Tractor Cave

BrokenAxle46 · Nov 15, 2011

I've signed up to TractorByNet because I enjoy reading the Q&A and problem solving with DIY tips, etc. I retired last August from the UP railroad out of train service after 42 years. I traveled a lot the last 12 years and being home in that line of work is not very often. Train service is going to work by phone on a 24/7 schedule.
I grew up on a small farm going from horses to tractors and working daylight to dark. Farming is a good way of life. I moved to a small town after I married and still live there. I also kept 60 colonies of honeybees until the last 12 years and now going back into it teaching a son-in-law as I go.
I bought a new JD2320 with a bucket, mower and fork lift. I am happier than I have ever been, I just love the little green tractor. I have to build a road through the woods to a back field next spring and will be using the fork lift to lift the colonies and harvest the crop when it comes in.
I have a JD312-12hp and JD430-20hp, both in great shape. Will sell the 312 next spring, running out of room to keep them all.
The 2320 is doing everything I am asking it to do with ease. One problem I wish I could solve is seeing the front of the bucket or fork lift whatever is being used. I am going to hit a snag running the end of a fork into a colony of bees and knocking them open. While I intend to sit the colony on individual pallets, I still can't see the end of the fork without another person or getting on/off the tractor. Does anybody have a suggestion?

Muhammad · Nov 15, 2011

Welcome to TBN.

Briana03 · Nov 16, 2011

WELCOME to TBN

I moved your thread to the Owning/Operating Forum.

TripleR · Nov 16, 2011

When I am using pallet forks, I drop the fork ends down to where I can see them and put them where they are supposed to be then gradually drop and roll back on the FEL.

kebo · Nov 16, 2011

Welcome, and congrat's on the new green machine!

As for seeing the forks, I have a similar problem when I attach my clamp on forks to the bucket, I just cannot see the ends of the forks. Here is an idea I have toyed with: maybe you could get one of those rear view camera setups that's used to help you back up a vehicle to a trailer and adapt it to use on the forks?? You could attach it in a way so that it could be quickly and easily removed so you could then do some real work without worrying about damaging it. Some of those units are not very expensive (but some are rather pricy), so it might be worth buying one just to play with. If it didn't work out, you could always install it on your truck lol.

Here is one unit for $199, just for example. I think there are a couple systems for under $100.

Backup Camera System with 7? Color Backup Monitor | Rosco

BrokenAxle46 · Nov 16, 2011

Thanks for the idea. That might work, think I will give it a try because loading may and often does take place while its still dark. I have a back up camera on the car and it works good enough in the dark to be useful. I appreciate your time and trouble.

Dr_Zinj · Nov 18, 2011

I'm a self-taught forklift operator. Everything from the little 4K electric ones up to the big articulated tactical military ones.

Biggest thing is practice, practice, practice. Even the experts can't see the forks all the time for placement. And I've seen more than my share of inexperienced operators running the forks through expensive merchandise and stuff. Never any bee hives though. That might actually make them smarten up real fast!:laughing:

BrokenAxle46 · Nov 18, 2011

I appreciate your response! Good to hear from someone that has experience. I've worked around experience people using all sorts of heavy equipment and it only takes a moment to see which operator knows his machine the best. Thank you for the advise.

Grandad4 · Nov 18, 2011

Dr Zinj's advice regarding practice (which makes perfect, right?) is spot on. Take your forks out in the field with an empty pallet and spend a few minutes every day for a week getting the hang of it. Pretty soon you'll know what the loader arms and the fork lift frame look like when everything is level and close to the ground.

Another idea would be to rig up some kind of alignment marker on each of your pallets with a matching mark on your forks someplace. Think of the "docking collar" they used on NASA missions :laughing: Line up the marks and you know the pallet is lined up.

Enjoy your retirement and your new 2320!

mikescruggs · Nov 18, 2011

Practice is the best way to improve success, but that was already said and in the meantime make your practice sessions positive.

My father and I built the first set of forks. Eventually the frame was welded to a Q/A plate, but the forks can be removed for other attachments (trailer hitch, boom, snow plow, or just lifting near the fel). The actual forks were about 3' long and then we added extensions which were about 4 1/2' long. These definitely improved the sight line.

It was difficult to keep removing the plow and attaching the forks. We purchased a Q/A fork unit with 5' forks (mainly to help with visibility).

My method of lining up is to pull towards the item (for this sake lets say it is a pallet) with the forks near the ground and tilted back to make the tips visible. Just as I reach the pallet I would level the forks and set them on the ground. I would then pick them up so it appears they raised maybe 1" or so. Then I would slowly move forward and if resistance was met I would stop and reposition.

Recently this has been very successful. My past experience includes propane and diesel forklifts in a lumber yard back in high school and part of college (about 20 years ago). I would really like side shift some times.

Just get out there practice and go slow.

Mike