Plate thickness for Q/A adaptor?

LondonDave · Aug 30, 2015

I just picked up a used bale spear that's set up for the "Frey" quick attach plate. I'm going to have a friend make me a plate for my loader (I don't weld.....yet). What would everyone recommend for for the thickness of the steel for the plate? Is 1/4" enough or does it need to be thicker? Also wondering about cold rolled vs. hot rolled.

Thanks

Dave

George2615 · Aug 30, 2015

If you are going to have the spear welded to the plate I'd go with something thicker than 1/4".
I mounted an old truck snow plow to a QA plate. I bought a 1/2" thick QA plate and welded a mix of 3/8" and 1/2" angle for the support bracing.

LondonDave · Aug 30, 2015

George2615 said:
If you are going to have the spear welded to the plate I'd go with something thicker than 1/4".
I mounted an old truck snow plow to a QA plate. I bought a 1/2" thick QA plate and welded a mix of 3/8" and 1/2" angle for the support bracing.

The spear won't be welded to the plate. The spear is already on it's own Q/A plate. I need to make the plate for the loader that accepts the bale spear and any other Q/A attachments (bucket, forks, etc).

George2615 · Aug 30, 2015

LondonDave said:
The spear won't be welded to the plate. The spear is already on it's own Q/A plate. I need to make the plate for the loader that accepts the bale spear and any other Q/A attachments (bucket, forks, etc).

So you need the part that pins onto the loader arms like this.

W.R. Long Pin on Tractor Loader Bucket to Universal Quick Attach Converter, Adapter | Free Ground Shipping for 1,000 miles!!

Ford New Holland Pin on Loader to Skid Steer Quick Attach Adapter | eBay

LondonDave · Aug 31, 2015

Yes similar to that George but what I need is a flat plate with a piece of 2" angle iron or square tube on the top that runs the length of the plate and slots into the attachment. The it has 2 rectangular holes cut in it along the bottom that tabs on the attachment go through and are held in place with pins or wedges. It's a copy of the "Frey" quick attach system. Lots of guys make them themselves because they are so simple. I'm just looking to find out what thickness I should make the plate.

Chopperhed · Aug 31, 2015

I would think that 1/4" plate and 1/4" wall angle would be sufficient( especially if properly bracketed). It's been a while since I looked at the FIL's Q/A plate. If you aren't sure, 5/16 would be even stronger. 3/8"would be way overkill

LondonDave · Sep 2, 2015

Chopperhed said:
I would think that 1/4" plate and 1/4" wall angle would be sufficient( especially if properly bracketed). It's been a while since I looked at the FIL's Q/A plate. If you aren't sure, 5/16 would be even stronger. 3/8"would be way overkill

I took it into a local welding/metal shop that's very familiar with building this style of Q/A system. They have it on their shop tractor. 1/4" is what they use...with it properly re-enforced as you mentioned.

Thanks

Dave

Tejas · Sep 14, 2015

Did you get it back yet, are you happy with it? How many bales will you carry at one time?

I am not sure if you are talking about the top "bar" where the Q/A attaches. I have built several skid steer attachments, we have bent 3/8" top bars a few times. I prefer 1/2" on anything that digs or that needs to pry. My home-built hay spear has two large spears...I can stick and move two large round bales at a time...the top "bar" is 3/8" angle iron. I can get you a picture if you need it...but sounds like you have it covered.

Good luck.

4570Man · Sep 14, 2015

My pallet forks have a 1/4 frame. The part the forks actually mount on to is obviously thicker. It really depends on how much your loader lifts. Mine lifts 1800 pounds.

LondonDave · Sep 15, 2015

Tejas said:
Did you get it back yet, are you happy with it? How many bales will you carry at one time?

I am not sure if you are talking about the top "bar" where the Q/A attaches. I have built several skid steer attachments, we have bent 3/8" top bars a few times. I prefer 1/2" on anything that digs or that needs to pry. My home-built hay spear has two large spears...I can stick and move two large round bales at a time...the top "bar" is 3/8" angle iron. I can get you a picture if you need it...but sounds like you have it covered.

Good luck.

I did get it back. Very happy with it. They did an excellent job. I used it yesterday to unload and move some 4x5 round bales. The new 2 prong spear works so much better than that stupid bucket mount thing that I was using. I can only carry 1 bale at a time, or at least I've only tried to carry 1. My loader is rated for 1800 pounds but I don't think it would carry 2 800 pound round bales.

I'll have to take some picks of what they did so that anyone that comes along and reads this thread will know what was done.