attaching forks to a FEL
kleinchris
Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 269 Westminster, Texas |
2012-03-26 182883
I am interested in getting some forks on my bucket to accomplish some light duty lifting. (Lets say 600lbs on a pallet.) I have seen the removable sets Northern sells and figure I can do better and save a couple hundred bucks. The only plan I have been turning over in my head is to weld recievers in the back of the bucket that can be capped when the forks arnt in use. I'm thinking of 3/16" 1X4 rectagular tube that could be pinned into the reciever. Has anybody done anything like this? Any thoughts?
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attaching forks to a FEL
bristan8
Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 69 Camden NSW, Australia Pics |
2012-03-27 182884
I have attached forks to my FEL. I made them myself as I thought the clamp on pallet forks available were not very good. I used 50mm or 2 inch square tubing as I mainly use them for picking up branches and small logs.
They clip on to the front side and bottom of the bucket via a couple of lugs welded to the tube. They are on the outside of the bucket. I welded a small flange to the rear of the bucket which is parallel to the bucket side. The tube just bolts onto this flange at the rear,(tho a removable pin would be more useful). They go on and off pretty quickly and work well. Also when removed, the bucket is "clean" to load soil with no protruding welded on bits to impede the buckets entry.
I will try and post a photo
Regards ....
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attaching forks to a FEL
auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto Pics |
2012-03-27 182892
I got a pair of used surveyer stakes (metal, about an inch+ sq. solid iron, one end pointed, around 3+' long). Welded two receivers to each OUTSIDE of the bucket sides. The forward one is a hollow metal square that the bar goes through. The aft one is a welded metal pocket (with a hole in the end because when you excavate without the bars the pocket fills with crud).
Just in front of where the bar comes out of the square is the weak point, so I slid close-fitting square stock down to it, and tacked it to the bar. Just aft of the square I drilled a hole in the bar -- for a pin to prevent the bar from falling out.
Total cost -- near zip. But many fork users need to be able to adjust the distance between them. ....
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attaching forks to a FEL
bristan8
Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 69 Camden NSW, Australia Pics |
2012-03-27 182907
I have posted some photos of the bucket forks. They can be seen on members photos as well as my pics. ....
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attaching forks to a FEL
kleinchris
Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 269 Westminster, Texas |
2012-04-01 182952
Thanks for all of the replies. I will send pictures when done. ....
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attaching forks to a FEL
Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada Pics |
2012-04-03 182974
Just be really careful on how you mount them, clamp on forks are notorious for bending the heck out of buckets.
Buckets are designed to hold a load that is spread over the entire bottom of the bucket, not just in two small areas.
Also, by using forks in conjunction with your existing bucket your dramatically reducing the lifting capacity of the loader. Leverage works against you.
Best of luck. ....
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