Pallet fork grapple build...

[Sawyer Rob]

Are FEL on tractors not rated for much weight? My S250 Bobcat is "rated" for 2500lbs but it has no issues picking up double that.

Double 2500?? I think you better WEIGH that 5000 pound load and see what it REALLY weighs! IF it's going to pick it without problems... I've owned and used them, 5K isn't happening on anything but the biggest models to easily handle that much...

Most 40 to 70hp FARM tractors have loaders that will pick up 2500 or a bit more, then the hydraulic relief valve opens and bleeds off oil to keep from over pressuring the system... And to keep from destroying the front end on the tractor...

SR

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

I didn't come here to start a fight. I've run several machines and they are usually quite underated on paper. I've only used a tractor FEL once on a smaller John Deere and I wasn't impressed. Again, used to using actual dirt moving equipment though.

I was mostly wondering if it was that machine or tractor FELs in general.

Rated load for the Bobcat S250 is 2500 lbs but tipping load is 5661. That is without extra weights as well.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

OK, skidsteers are all loader tools, that's what they do well, and it's pretty much all they do well... Tractors are primarly not loader tools, but they do make into a decent loader tool.

Having said that, I can pick up a load with my loader and it will go right through 2 feet of mud, or about any place else with that load. It will pull several tons down the road at 20 + MPR, ect... That's only a "few" of the things they do very well. SO, to answer your question direct, your skid steer is better at picking loads on HARD ground and a decent sized tractor is better at everything else and less of a dedicated loader tool.

Lastly, I wasn't dissing your skidsteer, it will pick up a good load, I was and still am doubting that you can drive off a hard surface with 5K on the forks and to me, that means you will have "issues".

Anyway, I never ment to offend you.

SR

 

[army1969]

I'm going to be building a single grapple finger for my FEL forks. I'll be basing it off of Cotech's design.

I have a 2"x8" hydraulic cylinder. I've got a set of JD forks whose frame has 2 horizontal cross members that are 3" square tubing I will be making a quick attach setup for. I'm going to try making it so I can disconnect the hydraulic hoses, pull 2 pins and slide the assembly up and off the forks' frame. At the same time, I'm going to try building the frame as shallow as possible to avoid it getting in the way of normal fork work.

Pallet Fork Grapple - YouTube

Starting out with this.


The grapple frame is made of 2"x1/4" wall and 3"x1/4" wall square tubing.


The Hobart 240v machine does a much better job than I'm capable of doing.

From the back of the fork frame.


The 3" tubing will have another piece of tubing or perhaps a 1/2" plate welded to it that will extend down behind the fork frames 3" tubing. This will hold the grapple frame onto the fork frame.


The cylinder will be mounted in some fashion like this, and the pedestal for the grapple finger will extend up in front of the cylinder.


Hopefully I'll be able to get the grapple pedestal built tomorrow evening, then make some mounting tabs for the grapple finger and the hydraulic cylinder. The grapple finger will be made out of a piece of the 2"x1/4" wall square tubing.

 

[army1969]

Would you have any drawings or dimensional drawings?

 

[OH_Varmntr]

Would you have any drawings or dimensional drawings?

I do not, sorry.

 

[cantoo]

Would you have any drawings or dimensional drawings?

Easiest way to do it is to make a template out of plywood or wood to make sure the angles work for your forks. Sawyer Rob has a nice one on his tractor, you can do a search on this site using his name to find it.