Brush forks

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Hello all,I have a quick question that I am hoping someone can shed some light on.  Since I couldnt bring myself to pay the ~$750 the dealer wanted, I am getting ready to build a set of brush forks for my tractor (lifting capacity of 1200lbs).  It seems easy enough except all the ones I have looked at all use a clamping system to attach them to the cutting edge of the bucket and I am a bit lost on how that would work.  I am about ready to just drill a couple of holes and run some bolts through, wouldnt be as fast to put on take off but would work.  However, if I can figure out the clamps I would like to do that.  http://www.bxtractors.info/page/Forks That page has some pictures and discussions but it seems like the screw just sandwiches the bucket.  This doesnt seem very strong to me.
Reply:Man and if you picked up a rock youd smash the tightening screws and bend them. If you used large nuts and bolts and threw gussets in front of them (to protect them from getting bent) i do not see where you would have a problem. The load is never really going to be trying too hard to pull them off the front of the bucket. The downward force on the forks is just going to push the lower halves of the clamp fixtues against the bottom of the bucket as well...Personally i would be far more worried about what you use to make the forks themselves because some of those look like theyll fold up in a heartbeat. One looks like they are made out of square tube!! i couldnt imagine catching a stump or something by accident (you cant build them with the attitude that youll never run them into something by accident because it is going to happen at one point or another).
Reply:Martygras,  I was just looking at those brush forks in the Northern Tools catalog.  I sorta figured I could make one that might do for my little Yanmar 2210D tractor with loader.  The one in NT is made by Paynes Forks (paynesforks.com) and though they don't give specs on the website, you could "eyeball" the pictures and come up with a design thart might work for you.  NT also sells the clamps made by Paynes Forks, but I would venture that you could fabricate one of a similar fashion, that would not require you to drill holes in your bucket.  I think the strength of the clamp lies in the piece that extends about 15" or so under the bucket.  I'm not an engineer, so take that with a grain of salt, but I intend to attempt one in the near future.  Post pics if you come up with something better....Nctox,  Stickmate LX  235AC/160DC  HH210
Reply:Check out www.tractorbynet.comTONS of threads about forks.My loader is no where near 1200lb capacity but I did build some light duty brush forks for mine based on ideas I got from the tractorbynet sight.Biggest annoyance I had with the forks I built, and I would assume the ones you can buy would have the same problem, is no matter how hard you tighten them down they WILL want to move side to side.I fixed it on mine by using my tooth bar as a "stabilizer".  Works great for what I need it for.  They no move no mo.Yeah, the welds are cold and rough.  Not proud of them but they haven't broke yet.  I hadn't learned yet that although my welder was supposed to do OK running on a 15amp circuit it REALLY needed 20amps to run well.  Money is tight so I have to use what I have and thus the grade 8 bolts and the sleves were from old Jeep shocks hardward I didn't use.  Although it doesn't look like it in the pics everything is square and tru to the bucket.Anyway, hopefully you'll get the idea.   Attached ImagesLast edited by CUOFFROAD; 01-26-2010 at 08:20 PM.
Reply:I have a relatively heavy duty front end loader on a medium sized tractor.I considered the same things as you when I was trying to figure out how to build a good brush handling piece of equipment.After kicking a few ideas around, my main concern was the soft front end of the tractor.  The grille, radiator, and hood.  A front end loader is very close to these soft parts.I then looked at the back end of the tractor, and decided it would be the best place for something that would have to handle material with branches and other stuff sticking out which might damage the tractor.The Uranus Brush Bucker was born  If you gotta push something, it's works better with UranusSeriously though.  We had a very bad ice storm here a few years back, and the dudes I talked to at the feed store, to a man, complained about front end damage to their tractors when they had to clear out the fallen limbs.  I just listenedThink about a purpose built implement for the 3pt. Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:So Samm let me get this straight, you'd rather push sticks up where, rather than get one stuck in the nose? Looks like it works good though..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWSo Samm let me get this straight, you'd rather push sticks up where, rather than get one stuck in the nose? Looks like it works good though.
Reply:.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I copied the Brotek forks for dads 3130 he had.  I used 1 by 2 14 ga tubing.  I made 2 legs 6 feet long for the 2 sides of the bucket. Then put angle iron tabs on the end to put my holes through the bucket sides.  I mad the rest of the rake teeth 4 feet long and put them on a cross bar with and and irn hanging down the catch under the lip of the bucket to hold it down.   Dad toted tons of brush before sell ing the tracto We still have the fork I can get a few pics of it if you like
Reply:I copied the Brotek forks for dads 3130 he had.  I used 1 by 2 14 ga tubing.  I made 2 legs 6 feet long for the 2 sides of the bucket. Then put angle iron tabs on the end to put my holes through the bucket sides.  I mad the rest of the rake teeth 4 feet long and put them on a cross bar with and and irn hanging down the catch under the lip of the bucket to hold it down.   Dad toted tons of brush before sell ing the tracto We still have the fork I can get a few pics of it if you like