Country Living

[Duck2]

Been some time since I posted on this forum. I like the new format. Got only 16 acres here in Texas, near Springtown and really love the country life. Hoping to get educated in what I don't know about welding. Am currently making a few tractor implements; three point attachments. Maybe some other folks will get in on this forum and come up with some projects. Later

[TexasLonghorn]

I was thinking about making a hay fork for my 3 point. Have you made one of those?

[loulou61]

I made a hay rack to haul big round bales of hay. Used 1 1/2'' drill stem for the 2 lift forks. Cut the ends back about 6 " and beat the ends to a flat point so they would slide under a bale.. Made a basic 3 pt hitch hook up. Sorry no pictures , that was about 20 yrs ago and for as I know the guy is still using it.

[.RC.]

I was thinking about making a hay fork for my 3 point. Have you made one of those?

I could get pictures of a round bale three point linkage forks if needed...the forks don't connect to the top link they just connect to the two arms...

[txfireguy2003]

I can get pics of a lot of farm equipment, hay fork, shredder, post hole auger/lifting boom (crane type thing), just from my old man's place. I could also possibly get some pics from nearby farmers if you'd like, just let me know what you're looking for. As for RC's posting about the hay fork, all the ones I have seen attach to all three points with one exception. The attach directly to the two lower arms, and have an adjustable link, like a turnbuckle, for the top link so that you can level them.

[witness]

I would like to see the post hole digger. I have been kicking around the idea of building one out of an old bush hog gear box & an old "boom pole."

[1990notch]

Been some time since I posted on this forum. I like the new format. Got only 16 acres here in Texas, near Springtown and really love the country life. Hoping to get educated in what I don't know about welding. Am currently making a few tractor implements; three point attachments. Maybe some other folks will get in on this forum and come up with some projects. Later

16 acres is about 16 more acres than I've got. I envy anyone with property in the country. That's my retirement goal, but looking for property now with a goal to buy in the near future. Looking in OR, AZ, NV, NM or TX. Weighing all options on the way. How do you like it there?

[txfireguy2003]

I would like to see the post hole digger. I have been kicking around the idea of building one out of an old bush hog gear box & an old "boom pole."

I'll take some pics for you tomorrow. I was out at the farm this afternoon fabricating some brackets to mount a video camera in the fire engine, but it was kind of a quick trip and I didn't have the camera with me.

[.RC.]

I have seen post hole diggers made out of old car diffs for the gearbox...Also if you want to get really flash you can design it so it has hydraulic down pressure via a hydraulic ram...

[tigger1]

16 acres is about 16 more acres than I've got. I envy anyone with property in the country. That's my retirement goal, but looking for property now with a goal to buy in the near future. Looking in OR, AZ, NV, NM or TX. Weighing all options on the way. How do you like it there?

I'm with you.........looking to retire myself in a few years and move to the country. I'm looking to go to Arkansas.......halfway between Fort Smith & Texarkana, about 13 miles from the Oklahoma border. Beautiful country, national forest everywhere!

[1990notch]

I'm with you.........looking to retire myself in a few years and move to the country. I'm looking to go to Arkansas.......halfway between Fort Smith & Texarkana, about 13 miles from the Oklahoma border. Beautiful country, national forest everywhere!

Sounds like a good plan. I've never been to that part of the country, maybe I should check that out too.

[txfireguy2003]

Here are some pics of a hay fork. On the top rail, you can see a round "hole" which is for mounting a spike that punches into the center of the bale,but we took it off because of little ones running around and have never missed it.

[txfireguy2003]

And a few pics of the post hole digger/auger. It's a 12" bit, kinda big for standard 4x4 posts, so we're looking for a 6" bit for it, but they're pretty expensive. Anyway, please excuse the mess around it, I didn't have any help to move the thing and it's pretty heavy and bulky for one man to move safely.

Also notice the 2" round by 2" long "cup" that I welded to the bottom of the boom just behind the attachment for the gearbox. Once all the holes are drilled and the wooden posts are set, we take the auger off and use the cup to drive the metal "T" posts into the ground, saves a lot of time and sweat.

[TexasLonghorn]

TxFireguy,


Is the 1/4 thick angle iron or 3/8? What is the inside space on the two forks?

[txfireguy2003]

TxFireguy,


Is the 1/4 thick angle iron or 3/8? What is the inside space on the two forks?

I never took any measurements, and since we bought it before I knew how to weld, I don't really know. I won't be able to get out there before Tuesday to take measurements, but if I had to guess, the angle is probably 1/4 and the flat plate is probably 5/16 or 3/8. The space on the forks, I'm just guessing is around 3 feet. We use it to carry 6' diameter round bales and the bale rides pretty high on the fork, meaning ther's not a lot of if hanging underneath between the forks.