Brush Fork Size preference / Bush Hog 2346 loader

[TexSparx]

Am currently in process of building my loader fork / pallet fork attachment for Bush Hog loader 2346QT / 2346 QT .

Need input from anyone using or who has built forks for their loader as to best length of forks for you.

And if anyone has a loader like this that likes to stay with the bush hog proprietary quick attachment- I have templates for the pieces to make them now. Made them and took them to a friend with watercut business. He made them out of 3/8" plate like originals. Also if anyone is interested they still have them in their CAD? program and could easily whip them out. I don't know if it is ok here to say so, but it is Watercut Services of Kilgore, Texas. They could help you. Now back to ME!

This is how I am building it:

(I will upload pics when finished)

Main frame from 4x2x1/4" rectangular tubing.
Middle supports to attach the fabricated QA mounts are 4x2x1/4" rect.
and 2x2x1/4" angle.
Keeper pins/mounts for bottom of QA (for rolling forward) from 3/4" x 6"
hitch pins and 1" grade 8 nuts.

At the bottom rail of main frame I am butt welding 2x2x12" receiver tubes
for accepting loader forks made from 2x2x1/4" square tubing. This
will allow me to insert tubes for the task (pallet or brush) as well as
any off-the-shelf trailering hitches, etc. for moving trailers or attaching
snatch blocks- whatever. I will be gussetting the receivers with solid
square bar stock as I plan to also use a work cage with this (chained
to main frame!).

Should be through welding all tomorrow, so I will try to upload a pic or two. Would be glad to pass along any info to anyone interested as this has become a time consuming and somewhat more expensive task than originally imagined. But if my welds are good and design is good it should be a real heavy-duty attachment to last a lifetime.

Thanks a lot for your feedback!

 

[tanglefoot]

Hi Tex,
That sounds like it should be plenty stout. I made a bale carrier for my front-end loader from a homemade 3-point carrier that has two tines. It can be used as a cradle by going under the bale low enough, but normally, I like to spear the bale about a foot from the bottom. This is possible because the round tines were cut to a point at the end. They are about 4' long. This is also a useful item for piling brush.
Butch

 

[TexSparx]

Thanks Butch. I have yet to get back to work on it today yet. Gotta go to a job site to measure my cage fork spacing. This stuff is time consuming...

 

[TexSparx]

No pics as of yet, could not find my usb link cable. Well now i remember it has a removable card...oh well.

Anyways, got it all finished. Took a little longer than I thought. Decided to add a top rollback protection out of 2x2x1/8" angle and expanded metal (been a while since geometry in high school) a couple feet higher to protect the hydraulic, tractor, and me. Welded a couple large chain connector things to the frame to aid in attaching chain, etc.

It looks real good to me, and it even turned out square and the quick attachments line up perfectly!!! This is my first project of any magnitude, espescially structural.

Drilling through the 1/4" steel forks was a bit tough in the open under the sun today. And last night around 10 PM I found out how tough Grade 5 (or 8?) bolts are to drill!

Tested the forks by picking up the end of a medium weight 24' trailer- no problem. Then I moved my old box blade with one of the forks- no problem. And it worked like a dream for moving my trailers around. This thing is gonna get some use.

Pics tomorrow after primer and MF red top coat.

 

[TexSparx]

View attachment 132022Here they are. Hope it helps somebody out there...the current thunderstorms here in East Texas are not helping my 6 hour old paint job

Having trouble uploading zipped files. Will have to try tomorrow.

 

[TexSparx]

What am i doing wrong on these uploads? I have zipped them. Most of the pics individually are around 1.2 Mb.

 

[deerhunterf350]

Do you have a PHOTO editing software.

If you can reduce the Resolution slightly, so the saved JPEG is below 1 MB you can attach the pics without zipping them.

 

[TexSparx]

Bet this is too small...

Thanks for the resizing info. You got me this far. Did not even know
I had nero on this computer.

 

[ns_in_tex]

Hi Tex,

Great looking forks.

Yes, you will get a lot of use out of those for many years.

I wonder if we might be neighbors. We are in Henderson, TX?

 

[TexSparx]

Yes, neghbor. South of Longview. This site is so informative, and thanks for your comments.

I think if I keep this attachment out of the rain it will last a very long time. I moved a large RCEC pole with them a week ago. And many 15' x 18" or so trunks. No bending or flexing anywhere, forks included. Couple days ago I used them in Oak Hill for their main intended purpose of brush hauling and it worked great. Found that I will try a longer fork for brush as these current forks can really hold that much bulk at once. Thinking about 6-7 foot of 1.5 inch emt conduit or maybe uni-strut. I put a 3' section of uni-strut in my truck receiver and stood on it today, so I know it will hold 250# at that that distance from receiver.

Thanks.