Loader/3pt pallet forks/Grapple

BXHoosier

Well-known member

Equipment
BX24
Jan 21, 2018
453
506
93
Indiana
When I built my loader bucket pallet forks, I planned to build a frame to also be able to use the forks on the 3 pt hitch. Today, I started measuring and cutting steel for the frame. What I have done so far was made from materials I had in the shop. I am going to add a receiver hitch to the frame as well. It will be quick hitch compatible too in case I decide to buy a QH someday.

Edit
I’m also building a quick attach grapple for the pallet forks.
 

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Last edited:

dlsmith

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Lifetime Member

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BX2230, LA211
Nov 15, 2018
1,191
698
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Goshen, IN
Looks like a good start, Keep us posted on your progress.

What size and wall thickness tubing did you use?
 

BXHoosier

Well-known member

Equipment
BX24
Jan 21, 2018
453
506
93
Indiana
Looks like a good start, Keep us posted on your progress.

What size and wall thickness tubing did you use?
The forks are 2x3x3/16 wall. The frame is 2x2x1/8 wall tube, 2x2x3/16 angle, and 1-1/2x3 channel
 

BXHoosier

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Equipment
BX24
Jan 21, 2018
453
506
93
Indiana
I picked up the rest of the steel I need, lower lift pins, and a 2” receiver. The receiver slips thru a hole in the piece of channel. I clamped the angle to the top horizontal tube and hung a fork from it to see what I want to do to keep the forks from bouncing off of the frame. I will probably weld short pieces of the channel towards the bottom of the forks to hook under the bottom horizontal tube. That is as long as it does not get in the way of the bucket when I use the forks on the bucket.
 

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BXHoosier

Well-known member

Equipment
BX24
Jan 21, 2018
453
506
93
Indiana
I added mounts to the frame to fit the loader and painted the pieces. The bucket level indicator attaches to the frame so I’ll know when the forks are level. I welded 1/2” bars to the loader pins for handles to make it easier to swap between the bucket and forks.
EB8B3B39-D648-43EC-983F-BB6EDF0B31A4.jpeg
C8A7EB92-9D3D-441E-BBC3-204452EC8314.jpeg
81D963EC-8BB0-4F83-935A-E1D0686CAE93.jpeg
 
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GreensvilleJay

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Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
9,678
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Greensville,Ontario,Canada
NICE !
couple of comments...
1) add a few squirts of oil to the vertical fork 'tubes' then cap off. otherwise rain gets in them and rust happens....
2) watch out for wasps in the horizontal frame tubes !
 

BXHoosier

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Equipment
BX24
Jan 21, 2018
453
506
93
Indiana
Thanks Jay!

Put the forks on and parked in the sun to help finish curing the paint.
6809B01D-895E-4EB0-87D5-593472069609.jpeg
 
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Henro

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B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex.
May 24, 2019
5,116
2,341
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North of Pittsburgh PA
Very nice,

When I started reading the thread I thought why not make the forks work on the loader? Better there.

But it yours now work both places. Best of both worlds.

I love my clamp on bucket forks, but not having a bucket in the way is excellent.

Great job. I am envious!
 

Mark_BX25D

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Bx25D
Jul 19, 2020
1,611
1,140
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Virginia
I love my clamp on bucket forks, but not having a bucket in the way is excellent.

Plus, you get more lift capacity this way. (y)


Say, Hoosier, do you have any pics of them mounted on the 3PH? I'd love to see that. Do you know what the lift capacity is when mounted in the rear?

I would love to be able to handle firewood in tote cages using my BX, but the bucket won't lift a full cage, so....

I'm just wondering if lifting with the 3PH would give me the needed capacity. I don't need them to lift high, just enough to move them around.

tote cages firewood 2.jpg
 

BXHoosier

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Equipment
BX24
Jan 21, 2018
453
506
93
Indiana
They easily lifted the backhoe and dolly (roughly 650 lbs) so they should be able to lift one of those totes filled with firewood. I believe the 3-point is rated to lift around 1,000-1,200 lbs at the ends of the arms.
7DE43395-4ADB-4CE9-B426-F416B7ECE273.jpeg
D1B1B0B4-E739-48B3-8943-46AD9CADBEA1.jpeg
 
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Mark_BX25D

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Bx25D
Jul 19, 2020
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I know it's 6xx something @ 24 inches back, so 1,000 at the balls would make sense.

I'm going to have to check it out some rear pallet forks!

Very nice project! (y)(y)
 

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
9,678
3,932
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
The BX23S manual says 'W0' is 1250 #. So take at most 150# off for the 'carryall/pallet fork' and it should haul totes of wood. Be SURE to add ballast up front though !! I KNOW my D14 had fronts off the ground with 3000# log on the back.....turning was done by rear brakes.
 
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Mark_BX25D

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Bx25D
Jul 19, 2020
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Well, that's encouraging, folks. I think I'm going to to figure out a temporary way to connect a full tote to the 3PH and see what happens.

If it works, I'll be buying a fork attachment. The labor savings will be huge.

Sorry to hijack your thread, Hoosier! :(
 

michigander

Active member

Equipment
B2601
May 29, 2018
547
234
43
Northern Michigan
Well, that's encouraging, folks. I think I'm going to to figure out a temporary way to connect a full tote to the 3PH and see what happens.

If it works, I'll be buying a fork attachment. The labor savings will be huge.

Sorry to hijack your thread, Hoosier! :(
Tractor Supply carry all might be the ticket :)
Normally its on sale a cheaper.

 

Mark_BX25D

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Bx25D
Jul 19, 2020
1,611
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Virginia
Tractor Supply carry all might be the ticket :)
Normally its on sale a cheaper.

Yeah, I looked at that. Several reviews say the pins are located too high for a small tractor, and they can't get their loads much off the ground.

I've got it on my "think about it" list, though. I did find a fork attachment online that weighs 50 pounds less, and is a proper fork, and has the pins located much lower. Same price, but $99 shipping. Might be worth it, though, if it works out of the box.