branny gets some forks....

[sassafraspete]

A beautiful day here in South Central Indiana. Sorry, I didn't stay inside a watch basketball....just too nice outside. Besides, I was wore out from watching West Virginia and Wake Forest last night. With all the talk of forks.... I thought I would show branny at work today with her new forks. I spent part of the morning moving cedar logs to a staging area where I plan to do some sawing. I can't tell you how handy these things are. I opted to get the dedicated Branson quick attach forks. I like the idea of having a high back on them, and also I think you get your weight close to your FEL arms with these. No physics guru....but getting weight closer to the FEL just makes sense to me.

So attaching a few pics of the forks at work.

sassafraspete

 

[sassafraspete]

A view of the wood pile.... cedars are not huge...but did get to move around some pretty good red oak yesterday, and didn't even make the tractor grunt. Another case for having more weight.

 

[sassafraspete]

Another angle. Hoping to get the pile sawn into lumber.... some kind of sawdust in the blood problem I have.....

 

[Big_Lug]

Sassafraspete, I was in Indiana this last summer, South Bend for the Red Budd motocross races in Buchanan Michigan. I have the 2810 Branson and love it. We really liked seeing your part of the country, we live all the way south by the Gulf of Mexico and all we see is rice fields and flat land.

 

[bluecarpenter]

Just seeing your "branny" just makes me foam at the mouth. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Every thing points to that being the tractor that I need to get.

I ya don't mind me asking. what did those forks set ya back in price?
It looks like your having way to much fun. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

mark

 

[sassafraspete]

regarding price, I think I priced a set of Branson forks a year ago and they were running around 750, but when I went back recently to check on a set of these again....and was able to pick them up for 650. I think they are now made by a different MFG. They have quickly become my new best tool. I was able to pick up logs with my bucket and toothbar...but it took a little work to coax the log in place and could only carry one at a time. I can drop my bucket and put on the forks in about 5 minutes time... unless I have had 5 cups of coffee. These will really come in handy in moving wood around, and helping with building chores...such as lifting shingles. I plan to get some skids, or build a platform for it. I think I might build a carryall box for it to hold my saw, gas, oil, sharpening box, hammer and wedges so I can just haul those things to the woods with me, and then drop the box off while I use the forks for other things. Here's a thought....build a custom pallet for each of my attachments. If you need to move them around....just pick them up and go. I also like the idea put forth on this forum about paletizing your firewood. Seems like a lot of possibilities.

sassafraspete

 

[sassafraspete]

Big Lug.... I've been to your state.... ate my way across the city of New Orleans. Southerners really know how to cook. Never sucked any crawdads though. I can only imagine the quality and freshness of the seafood you get there. Man, I am getting hungry just thinking about it.

pete

 

[Egon]

Pete:

Don't know how your forks are set up but in certain positions a log may be able to roll off and come sit in the seat with you.

Egon

 

[sassafraspete]

Hi Egon.... how many feet of snow is on the ground up there in the north country? I planted potatoes, peas, onions, and lettuce this week.

As for the forks... one reason I didn't wan't the clamp-on forks was the very thing you mentioned...concern of stuff coming back. My rule is to never lift large loads any higher than absolutely necessary...so that would be normally below the front of the tractor. With the logs, I am only lifting off the ground slightly... except for dumping....and then I am not piling them very high...only 2-3 high.

These forks have a pretty decent back on them. I saw a picture of someone's Mahindra forks this past week and the back on those forks was huge...which is a good thing I think.

I actually worry more about using the bucket up high with a load....that someday in one of my fits of backwardness I might dump a load into my lap.

Hey ....doing any woodworking? I have about 60 ERC to get sawn up. Hoping to make some paneling. Love the smell of the stuff.

sassafraspete

 

[Egon]

Pete:

Snow in town is almost all gone. About two feet out at the farm.

Tomatoe planting time here is very late May Or early June. Have you tried Tomatillos?

Woodworking has been slow. Spent a lot of time cutting up some maple/oak but otherwise the cold weather and my outdoor shop sorta kept me quiet stoking the fire and ploughing driveway snow.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif