Telescopic SSQA?

[metalcaster]

I find that with my SSQA fork attachment that I'm about 18-24" short of being able to stack one more bale high in the barn. I am thinking about a way to modify my fork attachment with another cylinder to get that last few inches of lift similar to a short forklift mast. The design in my mind would have two DOM tubes as guides with linear bearings over them for the travel with a single cylinder in the center for the lift. The cylinder connected to the lines for my grapple.
Has anyone seen anything like this yet? As you can tell from my title I really don't know what to call it and thus can't think of a good term to use to search the forum. Thoughts, ideas?

 

[texasranger556]

How often do you stack hay? Could you just put your forks on upside down for the top row?

What you want sounds doable, but it would cut into your lifting capacity.

 

[davedj1]

How about moving the stack to the side, setting one bale in and then setting the stack on top of that bale? (or a variation of bales) Should be the easiest thing.

 

[Rustyiron]

Sound's like you might be stacking round bales. These pics show a simple mechanical means that might be helpful for a possibly easier to build solution. I know I often over think things and complicate a build. Please show us what you come up with:thumbsup:

this obviously too big, but the simple "scissor" action could be scaled down.

I've studied this "action" and it's beauty is in it's simplicity. I wish I was able (smart enough) to use CAD with "modeling" on the computer.

Then of course if your talking regular square bales, I just wasted everyone's time:laughing:

 

[metalcaster]

Yes it is round bales - 4x5. I have 14' to ceiling but can only stack 2 high. I put them on a wood base that is 8" high to keep them off the ground. Lift capacity of my loader is around 1600# and the bales are around 400-600# each, so if I loose half of the capacity, I'm still able to lift the bales. I also erected a pallet rack outside to store some of the attachments. Having extra lift would allow me additional storage of materials on that as well.
I've looked at turning the forks over for a project last summer and for some reason that wouldn't work. And it is a pain to work with as you have to have the load high enough to slide into to begin with.
Maybe a vertical grapple would be easier? But then it would be only good for the hay.

 

[Rustyiron]

I used to store them 3 high (flat side down/up) My SS would reach to put the 3'rd one on the pile, but the tractor wouldn't. I'd stack 2 of them outside and put both of them (together) on the 1st. A little tricky but it was not that hard to do. This was using just regular forks.

 

[texasranger556]

Yes it is round bales - 4x5. I have 14' to ceiling but can only stack 2 high. I put them on a wood base that is 8" high to keep them off the ground. Lift capacity of my loader is around 1600# and the bales are around 400-600# each, so if I loose half of the capacity, I'm still able to lift the bales. I also erected a pallet rack outside to store some of the attachments. Having extra lift would allow me additional storage of materials on that as well.
I've looked at turning the forks over for a project last summer and for some reason that wouldn't work. And it is a pain to work with as you have to have the load high enough to slide into to begin with.
Maybe a vertical grapple would be easier? But then it would be only good for the hay.

Rather than re-engineer the forks I would probably build an intermediate SSQA section. It would have "female" SSQA on one side and "male" SSQA on the other side. Use two sizes of C channel or a cut down light duty forklift mast in between with your hydraulics to do the lifting.

Attach telescopic intermediate section to tractor, then attach forks to front of that. That way you could use it with a bucket or any other SSQA attachment, and remove it when you need maximum lift capacity or rigidity (such as digging stumps or rocks).

 

[BLSXJ]

what about using a set of heavy duty ramps under your front wheels?

 

[Xfaxman]

what about using a set of heavy duty ramps under your front wheels?

My first thought also, great minds think alike. :thumbsup:

 

[Rustyiron]

If you have a spare $65k sitting around, these just were released buy JCB.
I think they might have a winner here!

 

[bdog]

That JCB is cool! Not only for the added lift range but for being able to get in and out safely with the boom raised.

 

[4570Man]

I'm guessing the tracked model is more than 65k.

 

[metalcaster]

what about using a set of heavy duty ramps under your front wheels?

Thought about that. It would mean moving the ramps every time i needed to make a lift and stability would be an issue.

 

[metalcaster]

as I was performing my normal auction site stalking I came across a "Phil Brown economy lift" set up as a 3 pt attachment fork lift. Has a 6' lift capacity for moving boxes of fruit in orchards on to the trucks. I bid up to the max I was willing to spend on it believing that I could modify it by attaching a SSQA plate to the back. Way more lift than I'd need or feel comfortable in adding. But alas someone wanted it worse than I did. Anyway the photos of the thing gave me some direction as how to proceed in my design.
Then yesterday afternoon a sales gut from Quick Attach calls to see if there was anything I was looking for. Asked him if they had anything to do what I wanted and of course they didn't. I'll need to get it designed and trademarked fast to cash in.

 

[boggen]

on larger agriculture and industrial websites generally have the normal stuff. but if you get into the small mom and pop companies. they begin to offer a lot more variety.

look up attachments for "fork lifts" there be a lot of different attachments that have come about, due to many business needing a forklift to load/unload trucks. as a result you can find plows, buckets, different styles of forks, etc...

on the agricultural side, you can get into a lot of different style of forks and pushers. to deal with various animals, to dealing with different types of crops.

there is a couple companies that do sell 3pt hitch fork lift attachments.

and there are some FEL attachments for fork lifts that easily allow you to turn the forks upside down.

tele-handlers as someone already showed pictures of. you can find many attachments for them just like you can for a tractor and fork lifts, and skid steers.

most of the stuff i can remember over the years, ended up being google searches and clicking up on "images" to see what shows up.

i do remember a couple DIY builds, were they just pulled the FEL off, and stuck a fork lift to the front of the tractor. for better stability. err i take that back now that i think about it. one of the builds they reversed the seat / stearing wheel and drove it backwards. the front pivot point = to much action left to right and possible tip over.

 

[Xfaxman]

as I was performing my normal auction site stalking I came across a "Phil Brown economy lift" set up as a 3 pt attachment fork lift.

Yep that would work, I had one made by Silver Edge, with less lift height, on the 240D:

You could scale it down and build it on a SSQA plate with a bale spear, instead of forks. :thumbsup:

 

[Xfaxman]

metalcaster, just came across this old thread searching for 3 point fork lift info.

We need an update, how did you solve the lack of lift height?