John Deere Telehandler Bale Fork

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So this is a little project that has been on the back burner.  I've been tripping over 4 bale spears and sockets for over a year! The Kubota bale fork I built (http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=40110) has proven so versatile we thought it would be great to build one for the John Deere Telehandlers. Last year I built some snow plow mounts that are so quick and easy to grab (http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=45762), it was only natural to marry the two designs.  Imagine stacking 25 feet high.  Tonight I decided to start cutting out the parts to get this done. I had some scrap 1" on the table so I started with the ears. I then loaded some 1/2" plate and I'll cut the sides on Monday. Here's the progress so far. You know you got a good plasma cut when the magnet can fish the slug out of the hole.  Attached Images
Reply:Nice design - what are you going to use for the spears?- "If ya can't be handsome, ya may as well be handy!"   HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln SP125+Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38
Reply:Originally Posted by GarauldNice design - what are you going to use for the spears?
Reply:That plasma cutter does a nice job on those mountsBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireI'm using some forged spears that we bought from the JD dealer. If I recall the sockets were $10 each and the spears were $40 each. They are the same spears I used on the Kubota fork if you look at the earlier thread. The spears are still nice and straight after a couple years of hard use. It's amazing the things the fork is used for that was never intended... like picking up brush and such.
Reply:Very well built , shouldnt bend it any time soon.
Reply:Awesome plasma work. Did you think about adding a cylinder for pushing the bales off ??? I made a bale spear attachment for my loader and added sleeves for placing a spear towards top plus the two on the bottom, works well. Mine is used on big squares. nice!!!
Reply:Very nice stuff forhire, one of these days when I take the time to get out of town and do a bit of exploring I'll have to see about taking a trip up your way to check out your digs. That is, if that works for you? My family used to spend quite a bit of time at Mayfield and Rife Lake, not too far from your home 20. Once again, great stuff, quality work. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Originally Posted by killdozerd11That plasma cutter does a nice job on those mounts
Reply:Cut out the sides this morning. It took less than 5 minutes. Material is 1/2" A36 steel. Settings were 40 ipm at 115 volts, 100 amps, and air at 70 psi. Compare that with the 1" plate which cut at 11 ipm at 127 volts. Both parts cut very straight and clean with very little dross on the back side. Attached Images
Reply:Bent the flanges in the press using my homemade 4" die made from angle iron and plate. The chart says that it takes takes about 33.1 tons per foot to air brake 1/2" plate in a 4" die. The flanges on these parts are 14" so that puts the required tonnage at 38.6 tons. It takes every bit of my 35 ton press to bend the flange to the partial bend required for this part. I really need to find a larger press.  Attached Images
Reply:What did your plasma set cost and what does it consist of? If, you don't mind me asking so.
Reply:Originally Posted by MilitiaMetalsWhat did your plasma set cost and what does it consist of? If, you don't mind me asking so.
Reply:Nice work"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:The steel arrived late yesterday. Today I cut all the square tube and threw the lower section on the plasma table to cut the socket holes. Honestly I spent way more time setting up than cutting. One of these days I'm going to mount a straight edge to the table for this purpose. I cut the holes in two passes, cut the first set, flip and cut the opposite holes. It only takes about 40 seconds per side. Much faster than a hole saw. The sockets slid right in with a few taps from the hammer. Attached Images
Reply:Here's a video of the last four holes being cut:
Reply:I finished the parts for the fork a few weeks ago... but the machine has been down. Hopefully I will get the machine here next week so I can fit it up.A leaking boom cylinder turned into a huge job. My friend spent part of a day trying to remove the boom pin before he realized it wasn't going to budge. The shop that did the repair said it took 80 tons with the porta-press and a jack hammer to remove the boom pin. In addition, the boom guides were badly worn and had bent the cylinder, which they straightened. The leak was caused by a cracked hard line connected to the cylinder. In light of the other boom issues... it was likely a good time to get in and repair it.Yesterday he spent the day re-assembling the machine. Everything was going along fine until he couldn't find one of the hood hinges that thread into the boom pin. Turns out... it was sitting on the machine when it was loaded and fell off somewhere between here and town. He drove the farm, the county road, and up and down the highway a bit looking for it.Late last night he showed up at the shop. Frustrated that the machine has been down for weeks he wanted me to make something that would work. He figured I could re-purpose a bolt (which he brought with him).  After looking at the original part which was metric, I decided to make a copy. My cnc lathe was busy running another job and would be tied up for a least 4 more days so I set up the LeBlond and put him to work cranking dials.  I don't think he'll ever question an hourly bill again.  I finished up the part tonight and took it out to the farm and installed it.Only cost was a LOT of time and a couple c-clips. My friend was so happy... which is good because I borrow the machine every once and a while.I didn't take any build photos. I did have to chase the threads of the boom pin because it had been hammered on a bit.  Looking at the parts side by side... it would be nice to have a chromate plating kit... maybe I need to order one from Caswell. Attached Images
Reply:Your work is awesome - having someone close with your abilities is Priceless when it comes to having a machine down and needing it running.  great job...
Reply:Great Thread and Nice Work!Man, that Torchmate is a 'slick' machine ain't it?  I'd like to get find a 2x2 or slightly bigger table for simple, small projects that require precise cuts...Cheers,Miller Diversion 165120 amp Buzz BoxVictor Oxy/Ace Oxy/LPGSmith "Little" Oxy/LPGHypertherm Powermax 30Lot's of Misc. tools n' crap....
Reply:Originally Posted by Swamp ratYour work is awesome
Reply:Cutting holes in tube was common place at Boydstun Metal Works. Their plasma tables had slots in them that the tubes would fall down in for registration. Once you are seutp, it is the only way to go. To keep things square on the table for jobs like those at my last place of work, we had channel that would slide over the slats, butted up to the table sides,  to keep the metal parallel to the gantry. Fun looking project.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:The telehandler finally made it to my shop. It feels like I've been tripping over the parts for a year. The bale fork would have been darn handy earlier this week but the machine was tied up. I had to fit it up and tack weld it before morning. I made these parts based on the snow plow mount I made before... I really wish I had taken the time to double check the design to before I cut it. First issue was the push bar was 3" too low.  Also the upper mount was 1/4" high. Oops. So I set the plates up on the plasma cutter and trimmed it up. Really didn't take long to whip out three cuts in g-code. I used the 3x3 scrap to fill the lower opening, effectively moving the pocket up. A two second drawing mistake cost me several hours. I thought I had taken more pictures... but I must have just thought about it.  Attached ImagesLast edited by forhire; 10-13-2012 at 12:55 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by jmanGreat Thread and Nice Work!
Reply:Originally Posted by Fabn4Funx2!   Also, nobody mentioned it yet, but GREAT rendering!   Love the John Deere colors.  Sketchup?