My FEL Forks

[AbDaBu]

So I had Columbus Day off and needed a project. I've been planning these for a while and this was my first chance to get something done. The idea was to make FEL forks for my BX2350. I don't need to haul heavy loads, so I drew up a simple design that lets me adjust the width of the forks.
I've already put grab hooks and a 2" hitch receiver on my bucket, so I needed to plan around those things, too.

 

[AbDaBu]

I cut all my pieces at the same time, after careful measure and triple checking the angle from the hitch to level ground.

 

[AbDaBu]

The forks are made from some leftover 2x4 tubing. I tapered the fronts to make it easier to stab the pallets and capped the heels with some angle to catch the lip of the bucket.

 

[AbDaBu]

The bar is just some scrap black pipe cut to 36" and welded into a hole in the 2" attachment. I also welded some HF pipe clamp ends over holes drilled into the fork uprights. These are so I can quickly adjust the width but have them stay put where they're set. You can see how the forks sort of hang on the pipe, but the heels rest on the lip of the bucket.

 

[AbDaBu]

Side view shows how its all assembled.
First test run with an empty pallet was a success.
Finally, after dark, I gave it a stealthy black paint job and installed the standard security system.

 

[nedly05]

Very nice, I built a set of forks for our 444-H loader at work, the work well but are very heavy. Mine clamp on to the bucket. Your design is better!!

 

[Egon]

Nice job.

I just bolt several old truck springs to the bottom of my reinforced bucket.

 

[SkunkWerX]

It looks good, but I'm curious about something?

What carries the load, Is it the top bar that is in the 2" receiver?
I saw how you welded the flange/lips at the back/bottoms of the forks, but that appears to go underneath the bucket? Is that correct?


Only reason i ask is that all the forks I have seen rest on the cutting edge, or inside the bucket for support.
You could easily add another flange so the load also rests on the bucket lip.

perhaps I am not seeing it correctly.

 

[dbdartman]

Lots nicer than the quick & dirty forks I made a few weeks ago...

 

[nedly05]

Cheap yet effective, gotta love it!!

 

[AbDaBu]

SkunkWerX, you've got it right. The weight is hanging from the top bars while the heels are resting on the bucket lip. (See first graphic)
These were not intended to carry heavy loads. However, I'm thinking about adding some pipe pieces to the heels that will hang over the bucket lip, like in the second graphic. What do you think?

 

[SkunkWerX]

SkunkWerX, you've got it right. The weight is hanging from the top bars while the heels are resting on the bucket lip. (See first graphic)
These were not intended to carry heavy loads. However, I'm thinking about adding some pipe pieces to the heels that will hang over the bucket lip, like in the second graphic. What do you think?

It looks like the heel is not resting on the bucket lip, it is underneath the lip.
In other words, no weight supporting capacity.

I like your basic premise on Option B.
Anything that also allows the load to be distributed down to the bucket cutting edge will strengthen the set-up.

Instead of round pipe, I'd suggest something like a piece of square tubing? Something that protrudes into the bucket a little bit more and can rest squarely on the bucket cutting edge?
Something square/flat , even the lip of a piece of thick angle iron is not as apt to slide off/out should the forks flex forward a little.

Like this:
fork lift drawing.

 

[Tororider]

I agree with skunkwerx, I was going to suggest angle iron. Looks like you are proficient with a welder so it shouldn't take long and would make it much stronger. Just my 2 cents

 

[easygo]

AbDaBu,
You might want to add something to the lower corners of your fork that will not allow it to swing away from the bucket edge. That way if you pick up some brush or such you can dump it instead of having to pull it off the fork tines.

oodbdartman,
I really like the very quick and dirty forks. How heavy is that pile of wood you are carrying there? The reason why I ask. I will soon have the need for a pair of forks to unload a 350lbs pellet from a trailer. It is a small 2x2 ft pellet so there wouldn't be heavy loads several feet from the bucket edge. I thought about doing something like that out of 2x8 or 2x10 material. I could just try to make a permanent fork set, but I will not have the time until item arrives. Thanks
easygo

 

[dbdartman]

How heavy is that pile of wood you are carrying there? Thanks
easygo

I don't think it was 100 lbs, but may have been. My best guess is, build it & try. Worst case, it doesn't work & you end up sliding the pallet into the bucket & secure it with a ratchet strap.

Good luck!

 

[easygo]

...hhmmmmm.... I will try on something worthless first, but thanks for the quick response
easygo

 

[AbDaBu]

Good idea! I think I'll try some angle iron since I've still got some scrap left over.
Thanks, all for the suggestions.