Forks for 2020 with 145 loader

[DogT]

I was looking at this Amazon.com: Titan Attachments Clamp On Pallet Forks with Stabilizer Bar 43" Pair Heavy Duty: Home Improvement
Looks like I can also get it directly from 'titan attachments' for $204. All I want it for is mainly to pick up my Simplicity Z2050 which I can put in the bucket and chain it in, but with forks it would be much easier. I have a couple streams I can't get the mower across. I could also use it just to move around logs from fallen trees if they're light enough. I just wonder how far it sticks under the lip of the bucket? I saw one person say about 10". The picture on amazon looks like about 16". The picture on the Titan site looks even less, like maybe 8". Of course I can always chain it to the top of the bucket, I've got a couple hooks there.

I'm just concerned picking up logs may bend the lower lip of the bucket. Or it may be easy to extend the tubes to the back of the bucket?
At any rate I'm waiting until I can get hold of Titan, they've got a number, unlike amazon.

 

[Tx Jim]

IMHO clamp on bucket forks are an excellent method to bend bucket cutting edge! Plus bucket blocks view of operating forks

 

[DogT]

Yeah, I thought it looked like an easy way to mess up the bucket. What I may do is think about just making something I can remove the bucket and attach that I can pick up the mower with. The bucket comes off easy enough with 4 pins. I could probably fabricate something from angle iron that would be good enough. Should have done this years ago, I always let the fence line go in the fields I can't easily get the zero-turn into. It takes me about 15 minutes to get the mower into the bucket and fastened down properly, then move it and reverse... wonder if I could just back it in and chain the front to the bucket top? That would be easier than getting it in the bucket sideways and chaining it on.

Or I could build a couple bridges.

 

[Tx Jim]

I agree bucket pins are easily removed BUT a lot more difficult to align/install. Have you considered building or purchasing a quick-tach for bucket & forks?

 

[DogT]

As little as I need a fork, I think I'll just try chaining the mower to the bucket, rear end in. Hadn't thought about that before. It's only like I need it moved maybe 6 times a year. It would be nice to have a fork to move logs, but I rarely do that too, I've got a yard guy once a week and a big chain saw, he can cut them up and we can push them in the swale I'm filling up with rocks and logs. I bet the carpenter ants are having a field day there down by the stream.

Speaking of carpenter ants, I've been shooting the carpenter bees yearly and this year I think I only had about 10-12. Started off with hundreds. They love the spruce rafters in the barn. I shoot them with a 22 and bird shot (or whack them with a badminton racket), but it's getting impossible to find that stuff any more, at least the WW #12 shot. I'm down to my last few boxes.

 

[beenthere]

I shoot them with a 22 and bird shot (or whack them with a badminton racket), but it's getting impossible to find that stuff any more, at least the WW #12 shot. I'm down to my last few boxes.

Not impossible..
CCI bird shot is sub-par for any distance.. but the Federal Game-shok .22 cal birdshot has better distance and recently was available. But the CCI might be better for carpenter bees.
I prefer the Federal, but have heard that they don't eject well from semi-auto's.

Sorry for deviating from the thread subject...

 

[DogT]

I'm the one deviating. The CCI is very expensive. I got the WW 50 for about $7. The Fed is probably about like the CCI, they are near a buck a shot. When I want to get cheap, I use my Ruger Old Army 44 black powder revolver and load up #12 shot a couple scoops of black powder, but you have to get real close to them, like 5' or less. With the WW I can get them from about 10' away with my Rem 582, it too does not eject well. I have about an 80% rate I figure with my 582. BB gun not so good, maybe 2% at best.

Wow that Fed gameshock is $30 for 50. I guess that's why it's available. I'll go back to my Ruger Old Army for that. You can always get close to them or I guess they actually get close to you. But I've not seen one now for several weeks.

 

[Zebrafive]

Have you considered a "carry all" for your 3pt hitch?

 

[DogT]

I thought about the carry all, but most of the summer I have the NH451 on and it's a real job getting that on and off. I actually have an old 3pt bracket from an old blade that wore out and could make something from that. But if I can just back the ZT into the bucket and chain the front up, that may be easiest. Putting implements on and off at my age now ends up turning into a real project, especially without help.

Just getting up and down off the ground is a real chore, I usually keep bunch of spackle buckets or similar around to sit on so I don't have to get up off the ground.

 

[beenthere]

I thought about the carry all, but most of the summer I have the NH451 on and it's a real job getting that on and off. I actually have an old 3pt bracket from an old blade that wore out and could make something from that. But if I can just back the ZT into the bucket and chain the front up, that may be easiest. Putting implements on and off at my age now ends up turning into a real project, especially without help.

Just getting up and down off the ground is a real chore, I usually keep bunch of spackle buckets or similar around to sit on so I don't have to get up off the ground.

I hear ya on the gettin up and down... a rolling adjustable-height stool is a big help along with the spackle buckets. At 82, gotta plan accordingly to keep up.
But treat yourself to the iMatch or similar quickhitch to more easily get attachments on and off. Combined with an hydraulic top arm makes changing attachments easy.
A carry-all platform (as mentioned by Zeb 5 ) that you can drive onto and off of would be a neat solution for moving your mower across the stream, and handy for a lot of other things too. Tie-downs built in will make hauling a lot more fun.

What is NH451 ?? a sickle mower by chance?