Tips on using a FEL (how not to turn it over)

[teg]

(Did not read all post, sorry if this has been mentioned).

IF you start to go over; DROP your load fast! Don't think, just drop it FIRST.

The farther your load is out there, the easier it is to tip (all it takes is one wheel to hit a hole). I love my forks, but I end up loading them too heavy. I started to flip over twice, this wk/ed. I have 6 foot forks that makes it easy to see in front of me but I need to be careful.

I *should* have had more weight on the rears but I was playing around with using the cultivator as a rake to be used WITH the brush forks. (rear tires are loaded)

 

[Spiveyman]

Thanks for the replies. My tractor is 2WD with loaded tires already (Ford 6610 II), so that part is already set. I think the net of the feedback so far is keep it low and slow and well balanced, and be ready to float the load instinctually, without having to think. I'm pretty good at not thinking just have to make sure the instincts are there when I'm busy not thinking. (just kidding - not making light of a serious safety issue - just having fun)

I like those brush forks teg, I can see where that would come in really handy. I'll have to add that the the ever growing list of stuff to get. So much stuff, so little money...

 

[teg]

You can't buy these... gotta' make them... to fit "your" needs. The load of brush that got me flippin' over was loaded with most of the weight near the bucket except for one more log that I over looked. It was the last thing loaded, at the farthest point. Didn't want to make an extra trip. I also didn't strap that load down, figure if it was too heavy, hopefully that log would roll off first.

 

[RoyJackson]

You can't buy these... gotta' make them... to fit "your" needs. The load of brush that got me flippin' over was loaded with most of the weight near the bucket except for one more log that I over looked. It was the last thing loaded, at the farthest point. Didn't want to make an extra trip. I also didn't strap that load down, figure if it was too heavy, hopefully that log would roll off first.

Just remember the further out the load, the less stable (pulling more weight from the rear of the tractor).

 

[Egon]

Nice set of foks TEG.

That cultivator would make a good place to put some rocks for weight.

 

[Spiveyman]

You can't buy these... gotta' make them... to fit "your" needs. The load of brush that got me flippin' over was loaded with most of the weight near the bucket except for one more log that I over looked. It was the last thing loaded, at the farthest point. Didn't want to make an extra trip. I also didn't strap that load down, figure if it was too heavy, hopefully that log would roll off first.

teg, I saw a thread on a guy making something very similar to those. While he was making his, he did post a link to a place that sells those kinds of forks. I'll have to look for that one. Excellent picture on how you mounted the forks. I suppose you have to have some welding experience to be able to do that, which I don't have. I'll probably just have to settle for buying a set somewhere, or paying someone to weld it up. Do you have specs on them?

Roy, That is a good point though about moving the load further out away from the tractor, but that's a heck of a way to pick up brush. Just have to be careful!

 

[teg]

It was my first (and only) welding project. A rough copy of what the plans started out as (attached). I collected scrap metal for a while until I had enough. Took a week (couple hours after work). Only thing I did before this was "play" welding on scrap. So far it's holding together... I can't afford to buy these things, that's the only reason why I'm building them. I have $10 invested (and a lot of dumpster diving time).

PS. Yes, these were "copied" from plans on TBN - sorry, I forget from whom...

 

[Spiveyman]

Outstanding! $10?!?!? So where do you pick up scrap metal that nice? I thought it would be very hard to come by these days. (That is assuming you can say where you got it! ) That may be worth the time. I don't have a welder, maybe this winter I can get one and start playing with it when there's not much to do outside. I'll try to decifer those drawings, but the picture will probably be my best ally. Also the scraps I am able to come up with might not be the same as what you have.

Thanks.

 

[teg]

$10 worth was just for welding rods... I have way too much free scrap metal to list... all of it was "trash" from construction sites. If I could save 1/10th of what I SEE in the dumpster (just to bring to the junk yard) I could have paid for my tractor. There are construction sites that I would love to re-visit not knowing if a piece I had my eye on would end up in the landfill or not... I'll wait till it gets loaded into the dumpster first, if it's in the dumpster, it's fair game.

My next project will be a combination of rear forks, a carry-all, and a dump trailer... and I have all the material

 

[Spiveyman]

Sounds like a fun project. Don't forget to take pictures to share here.