Druidfab 4 ton Fork attachment

[V8Druid]

Those who have read my intro. will know that I bought a Hydrema Weimar M1500 last year, to replace my JCB 3CX, which had become 'outgunned' on a.n.other project of mine, digging out a large bank to provide a flat area of ground on which to build my new 'toy shed'.
Well I had an urgent need for a set of forks for the 'Drema as I had a great deal of 'stuff' sat about on pallets and a man has to have a set of forks for his machine

The friend who had collected my machine from the other side of the country for me, with his lorry, also knew ' a man needs forks' and had put an old fork carriage on his truck, from his yard, before setting off to collect my Duck from Norwich.
It was a pleasant surprise when Paul arrived, not only with my duck and buckets, but the makings of a set of forks too!!

being just a carriage, from an old masted forklift, they were going to need 'some attention' to make them usable on the 'Drema.

Some of you may have seen another thread I started this evening in the 'projects' forum, but for those who haven't, I recycled a piece of 20mm plate from a.n.other piece of kit that I had and was dismantling, to use for the main pick up plates!


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-11181437_zps529c316a.jpg

Again, if you've read my intro, you'll know that i no longer have the facilities that i once had and am working on a bench at home with rudimentary tools only


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-15153243_zps35d315bd.jpg

Having set out and cut the original plate strategically, to utilise it to its best, profiled some 70mm pin holes in the appropriate locations and put the fork carriage on the bench, I set it all out for assembly


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-15185520_zps278a8cf8.jpg


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-15203928_zps69f24b0b.jpg


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-15203938_zps0dc6e497.jpg


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-15203955_zps3ab9f1b5.jpg


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-15204005_zpsf9dc5021.jpg

I've had to weld these up with an inverter stick set as my MIGs are all 3 phase and I'm still looking for a decent generator to provide me with 3 ph - all domestic services are 1 ph in the UK !!


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-16162421_zps749c12c0.jpg

I had originally planned to fit fixed pins to these with a narrower cheek spread, but had a re-think, so they will be 'bossed' eventually.


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-16165328_zpsaef300d5.jpg


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-16194028_zpsf4bdb091.jpg

The front pin is only a 65mm one as I didn't have a spare 70mm at the time andwas waiting for a bar of 70mm BDMS en10 to turn up to make some extras with.

Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-16194056_zps0b7fac1e.jpg


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-17181709_zpsad5a0e58.jpg

I at least had them usable for now, but had more to do with them, before they were finished!

[V8Druid]

Then got started on the mod to make these even more flexible in use. here's a few to give you the jist of it!

Got to start somewhere with it!!

Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-24142409_zps2db46b40.jpg


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-25161525_zps9968cfae.jpg

Just teasing!!

Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-25181325_zpsa986f435.jpg

chopped a few bits out and

Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-25181352_zpsfeeb7945.jpg
Added a few extra bits on -

But what for I here you say??????????







Aha!!


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-25181659_zps34c872b8.jpg


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-25181645_zps0155f4ed.jpg

was only trying the fit there guys - bet you thought what's the point if you have to 'sling' it on there!!



Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-25183056_zps2cdcf7d3.jpg


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-25183115_zps5190a902.jpg


After a lot of careful measuring and a lot of thinking about it, there's just enough 'crowd' to uncouple the hitch.


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-25183135_zpsc5e3911a.jpg

and I thought I'd taken a piccy of it uncoupled, but can't have - will get one again.


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-25183246_zpsbfe30319.jpg

comes on and off 'as sweet as', with some careful maneouvering !!


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-25183400_zps44c37e9d.jpg

PLUS - the bonus is; it sits on the deck as cute as you like now!


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-06-25184428_zps8c4a37f6.jpg

Tips are still airborne slightly, but a convenient 4" block to park her on'll cure that and there's always some thing to sit it on, kicking about!!

Admittedly this will not 'self pick' off the floor with the blade, but it won't ground out either, when it's on, up a ramp It's only a matter of hitching it up and dropping it on, empty, or loaded.
4 Tons of ballast, sat on a pallet, sat on the blade, ought to make the 'Drema damned near invincible, in the stability stakes, over the rear and the sides'll be pretty cool too, I'd have thought.

Being the 'cute arsed' tool that she is, there's no risk of fouling 'em with the tail weight either - probably 2 - 3 feet of clearance!!!

[ja-bond77]

Veeeerrrrryyy nice!

[V8Druid]

Veeeerrrrryyy nice!

Thank you, I'm pleased with it. Still has the pin bosses to be fitted yet, but it needed using (I needed it)

[CountyBruff]

CE ?

[V8Druid]

CE ?

Absolutely !!
Completely Effective at what they were built to do
I'm a private user CB and they're purely for my own use.
I've been fabricating for 40 odd years and ran my own Fab. Biz. for 35 of them - should be able to do it by now Boyo!!

here's a little something I used to design and build

[Janne Blomgren]

Yes, very nice

[V8Druid]

I was a bit concerned it might want to 'rotate' off the top of the blade, so I left a slot on the back face of the hook, so I can put a location tag on the back of the blade, to lock it on with, if it's necessary!??
Ain't going to want be too BIG though - just enough to locate on, or it'll be tight getting it on.


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/locationslot_zps8046380e.jpg

I also considered that I may have to put some extra 'wings' on, to spread the loading across the back face of the blade?????
Suck it and see initially, but not major tasks, either of 'em


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/extrawings_zpsf83d79c7.jpg

'Paint' is not the easiest drawing program, but you'll get my drift



One other mod. that was in need of carrying out was on the original carriage roller mounts - they needed 'adjusting' !!


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-07-22180653_zps358e2049.jpg

I'm sure you'd all agree, that they look much neater without them?


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-07-22184653_zps672535ae.jpg


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-07-22184647_zpsa340a999.jpg


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-07-22185010_zpse9e3a05b.jpg

Some bosses for the pin eyes and a coat of paint to finish the job off next perhaps !!

[V8Druid]

Thought I'd give the fork carriage a bit of a clean off before looking at painting it, in an effort to get 'em a tad easier and before spraying the face with silicon dry film lube, which is a great help to sliding 'em about.

I reckon these were meant for me !!


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-08-291754-2_zps893323a0.jpg

Here's the colour scheme for my att.s

Bitter chocolate, to match the 'Drema's cab and Druid Gold.
IMHDO they go well together, (and I've got a big bucket of the gold).


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-08-30123533_zpsb744d31f.jpg

Next thing I had to get around to was altering a couple of forks for the 'Drema as I had need of them for a particular job.
The set that was on the carriage were perfectly OK, but a little short - I've been used to 4 foot forks for years and 40 inchers are....... well...... short!



Had a nice 48" pair stashed, but off a 16" carriage, so a little alteration was required to get them onto a 20" carriage. They also had a better capacity than the originals!

old ones (I've never seen them rated/stamped differently, as a pair before???)


new ones (with a 400kg better capacity, each)


So ........... off with the bottom brackets (nice of whoever fitted 'em originally, not to have put any welds on the inside of them!!), so they ground off sweet as, in double quick time, ready to set up for the 20" carriage!!



Quick try on to make sure they'll fit before ...............

.........welding the little bu**ers solid







Wanted to get a weld on the insides too, in case they ever get used inverted :rolleyes:

Wouldn't want 'em peeling off - 'specially if there was a man basket on at the time!!!!!

That was another job done !!!!!! (and I got myself some 4 footers to use at last)!
Coat o' paint and job done!!!!!

They got a try out later that week and didn't fall off !!




The extra 8" was worth the effort - I've a heavy 6ft x 4ft surface table top, which sits on a frame, that without the long forks has to be slung to shift it about with the 40 inch forks - not any more!!

[jörgen.ottosson]

Nice!

I especially like the feature to mount the fork attachment assembly on to the front blade. Quiet nice to be able, not only to carry it, but to us it in conjunction with the blade, to shift pallets or just to bring some along.

[nikoneer]

I wish my welds would look that nice! What welding kit and electrodes have you used? Runs on generator or mains?

[qqq]

And i like the quality of the cutting. What equipment and technic do you use for cutting ?

[V8Druid]

Nice!

I especially like the feature to mount the fork attachment assembly on to the front blade. Quiet nice to be able, not only to carry it, but to us it in conjunction with the blade, to shift pallets or just to bring some along.

Hi Jörgen, Thanks! It is useful to be able to carry it with me, either with a loaded pallet or my 7ft grader sat on it , with another on the hitch!
Unfortunately it will not put the forks on the floor, but was not designed to do so.
The other application is for additional ballast, for working over the rear/sides - a couple of tons on a pallet hung on the blade makes a huge difference to outreach. It is designed so that I can pick up a loaded pallet, drop it on the blade and uncouple the forks from the hitch --- just

Here's a couple of pix of me putting some round bales into my neighbor's barn for him, with them - not the best pix - a terrible day, weather-wise


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-11-08151845_zpsb1acfb2c.jpg

Bit tight on head room for getting in to the back of the barn, unless I'm on full stretch!


Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-11-08151813_zpsd7bec3bf.jpg

Job done and half a dozen in, took one off down the drive, with me, to chuck it into the field, as far as I could get it - no prob.s!

Originalets URL: http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/v8druid/2014-11-08152715_zps8991fe50.jpg

[V8Druid]

I wish my welds would look that nice! What welding kit and electrodes have you used? Runs on generator or mains?

Hi There, I've been practicing since I was 5, Nikoneer so there is 52 years experience behind those welds.

I'm restricted to a small Esab Caddy inverter welder at the moment, which I have had since they were first introduced many years ago.

IIRC it was about a thousand pound then - you can now buy a Thermal arc unit for £200
It will run a 3.25mm rod all day and a 4mm very well at about 60% duty cycle - I'd rather use a 3.25mm and build up with it, for better penetration

It's a single phase supply and uses about 9 amps at 240 volts - they are great tools.
I kept a couple of MIGs from when I sold up my business, but all are 3 phase and UK residential properties do not have 3 ph supplies
so I'm looking for a generator to be able to run them and a few other bits and pieces of equipment I wish to acquire shortly. Having been used to having, an exceptionally well equipped, 1000 sq m fabrication w/shop for 35+ years it is hard going back to basics,
but hey i'm still here so that's a serious bonus!

The rods are 6013 all positional - either Oerlikon Fincord M,s, or Wurth's own branded which used to be excellent (not so the last box i used) or Esab 46.00,s.
You won't go far wrong with a decent 6013 for most applications.

If you like those welds, (although I say so myself), you should see what I can do with a good MIG
A decent weld is down to several factors - a decent rod, adequate current, a good earth, a steady hand, being comfortable whilst welding, good eyesight and a clean mask lens, the correct 'angle of attack' for the rod, confidence and most importantly LOTS of practise

I'm still practising


When it self peels like this, you're starting to get there!!

[V8Druid]

And i like the quality of the cutting. What equipment and technic do you use for cutting ?

Hi triple Q - it's Oxy/Acetylene - better than O2/Propane - a better heat !
BOC Saphire NM250 torch and a 3/64" ANM nozzle - about 10-12 PSI on the DA regulator and 40 PSI on the O2 reg. - plus a lot of practise

Again, as I said to Nikoneer, you have to be comfortable when using it. For a straight line cut, use a good heavy straight edge like a piece of 80 x 25mm that won't distort with the extraneous heat and for the holes, a trammel on the torch shank.




If you have to work free hand - BE COMFORTABLE and support the torch grip with one hand whilst guiding the shank with the other - hard to explain !!

Hope this helps, but feel free to fire any other Q.s at me - fabrication has been my game, all my life and I'm more than happy to share/help anyone who is interested!!

Gra