New folding forks boost loader productivity

Hydraulic-folding forks designed for shifting large quantities of forage and similar materials were launched earlier this year to further boost the productivity of JCB’s highest-output wheeled loaders, especially when working

Hydraulic-folding forks designed for shifting large quantities of forage and similar materials were launched earlier this year to further boost the productivity of JCB’s highest-output wheeled loaders, especially when working on silage clamps.

The heavy-duty Folding Grass Fork comes in two sizes with increased load volume capacity at 5.50m for the JCB 419S and 6.70m for the JCB 435S.

Both versions have been designed and engineered for optimum strength and weight which, together with the increased volume capacity, maximises the performance potential of the JCB loaders, resulting in increased productivity when filling forage crop storage clamps for winter cattle feed or anaerobic digester energy production.

JCB Agriculture managing director, John Smith, said: “The front-end implements produced by our JCB Attachments division are performance-matched to each machine in the extensive JCB materials handling range, from fixed and telescopic boom skid-steer loaders, through compact wheeled loaders and telescopic handlers, to the industry’s only purpose-built agricultural wheeled loading shovels.”

The new Folding Grass Forks are supplied complete with the relevant couplings and fittings, and attachments are certified ‘ready to work’ on the chosen host machine.

The 3.62m wide Folding Grass Fork is designed for existing JCB 419S loaders or the latest Euro Stage 5 version featuring Dynamic power management.

The JCB 435S to Euro Stage 5 emissions specification in Europe has 171kW (230hp) and 840Nm of torque for routine work but Dynamic peak power is 9.5 per cent higher than its predecessor at 188kW (252hp), with 25.5 per cent more peak torque at 1186Nm giving a real boost to the machine’s already impressive performance.

Both sizes have hydraulically-deployed side extensions that fold-out and fold-in on 65mm wear-resistant hardened pins and bushes.

This provides maximum capacity in work and a convenient transport width of 2.97m with the wing sections securely locked when travelling between farms.

An optional lighting kit and tine guard are available for added safety when on the move, and when the fork is not in use, an integral storage dock keeps hydraulic hose couplings out of the dirt.

The wear-resistant steel tines have smooth wear plates to prevent buildup of material. Square tube uprights retain the load across the rest of the fork while providing a clear view ahead when manoeuvring the loader to drive into a pile of grass or maize.