems with the forks sliding together, or apart when traveling with no weight on them?

 

[heitjer]

Great idea and simple solution but I would suggest to lengthen the 'hooks' under the bucket. The front of the bucket is a pivot point and the load will pivot around it "lifting" and then bending the square tube in the bucket.

Lengthening the 'hooks' will prevent this to some extend and distributes the load away from the latches.

 

[BruceWard]

Great design. It might be worthwhile to weld washers to the inside and outside of the bucket holes to prevent stretching in heavier duty applications.

 

[TheRealBuzz]

They do not slide easily by themselves, but with a lot of bouncing they will shift a bit.

As someone else explained the spring latches do lock in the open position.

The eisiest way to put the forks on is to stand between them with one hand on each fork. If you lock the spring latches open with the handles facing into the bucket you can put the forks back on without ever touching the latches as the handles will hit the back of the bucket and spring closed then you just line them up with the holes and they pop in.

 

[petegoud]

I'm wondering if the back bar could be built to expand and contract so this could be used in buckets of dissimilar width?

 

[PutnamVictor]

Clever design. I was planning on building a set of forks to replace the bucket. I think this might be a better idea. Faster switch over for sure.
:thumbsup:

 

[RoMad]

Great job, I can see why you would miss the forks. My sons have been trying to talk me into building a set.

Does anyone know where you can get the spring pins in the US? We don't have Princess Auto here. I have a small tilt bed trailer that those pins would be perfect for.

 

[Train]

I've seen similar at most farm supply and hardware stores. There's lots of ways to adapt this design too, if you just look at it a bit. It's just so simple it's brilliant.

 

[handirifle]

Has anyone built a version of the forks themselves? I'd like to do similar but I know even if I found a set of forks I couldn't sfford them.

 

[Sherweld]

Has anyone built a version of the forks themselves? I'd like to do similar but I know even if I found a set of forks I couldn't sfford them.

It appears from the pix that the forks are about a 4 inch channel which is quite common at most steel suppliers.

Also, I would add my congrats to TheRealBuzz for a brilliant design.

 

[handirifle]

Yea I like the design as well. How do you guys taper the front end of the chanel to make them work? I realize the OP has sold this setup, any other pics of chanel type forks?