Pallet Fork extension to lift rotary mower

[sycamore]

Hi - Could use some more help. I have a set of Everything Attachment 42" pallet forks on my Kubota B3200 using the Kubota quick hitch system. BTW, the forks are EXCELLENT and I want to thank Ted and his gang for their good work. Also have a set of Ted's larger 48" forks for my Kioti NX6010 using SSQA; also EXCELLENT. I always power wash my rotary and finish mowers in fall or spring at the same time I sharpen blades, check things over, etc. I have a Farm King 72" finish mower for the Kubota B3200, and I like to lift it to the vertical position at the very end of the forks to do this work. As you might guess, I could use just a little more height and would like to move the mower just a little further away from the tractor. Will need some counterbalance on the 3 pt. to make this work safely but have that part well in hand.

So here is my challenge. I see many, many pallet fork extensions for sale, but what I am looking for is something that would be maybe 12" - 18" long (just the extra length I need to get further away from the front of the tractor) and maybe go up at a 20 degree angle or so (to give me the extra lift to get the mower a little higher off the ground) and at the end have cradles or maybe even better full enclosed loops that I could use to run a chain or strap through that I would attach to the mower. Hope that paints a clear enough picture of what I have in mind.

Maybe I don't know what to call that kind of device if it exists; when I type things in to search engines I never find anything like that. Anyone got any suggestions about where to look or I guess maybe if you've ever heard of or seen anything like that? I have a pretty good repair shop that could probably make me whatever I'd need but with all the good, innovative folks on here I thought maybe someone had already filled the need. Let me know about any ideas you have.

Thanks.

keith

 

[Sysop]

I don't know that anything like what you describe is made. There are fork extensions, but they are generally just some heavy channel with some flatbar welded across the open side so your forks can slide up inside. Many have a keeper chain you hook to the frame so they won't slide off or get stuck in a pallet. Having them tilt up 20 degrees and special loops or holes are not something you'll see on standard fork extensions. Not sure about there, but around here, simple stuff like what you are describing can generally be done by a local fabrication/welding shop for a couple hours labor. Many times for small stuff like what you need, they can use scraps and you won't even have much material cost.

 

[boggen]

find some metal pipe that will slide over the forks.

cherry picker with the telescopic bar that comes out?

they sell 3pt hitch "boom lifts" basicly enough framework to connect to 3pt hitch, and a long pipe that extends out behind tractor. normally the pipe is "bent" i a couple spots. to allow easier connection to stuff.

for metal shed building, my grandapa, grabbed some square tubing, some flat metal and some L shaped metal. and welded up a long boom, that slide over edge of FEL bucket. the boom you could slide the long sheets of metal on it. then move tractor around and angle the sheets up to edge of building and pull individual sheets off. there be a few DIY here on TBN were folks have done the same.

i do not have a second tractor with FEL or 3pt hitch boom. so end up using 1 or 2 cherry pickers. 120 to 200 bucks pending on time of year and if on sale. they may not deal with the larger rotatory mower (bush hog) in lifting up one side completely. but should be able to handle a finishing mower deck no problem.

hhmsss look at some of the "clamp on" forks for a FEL general duty bucket. might give you an idea of how to find some larger pipe that fits over the forks, and then using a nut/bolt handle to hold the pipes onto the current forks.

 

[dadster4]

I made 8' long extensions to move a 750 lb. hot tub recently. I used 4- 2x6's...two vertically for the sides and 2 between them horizontally top and bottom to form a rectangle which the forks slide into. I fastened together with heavy-duty screws every 6" or so...worked good, you only need about 6 feet long for what you are lifting.