Question on Pallet Forks

[deezler]

If this was going to be a frequently used tool it would be well worth the couple hundred dollar investment. If it’s going to be used once a year than probably not. I personally don’t see how you could not use forks all the time. If I could only have my bucket or the forks I’d pick forks. I doubt a SSQA would weigh 150 pounds for this size machine but even if it did your forks would lift a lot more like that.

Yeah, you're not wrong.

I mean shoot, I'm planning to buy a whole new tractor just for some extra loader capacity and SSQA.

 

[crashz]

I moved an incredible amount of stuff with my 770 and clamp on forks. In fact, those forks were rated for about 4000lbs and meant for a tractor backhoe or wheel loader, so they were heavy.

The only issues I had were ballast related. The model 70 loader (which is no power house) had enough power to move the pallets to a usable height, but i was constantly fighting tractor instability. Never had any bucket issues but mine was rebuilt by a pro a long time ago.

I moved my father's entire company by using that combo and loading seven 53ft trailers! Full to the ceiling! Took me months of weekend work.

Some things to consider(I'm probably repeating for the million-th time):
- The load will be placed pretty far out. mine was at least 4 inches beyond the cutting edge. Even light weigh will may the tractor very unstable, so be careful.
- Don't use this as a work platform! My 770 is a little bigger that your machine. I tried this and nearly flipped the tractor over. I thought I had it well ballasted. Probably was fine front to back. I walked to the far corner, opposite rear tire lifted, pivoted on the front axle... you fill in the blanks. No permanent damage and no injury only due to extreme luck or divine intervention.
- The clamps will hold tight, but the ends always seem to move laterally. Especially when you don't want them too. A bar to hold them would work, but you'll lose adjustability.
- Don't try to poke things with them. Solid folks can (shouldn't) dig a little. These cannot.

 

[k0ua]

Yeah the last thing on earth I would do is put a man lift basket of some kind on a set of clamp on forks. And it might just be the last thing on earth you do. Man that scares me just to think about it.

 

[4570Man]

Yeah, you're not wrong.

I mean shoot, I'm planning to buy a whole new tractor just for some extra loader capacity and SSQA.

That’s what I did. I used to have a L3130 geared machine LA524 loader and bolt on bucket. I sold it and bought the L3240 with HST+ LA724 loader and SSQA. Much better.

 

[AchingBack]

I don't even know if any type of QA gizmo is possible for these littler machines, but even if they are, I'm pretty sure they'd cost more than a set of forks. Kinda wish people would move away from that angle.

Notice the black, pinned on, quick attach adaptor, between my loader and forks. I purchased it in 2010 from my Mahindra dealer for $425.55. It takes 5-10 minutes to change from forks to bucket. It was manufactured by KMW, Kansas Machine Works, part #1304-2043.

I don't know how much it weighs, but I do realize it reduces my lift capacity. I also realize my heavy duty Rankin forks do too. The are rated at 3600 lb. capacity, and are very heavy. More than I needed. But they were the only ones my dealer had, were kind of in his way, and I got a great deal on them, $795.00. In the first photo you can see the modifications I made so I can use them on the 3 point hitch.

 

[4570Man]

Notice the black, pinned on, quick attach adaptor, between my loader and forks. I purchased it in 2010 from my Mahindra dealer for $425.55. It takes 5-10 minutes to change from forks to bucket. It was manufactured by KMW, Kansas Machine Works, part #1304-2043.

I don't know how much it weighs, but I do realize it reduces my lift capacity. I also realize my heavy duty Rankin forks do too. The are rated at 3600 lb. capacity, and are very heavy. More than I needed. But they were the only ones my dealer had, were kind of in his way, and I got a great deal on them, $795.00. In the first photo you can see the modifications I made so I can use them on the 3 point hitch.

Here’s a mount I saw at the farm show that looks pretty similar.

 

[BoneStock]

Very interesting. Need more info and pictures of how it latches at the bottom. Did you modify the top of the fork to fit on the Quick Attach?

I will attempt to post pictures when the rain here stops. As for info; these are Class II Forks, 16” channel to channel. Each fork is 7,500 lbs rated. The top channel sits atop of my QA top section and the lower channel sits just inside the opening. I cannot do any pulling or prying, but forks are not designed for that to begin with. The QA is what my RK19 came with from the factory.

 

[Xfaxman]

I will attempt to post pictures when the rain here stops. As for info; these are Class II Forks, 16 channel to channel. Each fork is 7,500 lbs rated. The top channel sits atop of my QA top section and the lower channel sits just inside the opening. I cannot do any pulling or prying, but forks are not designed for that to begin with. The QA is what my RK19 came with from the factory.

OK that answers my question. They aren't latched, gravity holds them to the QA.

A lot of places sell just the Class II frame that your forks would fit on:

 

[4570Man]

OK that answers my question. They aren't latched, gravity holds them to the QA.

A lot of places sell just the Class II frame that your forks would fit on:
View attachment 592889

I had some of the gravity forks on my l3130 that dropped on the bucket. They were awful and fell off all the time.

 

[dragoneggs]

I thought I would post this thread I started a couple years ago when I was in the market for forks for my BX. This might not be of help to the OP because I don't know if Jery makes a version for his tractor but maybe worth a read for others... again I strongly recommend dedicated forks vs. clamp on if you want decent lift capability and don't want to risk ruining your bucket.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/377403-bx-oem-qa-forks-vs.html