Homemade Round Bale Forklift

Homemade Round Bale Forklift LIVESTOCK Feeding Equipment 25-3-35 I made my own articulated round bale "forklift" using an old 2-ton truck frame and the front and rear axles off a Chevrolet 3/4-ton pickup. Power is provided by a 6.2-liter diesel engine, which is hooked to two transmissions - a 3-speed and a 4-speed - and a transfer case. The rig has a total of 16 forward speeds and 8 reverse. The 3-speed transmission and the transfer case are off a 1968 Chevy 4-WD pickup while the 4-speed transmission is off a 1979 Chevy 3/4-ton pickup. The brake pedals and steering system are off the Chevy pickup. The machine has two 3/4-ton rear ends, both off a 1978 pickup. I turned one of the rear ends upside down so that it goes forward. When both transmissions are in low gear, the machine will go so slow that I can hardly see it move. I use a 3-spool hydraulic valve to operate the loader. I can use it with a post hole digger and a hydraulically-angled blade. I plan to mount a hitch on front of the machine so I can tow the rig behind my 1-ton truck. The articulation point was made from heavy bushings and a pair of 1 1/2-in. dia. steel pins. The single arm boom is made from 8-in. dia. oil well pipe that's braced by heavy 4-in. sq. tubing. The machine has two hydraulic cylinders û one for lifting and one for dumping. One of the cylinders is off an old oil field rig and the other off a street sweeper. My only expense was $200 for a new hydraulic valve. (John Jones, 1009 Revielle Rd., Magazine, Ark. 72943 ph 501 963-6710)

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