FEL forks using forklift forks

[westbrooklawn]

I stopped at a forklift repair shop the other day and purchased a set of used forks for $30. I wondered if anyone else had fabricated a setup using forklift forks attached to their FEL and if so, could you share design, pictures, etc.? I hate to re-invent the wheel when there is so much knowledge already available on this site!

The forks have the standard 16" spaced brackets on the back side of the verticals... these slide on horizontal bars on the standard forklift frame. I wold like to use these brackets if possible since it would allow me to adjust the fork spacing just by sliding the forks apart or together.

By the way, I have an L3400 and LA 463 FEL.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

 

[keeney]

See this photo:

Forks

- Rick

 

[westbrooklawn]

Rick -

Thanks for the photo... that is what I am looking for. I want to make my frame to attach to the front of my FEL.

Is that your setup in the picture?... if so can you give me some idea of the thickness of the steel that the fork brackets rest on? The fork brackets actually have a taper opening, and I'm not sure what thickness would hold best. Thanks!

 

[keeney]

I cannot exactly remember, but I think the frame is made from a 1/4" flat sistered with a 3/16" thick angle.

I wanted to build mine as light as possible to preserve as much payload capacity as possible on my 410 loader.

In retrospect, I should have built it a little beefier - I have bent it out of shape once or twice. Not while lifting anything on pallet. Usually then the forks are spread out near the loader lift arms. But I did bend it pretty good when using the forks together in the center as a pry-bar to dig out an old basketball goal set in a large lump of concrete. Nothing a big hammer couldn't put back.

- Rick

 

[dullpain]

Good price on tne forks. Did you get just the forks or the forks & carriage too? Here is pic of the ones I made, quick attach just like all the rest of my FEL stuff. Really useful.

 

[Glenn9643]

Did you get the mast that the forks mount onto?
I've posted some pictures of my forks in the photo gallery here that might help you some. They're not real pretty but they work.
I bought the mast with forks. We had to add to the width of the mast in order to make it work with the FEL width, and by grinding the edges of the added plate I can slide the forks out further onto the added plate.
Look here for pictures.

 

[westbrooklawn]

Thanks for the continuing comments. Unfortunately I did not get the "carriage" or "mast" along with the forks. He had some on some junked forklifts, but wasn't willing to go to the trouble of removing them (they have to slip off the bottom of the forklift which would require lifting the forklift off the ground, etc.).

I basically need to build a carriage that will attach to the bucket, and then I can slide the forks on from the sides. I plan on using some holes drilled through the top support pieces so that I can insert a pin or bolt as a stop to keep the forks from moving sideways once I get them in position.

I need ideas for how to best mount the carriage to my bucket. I am thinking about a hook type arrangment on top of the bucket with a solid (or pipe) bar mounted on the carriage. I am looking for good pictures of attachment methods. I don't have a QA for my bucket, so a standard QA setup on the fork carriage won't work.

Keep the ideas coming. and THANKS!!

 

[kennyd]

Here is a LINK that shows pics of the ones I made.

 

[PineRidge]

Didn't make our pallet forks, bought them as a package with the NH. Maybe this picture will give you some ides to work with.

 

[westbrooklawn]

GREAT pics and links! It never ceases to amaze me how much information and knowledge can be shared on this forum. My project will probably not start until after Christmas (Santa is bringing me an O/A cutting torch to go along with my existing Miller AC/DC welder), but I will try to post pics as I go. Thanks!