pallet forks usage.

beenthere · February 04, 2014, 06:23:56 PM

You will enjoy them.

Your thoughts after you get them...

stamper · February 04, 2014, 08:13:42 PM

On my skidsteer bucket I put a winch strap on both sides, on the back at the top. handy to strap to a log to put on the mill. you leave enough slack so you can see it well. Nice to sit the log where you want it then roll the bucket forward and drop the hooks off. I'm adapting forks onto my skidsteer, strap winches on each side for front to back strapping. One for side to side gripping [for setting a pole for example] couple of short chains with hooks for chain attachment. tall, see-through backing plate. Also considering a "thumb" for it.

Chuck White · February 04, 2014, 08:21:04 PM

My brother has a set of forks for his 30-40 hp? John Deere and we used it a lot this past Summer when we clearcut everything to make a 200'X200' site for a Verizon tower near the back of his property.

They came in very handy for moving logs, firewood and brush from the site.

We've been clearing out some hazzardous looking White Pine near my sons house and we used the JD with the forks to move and stack the logs and to haul out the limbs and put them in a pile!

Brucer · February 05, 2014, 12:39:39 AM

I have a set of pallet forks on the Cat 910 loader. They're way undersized for the machine but I've stuck them under a pile of 52' logs that were frozen together and lifted the back of the loader. Forks bent under load, but sprung right back to the original shape when I let the load (back of the loader) down.

These get used for shifting logs, shifting piles of lumber, shifting timbers, loading timbers on trailers. I've built a couple of bins for collecting straps that are designed to fit on the forks. My sticker rack is specifically designed so the forks will pick it up. I've got a couple of custom pallets for storing short timbers (e.g. brace stock). The home-made outfeed table and pallet racks were designed so I could easily pick them up with the forks.

One design principle I stick to ... avoid having to put stuff onto the forks. Plan it so once you're on the machine you don't have to get off to handle stuff.

Cedarman · February 05, 2014, 07:12:34 AM

Having a thumb will make it a whole lot easier to hold frozen logs. They can act like slick spaghetti when icy.

moosehunter · February 05, 2014, 08:10:33 AM

We have a small cabin in the woods about 400 yards from the house. When I want to work at the cabin I put a pallet on the forks and strap all my tools to it. Large tool box, table saw, generator, chop saw, lunch. I also have loaded the mower on this set up.

gspren · February 05, 2014, 10:09:39 AM

Forks on FEL are when you appreciate a self leveling loader. My 2355 JD is self leveling while the Massy Ferguson I had wasn't.

Brucer · February 07, 2014, 12:37:54 AM

Quote from: Cedarman on February 05, 2014, 07:12:34 AM
Having a thumb will make it a whole lot easier to hold frozen logs. They can act like slick spaghetti when icy.

Also good for long timbers -- they can rock themselves off the side of the forks on uneven ground.

The mill where I buy my logs has 3 big articulated loaders (about CAT 980 size), all equiped with log grapples. The operation has a really big, shop-made sawdust bucket that a log grapple can pick up. The operator just levels the forks, drives into the back of the bucket, and lowers the thumb on the grapple to grab the bucket.

POC · February 07, 2014, 07:21:49 PM

I want some too. But all I can find are WAY more money than I thought they were worth.

beenthere · February 07, 2014, 07:57:06 PM

POC
What are they worth?

elk42 · February 07, 2014, 08:15:48 PM

This is what works for me. The forks are made of 3/4 plate and they bolt on the side
of the bucket with 7/8" bolts also they extend below the bucket so not to pick up trash in the bucket. I use 30" wide lumber stacks, it dries better without mold. The piece at the top stops the log rolling back on you.

POC · February 07, 2014, 09:55:04 PM

Cheapest I can find is about $475. My tractor only has a 2500# FEL, so I don't need much as far as weight bearing goes.

blackfoot griz · February 08, 2014, 12:16:09 PM

Quote from: POC on February 07, 2014, 09:55:04 PM
Cheapest I can find is about $475. My tractor only has a 2500# FEL, so I don't need much as far as weight bearing goes. Maybe you can build one ;)

I built my forklift attachment. I bought a used set of pallet forks for $100, some tubing and set of weld on mounts from John Deere. I'm guessing that I have $200 into the whole unit. I modified it so that it can be used on the 3 point hitch as well.

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Tim L · February 08, 2014, 02:11:20 PM

Brought the forks home this morning. I just got a text from a buddy who wants me to load a couple heavy 5 footers on his truck.

Bill Gaiche · February 08, 2014, 09:23:54 PM

Glad you got them. Now there will be no rest. Be careful with heavy loads raised up to high because they become so top heavy they will turn you over. Be careful on slopes also. Always be ready to drop your load if you begin to tip over to save yourself.
Neighbor a few weeks back was using his front end loader to tear down an old building. Was raising 16' header, raised it to high and it slid back toward him on the tractor. Pinned him and knocked the breath out of him and dazed him for a few minutes until he came to. Was barely able to get out from under it. He said he thought he was going to die right there. bg

r.man · February 08, 2014, 10:07:00 PM

If you are cutting down evergreens on the edge of an open area they tend to be bushy. Without forks I would always fall them into the bush and then have to climb through everthing to limb them. After getting forks I fall the tree into the field, cut off the limbs and then run down one side with the forks at ground level. Push the pile into the bush, do the other side and remove the logs. Very little to clean up after that. I have also ripped out trees from pasture land but I would push up high to see where the main roots were and then rip one with the forks. After that you can push the tree over away from the ripped main and generally lift/push it out of the ground to be carried to a rot or burn pile.

redbeard · February 09, 2014, 12:06:59 AM

Elk 42 That is a great design bolting the fork plates to side of bucket. Never seen this before. Thanks for sharing.

Tim L · February 09, 2014, 12:01:02 PM

Well I loaded a truck load of 5-6 foot butt ends into my buddy's truck yesterday. Having forks made quick work of it, not bad for day one.

scsmith42 · February 09, 2014, 12:15:41 PM

Forks are great. If I had seen this thread before today, I would have advised you to find a pair with either a thumb or a grapple. The thumb makes it much safer to handle logs.

Peter Drouin · February 09, 2014, 12:22:09 PM

With new forks you find yourself pushing brush around [we all do it]. BUT I put steel mesh in front of over the radiator. My John Deere has a steel frame I welded the mesh to. you will push a stick into the radiator pushing brush. And no I did not do it, just could see it coming. :D :D :D :D

beenthere · February 09, 2014, 01:24:55 PM

Good idea Peter.
I finally did just that this past summer.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · February 09, 2014, 01:38:28 PM

You really do have a Green Tractor.....looks very nice......good paint.
Mesh over the radiator will truly work for you.....unless a log goes through it. :

Yep.....ask me how I know.
You do nice work.

Tim L · February 09, 2014, 02:47:07 PM

Looks better than factory. How did you make your corners so neatly ?

beenthere · February 09, 2014, 03:45:27 PM

Can't claim too much credit, other than I did the painting.

My local welder did the work. I took the frame off and asked him if he had something to cover it. He poked around and dragged out a piece and I gave the go ahead.

When I was painting it, dear wife came out and with her sewing and quilting perfection made the comment about how careful the fit was and how the diamonds were equally balanced side to side. A detail I hadn't noticed.
Made a comment to the welder about that, and he got a big smile and said something like
"Oh, you noticed. Most of my customers don't care or notice, but I like to do it that way so I do".

The oil cooler is right behind that front grill and in front of the radiator. Would be much more serious if the oil cooler was punched out than the radiator.. IMO.