Brush fork quick-attach ideas

[Sodo]

Ok here's my current plan. Got a big cleanup job this week so I'm gonna spend hours in the shop to save a few minutes on the job.

After using the fork for some time I've decided to delete the angle irons (no channels). Wiggling the brush fork into channels is unnecessary, it inevitably binds and adds time. I want quick release thats truly quick.

Plan is to use just one lever in the middle of the rear member to engage 2 larger pins/holes at bucket corners. This lever will reside in a well protected area at the rear of the bucket. So the fork will hook over the cutting edge at bucket front corners, & engage a pin/hole at rear corners. The bucket is strong at these locations, a good place to engage.

And no angle irons inside the bucket to hinder cleanout.



The latch is well protected inside the bucket, but vulnerable when not in the bucket. Must be beefy enough for the "rough handling damage" when its not in the bucket.

 

[torchroadster]

That looks pretty slick. I think I will just stick to something simple like drilling two holes in each of the outside forks and through the bucket, then using pins to hold the forks in place. I may need to weld reinforcement plates on the side of the bucket.

I did a test fit last night in the bucket and it seemed to slide in an out pretty easy. My bucket is 60" and I made the fork width 59 3/4". Seems about right. Here is a picture of my progress so far...

 

[Sodo]

Looks good, what is the material size you chose? How long are the tines? If you can make the attach 'symmetrical' you can flip the fork over.

I've made 2 brushforks, both of them "too long" . I have to be a little careful due to the length (with logs) but they carry a lot more brush. First fork I made was for a BX24 which lifts 460lbs. Then I got a B2710 (double the lifting power) but couldn't bring myself to use shorter tines. It's been a few months now (and they are surviving) but I'm certain they are afeared!

Heres another thread with the details of my (new) quick-attach.

 

[torchroadster]

I used 2"x2"x 3/16" material. The tines are just short of 4' long, with 3' protruding from the edge of the bucket. Right now I only plan to use this on brush, not logs.

I thought about the reversability aspect if I can drill the holes symmetrical on both sides, I may try to fab a drill jig to make sure it comes out that way.

Your pin arrangement in the other thread looks pretty slick. You even thought of grease channels! Should work great. I don't foresee a need for quick changes on mine, but you never know.

 

[Sodo]

I used 2"x2"x 3/16" material. The tines are just short of 4' long, with 3' protruding from the edge of the bucket. Right now I only plan to use this on brush, not logs.

Your tines at 2x2x3/16 (section modulus .759) are 2.4 times the strength of my 1x2x.120 (.321)

Your tines should be fine for logs. I have been lifting logs big enough to lift the rear wheels on my B2710 with 450 lbs ballast on the 3-pt hitch.

I've used mine with stick rakes, and then after raking up a pile I have to scoop up small stuff so I need to remove the fork quickly, then put it back quickly.



Heres a pic with the forks on my (sold) BX24