Quick attach plate light, cheap and simple

[BobRip]

With my right arm limited to 7 pounds for a few more days and probably not very strong for the next month, I got to thinking how heavy the quick attach plates are, not to mention costly. I would like to start a thread on different versions of the home made quick attach plate. I have mocked up the start of one made from angle iron. I will probably weld a 2 inch receiver onto it. It is made from 1.5 inch angle iron, mostly.

The 2 inch receiver quick attach plate that I already have is very strong, and appropriate for heavy loads, but I don't think that strength is needed for most applications. I would appreciate any feed back on the one I am building before I weld it together. Please see attached pictures.

Also send you pictures of any you have made.

 

[sawdust_maker]

With my right arm limited to 7 pounds for a few more days and probably not very strong for the next month, I got to thinking how heavy the quick attach plates are, not to mention costly. I would like to start a thread on different versions of the home made quick attach plate. I have mocked up the start of one made from angle iron. I will probably weld a 2 inch receiver onto it. It is made from 1.5 inch angle iron, mostly.

The 2 inch receiver quick attach plate that I already have is very strong, and appropriate for heavy loads, but I don't think that strength is needed for most applications. I would appreciate any feed back on the one I am building before I weld it together. Please see attached pictures.

I'd think all those C clamps will get in the way for normal use.

Ok, if you want a serious response, this will probably work well enough to lift a reasonable load, but how will it handle any side loads? Will it tend to slide off?

John

 

[Rivco]

Bob, Interesting idea- but I think if you attach a light duty configuration like the one you are showing you will run the risk of bending, twisting, or torquing the quick attach plate. The PT custom attachment plate is 3/8", and when mounted to the 3/8" quick attach plate you are creating 3/4" of plate to resist bending and twisting. With that said- your idea might work for very light duty uses

 

[BobRip]

I'd think all those C clamps will get in the way for normal use.

Ok, if you want a serious response, this will probably work well enough to lift a reasonable load, but how will it handle any side loads? Will it tend to slide off?

John

John, thanks for the response. I will probably take the C clamps off as I need them for other things .

I and going to bend the top bar down on each end to keep it from sliding off. Similar to the PT design. I plan to limit the load, but sometimes we get too enthusiastic and don't limit as we should.

 

[BobRip]

Bob, Interesting idea- but I think if you attach a light duty configuration like the one you are showing you will run the risk of bending, twisting, or torquing the quick attach plate. The PT custom attachment plate is 3/8", and when mounted to the 3/8" quick attach plate you are creating 3/4" of plate to resist bending and twisting. With that said- your idea might work for very light duty uses

Rivco, I think you make a good point about the bending/twisting the quick attach front plate. I have damaged mine from previous work and had to straighten it and I know it has limits. I will load it up and look for deflection. I think I will add extra support on the bottom angle iron to stiffen it just like the PT plate has where the locking dogs go through the bottom.

 

[MrJimi]

Bob, before you weld it up, would your 2 inch rec. do better lower for getting under lower trailers?
If its to high I think you will be limited to the ones on stands

 

[ldabe]

Bob,
I think you have a pretty good idea there!
Especially for those of us who have little to no welding experiance.
I was wondering about the cost though...how much was the material, how thick is the angle iron and where did you get it from?
The receiver also?

Thanks and good luck,
Abe.

 

[MossRoad]

Bob, before you weld it up, would your 2 inch rec. do better lower for getting under lower trailers?
If its to high I think you will be limited to the ones on stands

Since it is on the FEL, all you have to do is roll the joystick forward and the thing could probably go under the grass to dig up under the hitch. I made one for mine and the 2" tubing goes about in the center of my quick attach plate, too. Kind of just scoops up a trailer. Then you roll it back a bit to center it on the ball, lift enough to put some pressure on it and off you go.

 

[BobRip]

Bob,
I think you have a pretty good idea there!
Especially for those of us who have little to no welding experiance.
I was wondering about the cost though...how much was the material, how thick is the angle iron and where did you get it from?
The receiver also?

Thanks and good luck,
Abe.

Since the PT plate is listed as $150, it would be hard not to go below that. The 2 inch trailer adapter from PT was $275 dollars (I believe, the description is not clear). I had all of the parts in stock. Most of it is scrap I got from a local metal salvage yard and I would guess it was less that $25. The 2 inch receiver tube was about $13 from Northern Tools.(Buyers 2in. Standard Receiver Tube | Hitch Receivers | Northern Tool + Equipment

The angle iron is about 1/4 inch thick.

 

[BobRip]

I took pictures of the top and bottom pieces. I picked up a brass rod today and did some brazing. So some of the welds are copper colored. This is OK, but I did not know it was brass and I don't know how to braze. It seems to work OK anyway. That stuff sure melts easier than steel and it is just as strong.

I used a piece of rebar for the inside lip on the top piece. See picture 007.

I made the bottom piece extra wide to support twisting loads and to protect the front plate on the PT. See picture 006. This is kinda hard to see. It is a flat plate welded to the angle iron.
I made the slots for the attachment locking dogs too wide on the bottom piece. I will probably have to weld something back in. I miss the MIG welding, but maybe with a little more practice the gas welding will go easier. It seems kinda slow, and you have to heat the part a lot.

 

[ldabe]

Bob,

I run across people throwing out steel bed frames (holds the box spring and mattress) quite often.

Could that be used in any projects for welding?

(Any input from others welcome)

As you can tell, a 'definite novice',

Abe.

 

[toy]

I took pictures of the top and bottom pieces. I picked up a brass rod today and did some brazing. So some of the welds are copper colored. This is OK, but I did not know it was brass and I don't know how to braze. It seems to work OK anyway. That stuff sure melts easier than steel and it is just as strong.

I used a piece of rebar for the inside lip on the top piece. See picture 007.

I made the bottom piece extra wide to support twisting loads and to protect the front plate on the PT. See picture 006. This is kinda hard to see. It is a flat plate welded to the angle iron.
I made the slots for the attachment locking dogs too wide on the bottom piece. I will probably have to weld something back in. I miss the MIG welding, but maybe with a little more practice the gas welding will go easier. It seems kinda slow, and you have to heat the part a lot.

Bob I know that you are still working on this and that you will check out the plate watching it as you curl it up and down but I thought that I would mention it just in case. If when you curl it down that lip on the outside might hit the lift arms and put undue stress on those ball ends. Also watch your hoses that they don't get pinched and cut a hole in them. I know you already thought of this but just a reminder.

 

[BobRip]

Bob I know that you are still working on this and that you will check out the plate watching it as you curl it up and down but I thought that I would mention it just in case. If when you curl it down that lip on the outside might hit the lift arms and put undue stress on those ball ends. Also watch your hoses that they don't get pinched and cut a hole in them. I know you already thought of this but just a reminder.

Toy, I had not thought of that and the bottom plate got bent the first time I used it. I thought it got caught on the ground, but I can see that they were bent from hitting the arms. Thanks for catching that. I will cut them off next chance I get. I will check the hoses tomorrow, looks OK though. Strange the plate bent and broke, not the weld. My welds are not the best. I can see I need to use the next size up tip though according to the instructions I am using the correct tip now. Fortunately Jim of J and S Enterprises included the needed tip (#2.5). I got tired of waiting for the metal to heat up and finished the project with brazing. Brazing is a lot easier and just as strong.

I finished the assembly today and used it to pick up the front of the tractor and moved a good size log around. I think it will be strong enough, but I am going to put a strap across the top from the 2 inch receiver to the back of the top bracket and another one underneath the receiver to the bottom bracket forming a triangle. I ended up cutting the receiver shorter, and I could have cut it to take the place of the top strap. No big deal, maybe next time.

I have used all of my gas for the torch and am going on vacation for about 10 days, so that's all for now. I have attached some pictures. The first one is of the bent bottom plate.

I realized yesterday that I could just weld the top bracket to the gas welder tank stand and move it that way. The tires on the tanks are very small and do not do well on the gravel driveway. So this top bracket can make a cheap and very simple quick attach plate.

 

[BobRip]

Bob,

I run across people throwing out steel bed frames (holds the box spring and mattress) quite often.

Could that be used in any projects for welding?

(Any input from others welcome)

As you can tell, a 'definite novice',

Abe.

In my ignorance I don't see why not. That's pretty good steel. You will need to sand or grind the paint off. I have a loft from my daughter's college that I plan to cut up one day. Look at some salvage yards too. Good prices. Don't buy at places like Lowes and Home Depot. Very expensive there.

 

[ldabe]

Thanks Bob,

And have a safe vacation.

 

[toy]

Toy, I had not thought of that and the bottom plate got bent the first time I used it. I thought it got caught on the ground, but I can see that they were bent from hitting the arms. Thanks for catching that. I will cut them off next chance I get. I will check the hoses tomorrow, looks OK though. Strange the plate bent and broke, not the weld. My welds are not the best. I can see I need to use the next size up tip though according to the instructions I am using the correct tip now. Fortunately Jim of J and S Enterprises included the needed tip (#2.5). I got tired of waiting for the metal to heat up and finished the project with brazing. Brazing is a lot easier and just as strong.

I finished the assembly today and used it to pick up the front of the tractor and moved a good size log around. I think it will be strong enough, but I am going to put a strap across the top from the 2 inch receiver to the back of the top bracket and another one underneath the receiver to the bottom bracket forming a triangle. I ended up cutting the receiver shorter, and I could have cut it to take the place of the top strap. No big deal, maybe next time.

I have used all of my gas for the torch and am going on vacation for about 10 days, so that's all for now. I have attached some pictures. The first one is of the bent bottom plate.

I realized yesterday that I could just weld the top bracket to the gas welder tank stand and move it that way. The tires on the tanks are very small and do not do well on the gravel driveway. So this top bracket can make a cheap and very simple quick attach plate.

I caught it when I had built a plate for mine and when I was moving the curl from extreme to extreme and watching the movement to be sure there was no problem of it hitting something that it shouldn't . I also felt that it came too close to the hoses [can't remember which hose] and I felt there was a possibility of it pinching the hose and busting it, just did a little more trimming on the plate and all was well. Hope you have a good vacation.

 

[BobRip]

I finished the light, cheap, and simple quick attach plate today. I put a coat of paint on it and it is in the drying booth (hanging from a tree branch that is). I am getting so I like the Henrob 2000 torch. I think I can do a better welding job than with the mig. It is easier to control the material feed. I have found that I need a larger tip than specified or so it seems to me. The most negative thing is you have to get a lot of what you are building hot.

The quick attach plate seems to be OK. It is light, and cheap, but maybe not so simple. I will post a picture when it dries. I did use it today and it held up well lifting logs out of a fire pit. The log lifter did bend a little and I had to reinforce it.

 

[BobRip]

I finished painting the 2 inch receiver plate. I have attached pictures. Please note the holders for the pin. I have a pin in the left one, but there is also a holder on the right.

I still need to weight this and the other receiver plate.

 

[MossRoad]

Looks good, Bob. Now go out and beat the heck out of it to see how durable it is.

You getting more comfortable with that torch?

 

[BobRip]

Looks good, Bob. Now go out and beat the heck out of it to see how durable it is.

You getting more comfortable with that torch?

I like the torch now and can make a decent weld (better than my MIG welds) if I try hard.

I used the fire lifter with the attachment this week. I bent the fire lifter, but the 2 inch receiver held up well. I do need to demonstrate its strength. I feel it is pretty good since the angle iron uses the steel more efficiently than the flat plate of the PT quick attach plate. I will set up something soon, like lifting the rear of the PT.