Brush / Log Forks

[johnnydel29]

I am about to cut 5 huge willows on my property and would rather not drag brush piles and logs across our property, making a mess of the ground. I decided I want to build forks that attach to the loader frame of my JD. I did a similar project over the winter for a snowplow, and it worked out well.

So far I cut and made the forks. I was fortunate enought to find nice 1/4" thick tube at steel mill scrape, for less than $40.00 for the five pieces shown.

I used some scrape 1/4" flat to make the tips.

I was not able to get all five equal lengths, the forks will be mixed long, short, long etc.... However, I am not sure if this is the best approach.

For now, I am waitng on the bracket and pins I ordered that clip onto the loader frame, then I will build the frame, add the forks and attach to the loader frame.

The main purpose of the forks is to move brush piles and logs. The pics below is what I have done so far. Just waiting to get more materials.

 

[bal0123]

Looks good! Would like to see what it looks like mounted to the tractor.

 

[rdbrumfield]

This might sound a bit out there, but I have a winch right in the loader frame. When I am gathering up limbs and brush, I take the line and lie it on the ground. Place all the material on it, take the end back to the cable and attach and winch it up in a ball. It is tightened up against the bucket. You can take a very large load without it trying to fall out. A person could use a medium size boat winch I would think as long as it was put in a place where you could access it easily.

 

[aggiehortguy91]

I have been thinking about doing somthing similar, but making the teeth on a frame that clips over the top of the bucket so that it just rests on the lip of the bucket. I doubt that the different legnth teeth will be an issue, and might be a benefit when trying to scoop up the pile of brush.

 

[Bedlam]

rd,
I do the same thing. that cheap winch there is great for pulling stuff into the bucket and then holding it there..
Just doesnt have to be a powerful one...
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
even better
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

[deereman64]

Must be the season. I have a similar project going on. My approach was to use old mower blades, they are immensely strong( hence my thread on drill bits) and have a nice twist in them which allows for compression over the lip of the fel. Must confess though the first outing was not a great success and some modifications will be needed. I like the idea of using the winch to pull the material back into the Fel.

 

[Bedlam]

Maybe off base here but this idea of the winch made me recall when I did some tree work and had a trailer load full of it I did basically the same thing with a come a long.
laid it it the trailer bed and loaded the brush in and then threw the cable over and crank crank .
Made a neat bundle and didn't fly out but was even better when home I hooked a chain to it and took the whole bail off in one grab.These lightweight winches could do the same thing.Just replace the come a long with a light winch.
Again not to derail the thread just wanted to pass this idea along

 

[johnnydel29]

Love the winch idea. Know you got me thinking.

Got more scrap metal earlier this morning. Going to continue working on it this weekend (especially if it rains). More to come. Stay tuned.

 

[spruce Deere]

Johnnydel29, Much better deal and set up than paynes forks you were wondering about a while back, Or was that you?

 

[radioman]

The alternate length could be the best idea yet. It would allow operator from being jabbed when loading up and needs to get a bit closer then usual. Could help when unloading too since you might get a branch stuck and a shorter length is easier to work around. I see you put the longest peices on the outsidde and thats all you really need. For 40 dollars for like new metal is a great buy. Keep up the good work.

 

[Knotbored]

I like the winch idea but have a question
How can you use the tractor to pile the brush onto the cable if the winch/cable are mounted on the tractor?
I have been using a chain layed out, pile brush on, then hook the chain to bucket lip and heave the load together by hand. Couldn't the winch be used like that? I mean to cinch up a seperate chain that isn't attached to the tractor? I guess for half a hundred dollars it could be a cheap test and save many back-breaking hours. Thanks for the ideas!

 

[Bedlam]

well in my case i used a come a long and laid it out and then piled by hand the brush and then cranked it around it to make a bundle.
On the tractor I think we assumed that youd lay the brush out on the cable by hand.

 

[johnnydel29]

Johnnydel29, Much better deal and set up than paynes forks you were wondering about a while back, Or was that you?

Yep that was me. Spending a little time at the scrap yard is well worth it.

I tried Paynes forks, not great, especially for my machine. Need quite a bit a ballast on the rear, and would not push past 300 lbs or so. The forks I am building are way better b/c they do not stick out so far..

More to come - hopefully I will be able to complete by the end of the week. Was planning on working on it this past weekend, but instead decided it was time to upgrade my welder to a 220V machine. Needed to install 200V recepticle, & holy cow! gald I did .

Kind of nice to dial heat down, rather than up all the time & tripping breakers (w/ 110V machine).

Will post pics, promise.

 

[spruce Deere]

Cool. Forks are lookn real good. Ive been lookn at welders too.... I have settled on 220V wire machine. Cant wait for more fork pictures!!!

 

[Mighty Dodge]

Here ya go Spruce.



M.D.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I made these that slip over my homemade 1" square bucket teeth.

 

[johnnydel29]

Got some more scrap and made some progress. So far, this is how they look. I tested them, & they definitely need to beefed up a bit more, the middle fork felxes the angle iron it seats in under heavy loads. Also will be adding the smaller forks in between. I would love to make this look nicer, built with all square tube, but with my tight budget, I need to keep cost down. This was built w/ all scrap, so far it cost me about $100.00.

 

[spruce Deere]

Looks good, simple and best of all low $$$. Also looks like it will work a little better than M.D's design......

 

[joes_427_vette]

If this is going on a JD 2305...... between the weight of the loader and the 1/4" material to collect the brush, how much capacity is left for material weight ? Seems quite a task for sub compact. I tend to over engineer myself but total capacity is the end result. Good luck !

 

[Ductape]

Here ya go Spruce.



M.D.

Thanks for the good laugh !!