Looks good Roger. I am falling way behind in my quick attach plans and fork build. Having young children has negatively affected my free time. Glad to see you are making the most out of your 45 loader.
45 Loader JDQA Forks
Well there hasn’t been much snow this year so I decided to start working on something that I’ve been thinking and talking about for over a year. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been tinkering with bits of the build by cutting out the different pieces.
I tried to design the frame so that the very front of it should only stick out 1” past the front edge of my 45 loader custom JDQA adaptation. For reference: --> Converting 45 Loader to JQDA - Build
My thinking is the closer the forks are to the 45 loader the more lift it can do. It may be only a couple of inches closer but with the limited lift of the 45 loader any mechanical/physical advantage is a definite plus.
The design basically has the forks slide along a bar at the top of the frame. I hope to keep things fairly light as the frame itself should weigh between 55 and 60 lbs with the forks around 40 lbs. each. I figure that the 45 loader can maybe lift 700 to 750 lbs max (shimmed) so I didn’t design it to handle 2000 to 3000 lbs.
Here are the pieces of the frame squared up and clamped prior to tack welding.
![Metal Steel Architecture Automotive exterior Gas]()
The forks will be “clamped” to prevent them from sliding along the bar and each clamp has a 1 ¼” slot in it to allow fine-tuning of the distances between the forks.
![Vehicle Bumper Car Automotive exterior Luxury vehicle]()
First outer-side welded. Note bottom of the fork frame is closest to you
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Frame flipped and ready to weld the other outer-side.
![Machine Machine tool Tool]()
Mock-up of what it will basically look like. The forks themselves are just sitting there and have not been welded yet.
![Machine Furniture Metal Steel]()
Next will be to finish welding the base frame and then make up the brackets for the JDQA.
Roger
I tried to design the frame so that the very front of it should only stick out 1” past the front edge of my 45 loader custom JDQA adaptation. For reference: --> Converting 45 Loader to JQDA - Build
My thinking is the closer the forks are to the 45 loader the more lift it can do. It may be only a couple of inches closer but with the limited lift of the 45 loader any mechanical/physical advantage is a definite plus.
The design basically has the forks slide along a bar at the top of the frame. I hope to keep things fairly light as the frame itself should weigh between 55 and 60 lbs with the forks around 40 lbs. each. I figure that the 45 loader can maybe lift 700 to 750 lbs max (shimmed) so I didn’t design it to handle 2000 to 3000 lbs.
Here are the pieces of the frame squared up and clamped prior to tack welding.
The forks will be “clamped” to prevent them from sliding along the bar and each clamp has a 1 ¼” slot in it to allow fine-tuning of the distances between the forks.
First outer-side welded. Note bottom of the fork frame is closest to you
Frame flipped and ready to weld the other outer-side.
Mock-up of what it will basically look like. The forks themselves are just sitting there and have not been welded yet.
Next will be to finish welding the base frame and then make up the brackets for the JDQA.
Roger
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Looks good Roger!
How are you building your forks? I know even though my forks are not quick attach I cannot imagine my life without them. Some of the items I have been able to move with my forks has added years to my back and a lot less sweat and aggravation.
I had to go back and find the picture below.... I bet you will be shocked with the forks close to the tractor how much they can lift! That is about 700 lbs worth of RF up there and I had power to spare! (I just wasn't going to take something that heavier any higher than that! :ROF)
How are you building your forks? I know even though my forks are not quick attach I cannot imagine my life without them. Some of the items I have been able to move with my forks has added years to my back and a lot less sweat and aggravation.
I had to go back and find the picture below.... I bet you will be shocked with the forks close to the tractor how much they can lift! That is about 700 lbs worth of RF up there and I had power to spare! (I just wasn't going to take something that heavier any higher than that! :ROF)
I could certainly use a loader and a set of forks for one of my machines to help with my Farmall 130 restoration but then again I do have a overhead chain hoist on a track but it would still be sweet for moving heavy items outside to be painted.Looks good Roger!
How are you building your forks? I know even though my forks are not quick attach I cannot imagine my life without them. Some of the items I have been able to move with my forks has added years to my back and a lot less sweat and aggravation.
I had to go back and find the picture below.... I bet you will be shocked with the forks close to the tractor how much they can lift! That is about 700 lbs worth of RF up there and I had power to spare! (I just wasn't going to take something that heavier any higher than that! :ROF)
badgerland01,
Thanks! I know all about having young children. They definitely demand your time and rightly so! Hopefully you will find some time to squeeze in a project or two.
Roger
Kyle,Looks good Roger!
How are you building your forks? I know even though my forks are not quick attach I cannot imagine my life without them. Some of the items I have been able to move with my forks has added years to my back and a lot less sweat and aggravation.
I had to go back and find the picture below.... I bet you will be shocked with the forks close to the tractor how much they can lift! That is about 700 lbs worth of RF up there and I had power to spare! (I just wasn't going to take something that heavier any higher than that! :ROF)
Ever since you and Larry posted pictures of your forks, I've been wanting to make a set. I do remember seeing the above picture before and actually used the weight your RF as basis for the lift capacity of the 45 loader and what I wanted/needed in my design.
Roger
Andreas,
Thanks and I hope to have it completed in a couple of weeks.
Roger
Deere 332,
I find myself using my loader more and more and as Kyle has said above a set of forks only adds to the benefit of it. Definitely a back saver.
Roger
Finished up welding the base frame and I've very pleased with the welds.
![Pipe Metal Machine Steel]()
![Metal Steel Glass Aluminium Machine]()
Kyle asked how I am building my forks so here is how. I'm using 3" x 1 1/2" by 3/16" wall rectangular tube for the forks. Since the angle joint weld between the horizontal and vertical pieces will be the weakest point I thought that I should strengthen it somehow. I decided to try and strengthen the joint from the inside of the tube.
![Floor Table Furniture Gas]()
I made up three pieces per fork and they will be jammed inside. Two of the pieces are from 1" square tube and the middle piece is from 1" x 5/8" flat bar. My thinking is that they would work and act something like a "helper leaf spring" but internally. At least that's my thinking anyways.
![Floor Wood Flooring Hardwood Window]()
In the above picture the strengthening bars are only pushed partly in as I am not ready to weld them yet.
Roger
Kyle asked how I am building my forks so here is how. I'm using 3" x 1 1/2" by 3/16" wall rectangular tube for the forks. Since the angle joint weld between the horizontal and vertical pieces will be the weakest point I thought that I should strengthen it somehow. I decided to try and strengthen the joint from the inside of the tube.
I made up three pieces per fork and they will be jammed inside. Two of the pieces are from 1" square tube and the middle piece is from 1" x 5/8" flat bar. My thinking is that they would work and act something like a "helper leaf spring" but internally. At least that's my thinking anyways.
In the above picture the strengthening bars are only pushed partly in as I am not ready to weld them yet.
Roger
Nice job so far Roger. I was wondering if you ever got a start on them. Look forward to seeing them complete. I wish mine was JDQA. I do like the fact I can use my forks on the rear or the front and also reverse them like I did to set my new compressor this past fall. The pick with them on the 3PH is a little over 800 lbs. You can see the rear tires aren't liking it so much. I was able to drive the load up on my trailer and unload it at it's destination.
They are a handy attachment for sure. I have got way more use out of mine than I thought I would.
They are a handy attachment for sure. I have got way more use out of mine than I thought I would.
Attachments
Love that pic!:fing32:Looks good Roger!
How are you building your forks? I know even though my forks are not quick attach I cannot imagine my life without them. Some of the items I have been able to move with my forks has added years to my back and a lot less sweat and aggravation.
I had to go back and find the picture below.... I bet you will be shocked with the forks close to the tractor how much they can lift! That is about 700 lbs worth of RF up there and I had power to spare! (I just wasn't going to take something that heavier any higher than that! :ROF)
Roger, I'm like you in that I've been wanting a set of forks like that as long as I've had my loader. Problem is that I lack the skills to build them!:fing20:
Someday...
Larry,
I hear you about not wanting to work in an unheated shop/garage in the winter. My garage where my welder is, normally isn't heated. I do have the ability to plug in a heater but the heater and welder use the same receptacle. It either the welder or the heater.
Anyways, today since it was above freezing, I heated the garage a bit before continuing to weld on the fork frame.
I was able to get the JDQA mounts tacked on the frame, test fitted and then fully welded. I still have to fabricate and weld the pins in.
The cutouts at the ends of the frame are there to clear the hydraulic cylinders and loader arms when fully retracted/extended.
Tomorrow I hope to get the forks welded up.
Roger
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