Forks for Branson Loader

Strongman · Mar 17, 2005

I realize Branson sells pallet forks for their FEL, but they are quite expensive and was wondering if anyone on this site has a source where they found an aftermarket simple fork that can either be welded or bolted onto the bucket. Does anyone have a picture of forks that they have made? A guy at work made a set for his JD out of U channel suspended from a rod across his bucket.

Along the same lines, I've heard mention on this site about "blanks" you can buy. What are "blanks"? Are they the quick connect attachment hooks that attach to the tractor, or just steel plates? Thanks

Golfgar4 · Mar 17, 2005

I would suggest that you do a search in the Attachments forum for "pallet forks". You'll get more information than you can read. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I just did a quick search, and here's a thread Looking for Bucket Forks that mentions a number of manufacturer's you could contact.

Good luck in your search! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

SnowRidge · Mar 17, 2005

Any tractor dealer should be able to order them for you, if you don't want to try making your own. My Branson dealer offered to sell me a set of bolt-ons when I balked at the price for the quick disconnect kind that mount directly to the loader in place of the bucket.

For the record, I soundly regret not buying them with the tractor. At the time I was quoted $600. I now know they would have been worth every penny.

wejones · Mar 17, 2005

Srongman, On the Century c-50 loaders the blanks are quick attachment mounting brackets and are simply welded to whatever attachment you are hooking to the loader. What many guys have done in the threads here is purchase used forks and make a frame to mount them on. They then prepare the mounting brackets for their particular loader. I did that for my Century 2535 and have a set of forks that I can hook or unhook in less than 30 seconds. I have approximately $300 invested in the mounting brackets, used forks, and metal for the frame. Look at the threads you will learn more than you ever wanted to know about the forks! Good Luck. willie jones

sassafraspete · Mar 18, 2005

With the blanks (quick attach brackets) you can let your imagination run wild. As for the pallet forks, I just bought a set of branson forks for 650. I am in love with these things! They go off/on really quick. I am not a welder, so don't have the skill to fabricate my own like Willie. I just think you have a better set-up with the dedicated forks.... with the high back guard and can get heavy loads closer to your FEL arms and probably have a higher lift capacity. For a cheap, quick and dirty, use an axle rod, and a couple of leaf springs.

Strongman · Mar 18, 2005

Thanks for all the replies, as you can tell, I'm new to tractors. I was looking at my bucket and it looks like the quick attach hooks are welded to a 4" wide plate which in turn is welded to the bucket. Do the blanks include this 4" wide plate, or is it just the 0.8" thick brackets?

hkhaven · Jul 4, 2005

I've had my forks for 2-years now. Couldn't do thins without them Logging, removing items from trucks, placing item on porch, working on building & houses. The tines that attach to your bucket will, or can, most likely bend your bucket lip with a heavy load. I most recently loaded, or pushed, 6-8,000 pound logs on my sawmill with the forks--no other way to do this. Just my 2 cents worth...

billbill1 · Jul 4, 2005

I work in a paper factory and we have many forklifts on site. After being used for many years the forks will get too short and new ones are installed on the forklifts. I got a set of the forks that were too short and made my own attachment that hooks on the FEL pins of my Koyker loader. Works like a champ and didn't cost me a penny. Contact your local forklift company and see if they have old forks available. I use mine to move pallets of firewood around the property.

Strongman · Jul 5, 2005

After considering all the posts, instead of building my own set of forks from blanks, I bit the $700 bullet and bought a Branson fork set and have been very happy with them. We are doing the landscaping for our new house and I've been digging out 2,000 (approx) lb. rocks and carrying them like they were a feather. I'm very glad I got talked into them and the quick attach is great! By the way, a good way to estimate whether my 3820 BL20A loader can lift the rock or not, multiply the length times width times height (in feet) and the total must be less than 12 (this assumes a 2,000 lb lift capacity and granite rock).