Fixing a pallet fork

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I bought some pallet forks for skid steer type front end loader on my tractor. As you can see I already bent the attachment plates. That is where the pins go.  I learned that pallet forks are designed to lift up, not push down. The metal is 0.25 inches, but with that cut out makes it weak. Should I just heat it and reform it and stop using my forks to push down, or should i put a backing plate to strengthen it?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Sounds like your already pretty sure what the right answer is.I am no fork lift specialist but pretty sure they work in one direction and should not be modified to do otherwise. Warming them up pretty good and straightening at the bottom of the bracket should be ok if not folded badly.Fix them and use as designed probably best bet.
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Reply:I HATE universal SSQA. I realize it’s the most widely used but it is awkward and archaic:
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Originally Posted by jeffrey.penfield




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Originally Posted by Lis2323

I HATE universal SSQA. I realize it’s the most widely used but it is awkward and archaic
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Originally Posted by 52 Ford

Have you tried converting them to non-universal SSQA? Looks like Jeffery did a pretty good job of it on those forks.

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Originally Posted by Lis2323

Too big a job. One wheel loader and a Bobcat Toolcat had SSQA


The other four all had different versions of euro style (much better )plus a pile of attachments…..


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Originally Posted by 52 Ford

Those Toolcats are really freakin' cool. I wanted one till I saw the price. (Autocorrect changed price to olive.) Looks like a really nice "get around" vehicle for maintainance. Maybe with a 4 in 1 or a grapple bucket (normal bucket with relieve cut in the bucket sides, and a hydraulic grapple - not a full grapple on the bottom.). Clear dead limbs, fix pot holes, etc. Edit; talking about maintaining a property. Keep the driveway smooth and unobstructed and be able to do so without sweating.Oh, and yeah, the euro style is better. That said unless I'm switching attachments multiple times a day I wouldn't care what it had. Sent from my Lincoln Buzzbox using Tapatalk
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Originally Posted by 52 Ford

Those Toolcats are really freakin' cool. I wanted one till I saw the price. (Autocorrect changed price to olive.) Looks like a really nice "get around" vehicle for maintainance. Maybe with a 4 in 1 or a grapple bucket (normal bucket with relieve cut in the bucket sides, and a hydraulic grapple - not a full grapple on the bottom.). Clear dead limbs, fix pot holes, etc. Edit; talking about maintaining a property. Keep the driveway smooth and unobstructed and be able to do so without sweating.Oh, and yeah, the euro style is better. That said unless I'm switching attachments multiple times a day I wouldn't care what it had. Sent from my Lincoln Buzzbox using Tapatalk
Reply:They didn't realize not buying John Deere is always a mistake??The harder you fall, the higher you bounce...250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:LOLi've never owned a JD ag tractor. quite certain i've never even operated one.

lots of industrial stuff tho...:
Reply:I have fabricated a LOT of those skid steer adapter plates,,I always made the part that you bent out of 1/2" thick steel. (the CNC torch did not care what the thickness was,, time was about the same for either.)Re-make those two parts out of 1/2" thick, or expect the part to bend,, again.
Reply:Besides the attachment bending, the plate is trying to break. You can see the bends in the main plate where the forks attach. Has anyone made their own pallet fork back plate? How thick would you make it?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Originally Posted by jeffrey.penfield

Besides the attachment bending, the plate is trying to break. You can see the bends in the main plate where the forks attach. Has anyone made their own pallet fork back plate? How thick would you make it?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Originally Posted by 52 Ford

The way I think about situations like this is as follows...You, the end use tried to use the product and it failed. That means that there is a problem. If you just repair it, the problem is still there. Failures highlight design issues. Personally, I'd straighten everything and then reinforce it. My first thought is high strength steel (like a cutting edge on a bucket), maybe 1/4" thick. Or regular old low carbon steel and probably 3/8 to a half in.
Reply:The only thing those retainers are there for is so that the forks don't bounce off the loader carriage when you hit bumps.  I'd use 2 hammers (one as a dolly), cold bend them flat, and keep on trucking.  They're not badly hurt.  Those retainers are thicker on buckets and other ground-engaging tools which are expected to have the machine's weight on them."Fix" them enough, and you'll bend expensive things like forks when you abuse the design.  


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Originally Posted by jeffrey.penfield

Has anyone made their own pallet fork back plate? How thick would you make it?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:This pic shows my DIY bottom plate,, they are THICK!!


Reply:Another view of my DIY fork assembly,,,


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Originally Posted by danielplace

There is no problem if used as designed. They are for lifting not compacting stuff down, lifting the machine or whatever it was in the other direction.
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Originally Posted by SweetMK

Another view of my DIY fork assembly,,,


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Originally Posted by 52 Ford

I stand by what I said. He owns a tool, tried to use it (whether as intended or not) and it broke. Now is a chance to modify it to better suit their needs and keep it from breaking in that mode again.