Pallet forks, Clamp on or Chain on?

Forum Forums Tractor Implements Pallet forks, Clamp on or Chain on?

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    • #30245
      Tinbender
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        I see both types being made, any preferences?

      • #31893
        Jackpine
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          Great question Eric.

           I've been thinking I need to get some for moving bunches of baby trees I cut down. Grapples are kind of spendy and bulky. hmmm

          Also… Kind of wondering about the ones that come complete with backrest that can be hooked up in place of FEL on Jinma 284. I've seen some, but don't whether it will take more work to adapt them than I want to get involved with. Need more info. readin

           

          Jack 

          People are hilarious...
          I'm supposed to choose and be in one of the 2 parties. And NEITHER is worth a damn!

        • #31899
          Tinbender
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            That was my thinking Larry, the bucket does seem a little flimsy. At least the chain on type would spread the load. I have quite a few things that would be much eaiser to move on a pallet that simply won't fit in the bucket, and I have pallets coming out of my ears at work. Also a large cement fountian I need to move, five pieces @ 150-250 lbs. each. I'm sure the bucket with forks would handle these, I know my back can't anymore! 

          • #31900
            SpringValley
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              My loader has the quick detach nose on it.  I flip two handles and change attachments.  That sure is handy.  In the summer I think I have forks on more than the bucket.  Seems there is always something to move.

            • #31902
              Tinbender
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                That sure is a nice setup. The first time I saw the quick release in action years ago at the local nursery I thought ” if I ever get a tractor thats the way to go”. Well, ya can't have everything, at least not at once. Oh well, better to have the tractor and no quick release than the other way around wink

              • #31903
                DavidPrivett
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                  I have the chain type and they work well I have them on my jcb 214 ,I told the guy I ordered them from what I was going to put them on but he must not have known what I have .They are to short I can't see the end of them and the chain was only 1/4 inch and to short to go around the bucket,So sit in the seat and figure out how long the forks need to be so you can see the ends and get 5/16 min. hardened chain to go around the bucket with a little slack and larger chain dogs.I had to do the above changes so make clear what you need or if you what it done right do it youself.

                • #31906
                  Jackpine
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                    Larry,

                    Yes I'd be interested. I'm also concerned about bending the FEL bucket. Send me a PM or even post pics here. Who knows? If I don't get them, somebody else might want them. hmmm

                    Also curious about the quick disconnect setup you got. What's the  $$$ on something like that? Being right down the road I'm thinking you have it setup for bucket, forks, and snowblower.  wink

                    Jack

                    People are hilarious...
                    I'm supposed to choose and be in one of the 2 parties. And NEITHER is worth a damn!

                  • #31917
                    Tinbender
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                      After looking at what's out there I'll stop at Swift steel across from the store today and pick up some 1×3″ tubing to make my own. There are sets going for around $150.00 rated at 1200# using 2×2 1/4″ wall tubing. There is a set rated at 600# using 2×1 tubing for $100.00 shipping included. Since the loader isn't rated much higher than that this set appears closest to the right fit. My thinking is that the wider the fork the more the weight will be spread under the bucket, three being better than two, and should gain a little capacity and still keep the weight down. I guess we'll find outhmmm

                    • #31922
                      SpringValley
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                        Tin,  at the price of steel those prices seem too cheap.  Of course for pallet forks there are only two tines.  The brush forks we used to make had five tines. 

                        Take a look at http://www.bucketsolutions.com/

                        Jack, I will get back to you I hope later today when I get a breather from other projects.   With brush forks I did not worry too much about bending the bucket.  A person can push into brush and get most of the load close to the bucket.  If you have a heavy item on a pallet the load will be where the item is positioned in the pallet so you have little control on where the load is.

                        Thanks

                        Larry          

                      • #31923
                        Tinbender
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                          Here is the cheap pair (1): http://cgi.ebay.com/Pallet-For…..4aa01ee980 

                          a mid priced set but the rating is overkill (2): http://cgi.ebay.com/Loader-For…..3f08b7a470

                          these look nice, clamp with the option to chain (3): http://cgi.ebay.com/Clamp-Load…..45f9c96c8d

                           

                          The problem with the first two is they are only 2″ wide. The problem with the 2nd and 3rd is they are rated 3200# more than the loader and the weight will be out front, further reducing the lifting capacity of the loader. After pricing material to make what I mentioned earlier if it doesn't pencil out I'll go with door #3

                        • #31930
                          Tinbender
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                            Checked material cost today. 3″ x 1-1/2″ x 3/16″  tubing @ $4.60 per foot. Oddball  pieces from the steel yard scrap pile @ 26 cents a pound. Add 12' of 1/4″ or 5/16″ chain and a couple small binders = time to get out the chop saw and get to worklaugh

                          • #31932
                            ronjin
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                              Tin,

                              Do you perhaps have a toothbar on your loader?  If you have a toothbar and buy/build the forks to go on with the toothbar, it will spread out the pressure on the bucket.

                              RonJ

                              ronjin

                            • #31938
                              Tinbender
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                                Ron, a tooth bar is on the wish list, along with the grapple, hopefully sometime this summer.

                                 When I checked on 1×3 tubing .120 wall (1/8″) was the thickest they had. That's the same thickness as the ZL20 bucket, pretty weak. frown   While that may hold up carrying a pallet it may bend with a heavy object chained to them, I figure.hmmm That's why I decided to go with the 3×1-1/2 x 3/16. While I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised that the bucket won't bend I'm not holding my breath.

                                 Hey, at least we'll know where to reinforce it right?punch

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