Forks for a BX2200

JimC · Jul 25, 2002

I have been using a TSC 3 pt carry all platform, and didn't think I needed any forks, even after reading all the good info on the TBN page.
Well I had to move a bunch of pallets and some limbs I had cut off.
The platform will move stuff like that, but it will only lift as tall as the 3 pt will go, which isn't very tall and I had to pick them up to load them, pick them up to off load them, then lift them onto the burn pile.
So I started looking at what the TBN group had done about home built forks. Lots of good information, some real craftsmen and engineers in this group.
Anyway I didn't want real long forks, the FEL make you be careful as it is.
I figured that with only about a 400 lb load limit for the FEL, carrying a load up to 3 feet further forward plus the weight of the forks would limit the load to about 300 lbs so I didn't have to build a battleship.
I dug around in my scrap pile, found a couple of pieces of 3" structural steel that someone had made some detachable side boards out of and a piece of flat plate and some metal straping about 1 1/2 X 1/8" and I even found a heavy truck spring that my son had removed from his truck, cut off the ends about 5" long for the tips of my forks.
I started yesterday evening about 4 PM and I now have a dandy set of forks for my bota. Just goes to prove that some folks trash turns out to be a bota owners treasure.
I have a cutoff saw, an ac/dc welder and a metal worker that shears, punches and bends(breaks), which saves a lot of time.
I even painted the forks orange before taking the photos.
The first photo is the top view and the next one will be the bottom view

JimC · Jul 25, 2002

Opps, the first was the bottom view.
Here is the top view

JimC · Jul 25, 2002

Now the bottom view, don't know how I messed up the first time

yakima · Jul 25, 2002

Jim, I have been impressed with your clever inventions. I love the forks! Good job.

kcook · Jul 28, 2002

Great Job how much can you lift with them?

KCook

JimC · Jul 28, 2002

When I read your post, I didn't know how much it would pick up.
so I went out to the shed, loaded up 4 JD 47KG front weights (416 lbs.) and hit the up lever, it started to pick it up and then started to nose over.
Now I remembed why you are supposed to have some weight on the rear when using the FEL, especally when you are picking something up 3 feet in front of the front of the bucket.
I turned the bota so it was heading slightly up hill and took the photo with the weights on top of the forks instead of on the tips.
I guess I will use the JD weights on a bracket on the rear, like on the 3pt hitch if I am not carrying the box blade.
I knew I would find a use for them someday.
It had no problem picking up 416 lbs on the top of the forks and with the boxblade on I would guess it would handle 500 lbs, the ASAE rating on the loader is 460 lbs and the break out force is 950 lbs.

kcook · Jul 29, 2002

Thanks, as with most tractors I think you can lift more than what the specs say! Also thanks for the photos!!

Kcook

JMP · Oct 29, 2002

Needing forks for my BX2200, looks like you have the prefect design. How long do your forks extend beyond the edge of the scraper blade? With all the different size skids out there how does one know how far apart to make the forks? What is yours mainly used for?

Would be greatful for any advise you could give.

Thanks
JMP

pcmem · Oct 30, 2002

JMP,

I just built some forks for my BX over the weekend to unload my new toys /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. I haven't even had time to clean them up or paint them but they work great. I modeled them after the individual ones so they can be adjusted for width but I've found it works best on the BX to place them where the bucket pivot mounts are located. If you want I can take some pictures if you are looking for ideas. Otherwise there is a thread on forks with pictures for ideas.

Have fun,
Michael

PS. I made mine 3' out.

JMP · Oct 30, 2002

Michael,

Pitures would be great. Was trying to think how to make the forks ajustable and keep enough strength. Was quoted around $150.00 from a machine shop to make one. I thought this was kinda high. I just got my welder and thought this would be a good first project. Any added info you want to give would be greatfully absorbed.

Thanks
JMP

Anonymous Poster · Oct 30, 2002

JimC, tell me about the "metal worker", what exactly will it do? Photo? Thanks. Stanley

JimC · Nov 2, 2002

A litle bit of everything.
Handiest tool I ever had, I guess it could be called a home version of a larger professional tool.
Photos attached

JimC · Nov 2, 2002

Here is photo from the brochure.
the first was the specs

JimC · Nov 2, 2002

They stick out 4 feet and I spaced them to fit the pallets I was going to move (I don't think I ever measured them). I move a lot of Oil feld pipe, Pallets, brush and limbs, my 8 ft dingey boat, my DR trimmer, and any thing else I run accross that need moving, the last time I used them was to pick up my 8 ft lawnmover trailer to change a tire.
There was a post about using a carry-all hooked on to the FEL a couple of days ago which would handle most of the stuff I used my forks for (except the boat).
the TSC carryall was $59.00 if I remember right and it should be easy to fix some kind of simple attachment method for any tractor. I will have one rigged in a couple of days and will post a reply to Walts post with a photo of how I do it.
JimC

pcmem · Nov 4, 2002

JMP,

I made mine out of scrap in a weekend because I had a tiller and aerator comming by truck so they aren't pretty by any means but worked wonderfully. I used some channel for the forks and stuck them out 3'. I welded tabs on to chain them on but found that by setting the plate under the bucket to start w/in 1/2 the length of the piece over the lip they would lock on to the bucket and coudn't be removed w/o removing the load to lift them up and off. The red mark in the top picture is the critical distance I'm talking about. I taped a wood spacer on to make sure they would go on an off when getting the distance right. Since they couldn't be removed w/o the weight off or breaking the weld I used straps to hold them in place and keep them from moving side-to-side when unloaded; there is no weight held by the blue straps.

My Wife was impressed enough to offer to paint them when I get them cleaned up /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

I hope that sparks some ideas for you,
Michael