PT mounting plate question

[tommott77]

Hey everybody, I picked up a set of forks yesterday for my new 1430. Starting the process of getting ready to weld the PT mourning plate I got with the tractor to the pallet forks. The 1430 is 400 miles away from me, the forks, and where the fabrication will take place though and had a quick question.

Do I need clearance under the tabs of the mounting for where arms on the quick attach of the 1430 insert into the mounting plate? Again I don’t have access to the 1430 here for reference.

 

[MossRoad]

Good question. I can't help you with that model PT.

Maybe you know this, so if so, never mind....

I do know that the QA female plate is not mounted flush to the forks on my PT425, and I'd assume it's not on the larger machines just due to design similarities.

The plate is mounted to the back of the forks at some angle of X degrees. This is necessary to get full range of tilt up and down at the various angles. I think if it's mounted perfectly parallel to the back of the forks, when you lower the FEL arms all the way down, the forks won't be parallel to the ground. The rear of the forks will be off the ground a couple inches when the tips are on the ground (or something like that). Makes it difficult to curl the forks back far enough to get them flat to go under something at ground level.

So be sure to consult with someone as to the angles of their plates before welding it solid.

 

[SpringHollow]

The tabs stick past the plate on my 1850. The bottom of the plate I believe is angled back away from the forks if I remember correctly.

Ken

 

[tommott77]

Thanks for the responses. I was aware of the mounting angle on the PT forks but was not sure how much that angle should be, and ot how much it would affect the range of motion with the forks.

I’ve lucked out somewhat though that the fork frame has somewhat of an angle on the bottom where the plate will be mounted. Haven’t measured but eye balling it looks like around 15° +/- off vertical.

Anybody care to get an an measurement on what the angle on their PT forks may be?

 

[joshlee]

Looks like it is around 12 degrees. The way they have it welded or there is really hard to determine.

 

[tommott77]

Awesome! Thanks so much for measuring that. This forum is invaluable resource when it comes to a more DIY equipment like power trac.

After quickly measuring mine in the dark it appears I was a bit off with my eyeballing and the angle on the frame is more like 7-8°. It looks like with mounting it a bit different and a little bit of fudging I can get pretty close to around 12°

 

[joshlee]

Like Mossroad was saying, when your forks are laying flat on the ground, you’ll want to be able to tilt them up enough to hold something on the forks without it falling off the front.

 

[spechols]

Given that I use and abuse my forks…
I have been wondering about replacing the top link with an adjustable 3pt top link so I have more flexibility in the angle. What do you think?

 

[joshlee]

Given that I use and abuse my forks…
I have been wondering about replacing the top link with an adjustable 3pt top link so I have more flexibility in the angle. What do you think?View attachment 723287

I’m not sure Maybe someone on here will have some good advice for you.

 

[ponytug]

Awesome! Thanks so much for measuring that. This forum is invaluable resource when it comes to a more DIY equipment like power trac.

After quickly measuring mine in the dark it appears I was a bit off with my eyeballing and the angle on the frame is more like 7-8°. It looks like with mounting it a bit different and a little bit of fudging I can get pretty close to around 12°

I would go a little more, as there are scenarios when you would like to be able to get the tips up by a couple of inches when the forks are on the ground, and the PT plate doesn't get as vertical as you might think.

My 1445 forks have a similar geometry to @joshlee's; I would do the angle measurement by how much of the base of the QA plate protrudes when the top is forward. My QA top is flush with the frame, while the base protrudes by 5/8-3/4", on the inside.

All the best,

Peter

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