Grapple MY New Grapple

[cyberknight]

Hi All,

I am somewhat of a new guy here and this is my first post so I hope it is in the correct section of TBN. I have a BX23 with Fel and Back Hoe and many other assorted attachments.

I have just bought and installed a very nice Grapple made by American Solutions. I was going to build my own but no time and then I read Berniep's good write up, http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69176&page=3 ,about it so I got one. It is a very nice unit and installed in 2 hours or so with no problems. I tested it on a huge pile of brush and trees and it worked super well and saved so much time. Before I had to slide the piles around but now it is just load up grab it and off to the burn pile it goes. The one I received is a newer model and has adjustable mounting brackets for different bucket widths otherwise I think it is the same as Bernie's and mounted the same way. The hardest part was finding a mounting location for the switch. I was going to do the joy stick mount but decided to do my idea first. I mounted a NAPA Heavy Duty Pushbutton switch on the left floor board on the roll part. There is a hole in the back of the battery box that I could get the wire threw to the battery hook up. My left foot was getting bored so now it has a job also and it works out well. I still may go with the joy stick mount but I was in a rush to try it out.

I also put a Hubble two prong Twist Lock Plug at the FEL hydralic disconnect ports to make it easy to unplug the solenoid wires.

I am very pleased with the Grapple and Jeff at American Solutions was very nice to work with. I also got his Loader Level which is so much nicer then Kubota's bracket idea. It also went on with no problem. I Know you guys always want pics so this will be my first try at that also.

Glenn
P.S. I hope I did this right !!!!!!!!!!

 

[dirt clod]

What does a kit like that cost?

 

[cyberknight]

HI Dirt Clod,
I paid $1249 for the Grapple. It includes Everything needed to hook it up and was packaged very nice. Here is There site.
http://www.amerisolutions.net/grapple.htm
Glenn

 

[jd2210]

Welcome to TBN!!

Thanks for the info, it is exactly what I'm looking for for my 2210. Exactly.

 

[PineRidge]

Welcome to TBN Glenn

You said: P.S. I hope I did this right !!!!!!!!!!

From everything that I saw you did good. Looks like a seasoned pro installed it to me.

 

[3RRL]

Glenn,
That's a very good installation job and nice pictures too. I almost bought that kind of grapple attachment but went with a different one. You did good! Post some pictures of using it when you can....I'm sure we'd all like to see them.

 

[dubba]

Ok, I give up. I see a one way switch & a 2 way grapple. What's the trick to opening & closing?

 

[cyberknight]

Hi Dubba,
There are two hydralic solenoids up on the cross support peice of the fel which the normaly open switch turns on and off. After some hose switching the valves change the flow from the curl cylinder to the Grapple cylinder. The curl cylinder is the normal flow and the Grapple is in out of circuit until I hit the button then curl is off and Grapple is on. It makes for a nice clean setup and easy.
To All I will get some more Pics this weekend while I am using it.
Glenn

 

[PineRidge]

Are you saying that the switch is a push-on push-off latch switch?

 

[cyberknight]

Hi,
No it is a normaly open momentary switch. You just hold it in when you want the grapple then release. It energizes the two valves up front to divert flow from curl cylinder to Grapple cylinder.
Glenn

 

[HomeBrew2]

Neat idea with the foot switch! Seems like many commercial BH thumbs are foot operated (hyd of course) so, kindof a natural application.

 

[cyberknight]

thank you. Now my left foot can do something besides just hang out.
Glenn

 

[Highbeam]

That sounds like a diverter setup with the pushbutton momentary switch simply energizing the solenoid to divert flow from the curl circuit to the grapple circuit. The button pushing by itself won't do any grappling. You need to push the button and then move the joystick.

Looks real nice. We would love to see that grapple with a mouth full of brush.

 

[PineRidge]

Ok, I give up. I see a one way switch & a 2 way grapple. What's the trick to opening & closing?

So he would hold his foot on the switch while working the curl function of the joystick, this in turn will work the grapple as long as his foot is on that switch.

 

[cyberknight]

Highbeam has it right. My mistake on forgetting to say I had to also use the joy stick while pushing the button. Will get more Pics this weekend with it loaded.
Glenn

 

[RollTideRam]

Very nice setup you have. I wonder if only make them for Orange? I would like one on my Deere 2520. JC

 

[cyberknight]

Hi Rolltide ram,
When I was talking to Jeff , the owner, he told me that is why he went with adjustable mounting brackets to fit different size buckets. So it would fit other machines besides Kubota. Mine is the first one with the new idea and it works out very well.
I would call him to check it out. His number is 866-880-4500. Web site http://www.amerisolutions.net/grapple.htm .Very nice guy to deal with.
Glenn

 

[cyberknight]

Hi Everyone,
Here are some pictures of my grapple in use as promised. It sure saves alot of time moving that stuff. Works great with no problems.
Glenn

 

[texasjohn]

Great pics!!! Looks like that grapple is earning its keep!

 

[ovrszd]

Very nice setup you have. I wonder if only make them for Orange? I would like one on my Deere 2520. JC

The grapple hardware doesn't care what brand it's bolted to. The adjustable bracket will even compensate for differences.