Front End Loader, Forks Bucket done! Picture

All I have left to do is cut a few points off the Upper Forks Mounts, hook up the Control for the 2 Tilt Cylinders, hoses are all in waiting for it. Then I need to give it a coat of paint! Forks slip out of the Bucket with 2- Grade #8 Bolt & Nut on each, real easy to do. It was a bear to get those Forks Mounted even so they would be solid & strong plus easy to remove. I have 2 sections of 3/8" steel behind the top bolt welded into the bucket forming a V and then gusteted to the bucket. Lots of weld at that point and it is in front of the Tilt Cylinder mount brackets on each side. That way the bucket can't flex or bend. The lower bolt goes thru the bucket and Main Loader Mount for the Arms backed up with steel plates to keep it sucure and tight against the bucket back. I put 2 plates on the bucket bottom to add strength and 2 knobs on each side of the them to keep the forks from getting knocked side ways. Now I can leave the bucket on all the time. I made the Bucket, Cross Member and Tilt Cylinder Mounts from scratch and figure I have around $300.00 total into the project. Now I can have a great weekend the Major work is done! Mark H.

This is a better view, I was tired and did not take any more pictures. Mark H.

Note the picture is how I will transport the Bales low to the ground so there is no way it can roll back on me or hurt anything if it falls off.
I plan on welding Harden Collars on all the joints that don't have them yet. The Loader Arm tips have had there bushings replaced with 1"inside X 1 3/4" outside X 3" long solid bushings allready. Just was waiting till I knew for sure what size and how many I needed to buy. All the pins are harden steel ones. I will put grease zerks in all the moving points that do not have them yet. I raised the forks up all the way and tilted them level. I was able to have them 9 feet off the ground level! I also need to cut all the points off the Gussets and add a couple more on the forks for side movement strength. After all this is done I will blast it clean with my pressure washer and sand and paint it. Been a fun project to work on! First time working with Hydraulics and building something like this. Mark H.

This is all the way up and the forks level. Mark H.

I still want to add 2 gussets on the sides of the lower mounting plate welded to the forks to give them more strength for side ways Twist movement. Nothing stays on the bucket on the lower mount and I will flush the upper mount on the bucket with the fork since it stays on the bucket. Mark H.