Grapple heavier grapple or not

[IslandTractor]

I agree that someone doing commercial quantities of firewood would be best off with a wide grapple. Cleaning up construction sites is another example where wider is indeed better. However, there are convenient work arounds that require pretty simple changes in process to accommodate a narrow grapple. For example, instead of cutting logs into 16" lengths and then loading them into a grapple for transport to the splitter, how about cutting logs to eight foot lengths and transporting them that way for finer cutting right at the splitter? I'd imagine you could carry even more in one load that way than you could with a wide grapple holding 16" lengths as overhang is no issue so long as you could drive out of the woods.

Still, I do see your point. Most of us are not using grapples for commercial firewood quantities or construction but rather cleaning up land and doing a variety of grappling tasks. The bottom line is that any grapple is better than no grapple and that to my knowledge no one on TBN with a wide grapple has traded down and no one with a narrow light duty grapple has traded up. Everyone loves their grapple. You cannot say that for tractors or other implements by and large.

 

[G man466]

The new tractor has made it home but... i have yet to pull the trigger on a grapple. In my prior post... weight and lift capacity were slightly off...okay a lot off.
Lift capacity at max height 2469 lbs
Lift capacity at 5 feet 3210 lbs
weight of tractor with FEL 6681 lbs

Are there any disadvantages with a 48" grapple on larger tractors as for as being able to see the grapple?

 

[IslandTractor]

Are there any disadvantages with a 48" grapple on larger tractors as for as being able to see the grapple?

The grapple size is not the issue here but rather the distance and height from the grapple tines from the operator station. I could see better with my smaller Kioti CK20 than I can with my DK40se but it is due to the size of the engine hood not the grapple.

 

[jake98]

Nice tractor. What happened to your loader handle??

 

[G man466]

It's just a Kubota engineering Oops...The bend in the loader handle gives clearence for the gear slector handle. However, the new location of the loader joystick is much better than the old placement...which makes the operater reach forward for the joystick.

 

[foggy1111]

The visibility of the grapple tines from the operators seat are somewhat of a challenge when operating my tractor. I can see the outer tines fairly well on either side of the hood and will get along ok for most work so far. But....I constantly have to shift from one side of my tractor hood to the other to get a look at whats happening out front.

But, seeing at the center (of a bucket or grapple) requires standing up...which shuts down my tractor (and requires me to remove my seatbelt). It's worse with a bucket for me as you cannot see through it...as you can with the grapple.

Something I wish for is a button to temporarily over-ride the seat shut-off switch....while I stand-up to have a look. And....maybe another button to replace my seatbelt?

In years to come we will all have camera's and screens to let us have a better look. :thumbsup:

 

[G man466]

I temporarily disabled the seat shut-off switch on my L3130 with a wide zip tie. It will hold the switch in the down position.

 

[jake98]

I'm gonna take my grapple off and put the bucket back on today. First thing I'm going to do after that is try to get a feel of the lifting capeability difference.

 

[kattywumpus]

Nothing like a good grapple discussion!

Of course the best solution is buy a 48", 72", and Stump Grapple! If one grapple is good three must be fantastic!!
:laughing:

 

[jake98]

Nothing like a good grapple discussion!

Of course the best solution is buy a 48", 72", and Stump Grapple! If one grapple is good three must be fantastic!!
:laughing:

The 'extend-a-grapple'! Now I know I'm gonna get rich! Accordian attachments.com!

 

[kattywumpus]

Hey, I'm thinking grapple carousel or wheel of grapples.

What we really need is Michigan Iron and Equipment to develop a 48 grapple with QA side extenders! Why do we need to compromise?.

Jake98, I assume this is what you mean by extend-a-grapple?

 

[IslandTractor]

The 'extend-a-grapple'! Now I know I'm gonna get rich! Accordian attachments.com!

I was thinking it would be possible to build a heavy duty very narrow (30-40") core grapple which could be immediately widened by attaching lighter "wings" to give a total width of 66-72 inches. The bottom wing would be one piece and mountable by inserting the core grapple from the back, picking it up then locking it with a few pins. Two minutes to expand or shrink the grapple width. Optional wing for the upper grapple which would already be 24-30" wide.

Benefits would be a very strong core suitable for grubbing and yet with the wings installed you could rake debris or carry as much brush or firewood as the loader could lift.

You heard it first here on TBN. Now, who is going to build me one?

 

[jake98]

if we build it 'somebody' will just steal it..

 

[kattywumpus]

I was thinking it would be possible to build a heavy duty very narrow (30-40") core grapple which could be immediately widened by attaching lighter "wings" to give a total width of 66-72 inches. The bottom wing would be one piece and mountable by inserting the core grapple from the back, picking it up then locking it with a few pins. Two minutes to expand or shrink the grapple width. Optional wing for the upper grapple which would already be 24-30" wide.

Benefits would be a very strong core suitable for grubbing and yet with the wings installed you could rake debris or carry as much brush or firewood as the loader could lift.

You heard it first here on TBN. Now, who is going to build me one?

Sounds prefect. It seem to me this would be very possible.

 

[kattywumpus]

Ahhh, If we build it the chineese are just gonna steal it.
(this must be a tough place to be a chineese-american tractor operator. no real offence intended folks..)

Just patent it and let the Chinese build it. Let them pay the licensing fees for 10 years.

 

[jake98]

now if you didn't quote me I could say I was talking about those Dentonites..

 

[kattywumpus]

now if you didn't quote me I could say I was talking about those Dentonites..

You need to be quicker!

Your initial quote would have ended up on wikileaks anyway!

 

[jake98]

I never made a nickle on my patented hose coupling bumper. Wouldn't you know it, somebody beat the patent and made a double one. To add insult to injury, they used them on boats..

 

[kattywumpus]

I never made a nickle on my patented hose coupling bumper. Wouldn't you know it, somebody beat the patent and made a double one. To add insult to injury, they used them on boats..

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[G man466]

sign me up for the $6000 'extend-a-grapple'.....at least i'd know i had the right grapple