FEL Fork

[tortuga]

Here we go.. some pictures of recent bricolages..

As the bucket isn't too useful helping with logs and branches i "redesigned" my "allround" tool. I originally welded it together from a 10mm crab steel plate. I added a band of 20mm steel for using it as a blade on the 3 ph. After that i drilled some holes for using it with 2 steel channels as a pallet fork.
Now i added the parts for attaching it to the FEL and put some spring steel forks on it. These are very useful to handle the logs and branches. I think i don't even need an auxiliary grapple on it.

















Another thing that bothers me is, that it is so hard to see if the FEL is leveled to the ground. So i already digged the forks into the ground sometimes.
I am just trying to solve this problem with a "level detector". The two little cylinders in the picture have a free rolling steel ball inside which connects the housing with the center pin if tilted to the inner position. I intend to connect two control LED's with it that should indicate if the bucket or forks are tilted down or up or leveled if both lights are off. Hope it works!





Also supported my probably too heavy counterweight with a chain. So hopefully the hydraulics will further do the lift-up and can then rest a little!





Next thing i am about to build is a log splitter. I will operate it from my auxiliary hydraulic valve on the FEL with some extension tubes. So i basically only need a strong piece of I-beam steel and a big hydrauic cylinder. O.K. and a slide and some other details :-)

Chris

[3RRL]

Chris,
Thanks for sharing all those cool pictures of your stuff.
How heavy is that counterweight? That looks very heavy. When you get your log splitter project going, share your story and pictures of that too.
Good luck with that laser type level of yours, it sounds like an interesting instrument. I screwed around with a level gauge for my bucket but have learned to eyeball it now pretty good...at least on the Kama. I've still got to get the Jinma down though.
Rob-

[tortuga]

Rob,
haven't yet scaled the counterweight, but it may easily have 400 kg (900 lbs). I need to speed up the motor to get the hydraulics to lift it up. But it gives greater stability and more traction. With the counterweight on, i rarely need the 4 WD. That reminds me of adding a supporting iron from the rear axle to the FEL.
Chris

[3RRL]

Wow, 900lbs is a lot of counterweight. You should have excellent traction indeed!
That reminds me of adding a supporting iron from the rear axle to the FEL.
Right ... another thing I have to do to Loretta's tractor yet.
Rob-

[porky69]

The electric level indicator is a good idea, the only downside I can see to it is it will only show level with the horizon. If the tractor is pointed downhill the indicator would show the bucket as being level only if it was curled all of the way up. This would only be an issue if you were using the bucket to scrape a hillside. At the same time it would keep you from dumping stuff out of the bucket while going up or down hill.