Grapple Which type of grapple is best suited for...

IslandTractor · May 12, 2013

Herkypilot said:
I fixed my Wildcat grapple and forks with putting 1/4" spacer plates on the bottom brackets. Works great and the implements fit tight now.

Spacers at the top would not require much weld to keep in place. Spacers at the bottom would need to be solidly welded as the pins would be directly in contact and all the force of down and pulling pressure on the grapple mount would be directly on those welds.

mangus580 · May 12, 2013

I need to take it off and flip it up, and really get a good look at it to decide how I want to do it.

I know I could weld it with the Mig I have here, its even a gas welder, so no flux core wire to worry about. I would just much prefer to do it over at a friends here he has a nice lincoln 220v mig... It works so much nicer than dads Century.

4734 · May 12, 2013

Here are some pics of my EA Wicked Grapple from this weekend.
As you can see I am glad I chose a two lid grapple and you never
know what people leave for you on your property when you are not there.

IslandTractor · May 12, 2013

4734 said:
Here are some pics of my EA Wicked Grapple from this weekend.
As you can see I am glad I chose a two lid grapple and you never
know what people leave for you on your property when you are not there.<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=317435"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=317436"/>

Nice work but nothing a single lid grapple can't manage.

TomSeller · May 12, 2013

4734 said:
Here are some pics of my EA Wicked Grapple from this weekend.
As you can see I am glad I chose a two lid grapple and you never
know what people leave for you on your property when you are not there.<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=317435"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=317436"/>

If the EA grapple opens to 30", it looks like that tree is maybe 18" diameter? A 48" wide single lid would handle and hold that tree fine. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with a wide double lid grapple, it is just that not everyone needs one and they are't as good at digging roots.

Herkypilot · May 13, 2013

IslandTractor said:
Spacers at the top would not require much weld to keep in place. Spacers at the bottom would need to be solidly welded as the pins would be directly in contact and all the force of down and pulling pressure on the grapple mount would be directly on those welds.

The 1/4" plates are welded on top of the lower brackets and create a solid contact with the locking pin. If they came loose, the pins would come in contact with the original bracket. Not likely since the force of the SSQA bracket keeps downward pressure on the spacers.

IslandTractor · May 13, 2013

Herkypilot said:
The 1/4" plates are welded on top of the lower brackets and create a solid contact with the locking pin. If they came loose, the pins would come in contact with the original bracket. Not likely since the force of the SSQA bracket keeps downward pressure on the spacers.

I agree but it would make sense to weld the spacers as though the bottom spacer will handle the full load. It isn't the downward pressure but the backward pressure when pulling that pops the pins out.

Dingo Man · May 13, 2013

4734 said:
Here are some pics of my EA Wicked Grapple from this weekend.
As you can see I am glad I chose a two lid grapple and you never
know what people leave for you on your property when you are not there.View attachment 317435 View attachment 317436

By the looks of your second picture you found yourself a Texas size canopy:thumbsup:

EverythingAttachments · May 13, 2013

Dingo Man said:
By the looks of your second picture you found yourself a Texas size canopy:thumbsup:

You answered my question...... I've been trying to figure out what that was!!
Nice grapplin pics! Thanks for sharing 4734:thumbsup:

TSO · May 22, 2013

Ted and/or Travis... Any updates on the new grapple?

EverythingAttachments · May 22, 2013

I talked to Ted about it this morning. It sounds like they have a plan but haven't started on it yet. The initial thought was for it to simply be a shrunken Wicked Grapple with common parts, but it's not working out that way. The single lid is going to have 3 points on it for grabbing and will be wider than the lid that is used on our Wicked Grapple(as requested here on TBN). The designing/engineering along with April being our busiest month EVER is prolonging the process. Thanks for asking; I'm happy to report the progress to you guys.
Travis

TSO · May 22, 2013

EverythingAttachments said:
I talked to Ted about it this morning. It sounds like they have a plan but haven't started on it yet. The initial thought was for it to simply be a shrunken Wicked Grapple with common parts, but it's not working out that way. The single lid is going to have 3 points on it for grabbing and will be wider than the lid that is used on our Wicked Grapple(as requested here on TBN). The designing/engineering along with April being our busiest month EVER is prolonging the process. Thanks for asking; I'm happy to report the progress to you guys.
Travis

OK... Have you guys figured out a ballpark price point yet? Any estimate on when it'll b available?

.....
And for the guys that recently bought the different grapples, any updates as to recommending or not now that you have more use?

IslandTractor · May 22, 2013

EverythingAttachments said:
I talked to Ted about it this morning. It sounds like they have a plan but haven't started on it yet. The initial thought was for it to simply be a shrunken Wicked Grapple with common parts, but it's not working out that way. The single lid is going to have 3 points on it for grabbing and will be wider than the lid that is used on our Wicked Grapple(as requested here on TBN). The designing/engineering along with April being our busiest month EVER is prolonging the process. Thanks for asking; I'm happy to report the progress to you guys.
Travis

Glad to hear Ted is thinking through the options rather than just cutting a few inches off here and there. If I were in the market I'd definitely wait to see what the final product looks like, specs and price. Sounds like a winner though.

Dingo Man · May 22, 2013

TSO said:
Ted and/or Travis... Any updates on the new grapple?

I am picking mine up tomorrow afternoon. Will have specs and pics coming this weekend.

TomSeller · May 28, 2013

Dingo Man said:
I am picking mine up tomorrow afternoon. Will have specs and pics coming this weekend.

Any updates? Pictures appreciated.

Dingo Man · May 28, 2013

TomSeller said:
Any updates? Pictures appreciated.

Well, I got it and it looks great. I did find out that the quick couplers used by WR Long for my 3rd function valve are not very common. I was planning on just buying a male and female set for the grabble lines once I got it. After hitting three different hydraulic stores around town I was told the couplers are not a common design and I would be best to order them from WR Long to make sure I get the right ones. I am waiting on the couplers to get here. I guess I could take some initial pics and post them. I will wait until the end of the week.

Dingo Man · May 28, 2013

TomSeller said:
Any updates? Pictures appreciated.

Well, I got it and it looks great. I did find out that the quick couplers used by WR Long for my 3rd function valve are not very common. I was planning on just buying a male and female set for the grabble lines once I got it. After hitting three different hydraulic stores around town I was told the couplers are not a common design and I would be best to order them from WR Long to make sure I get the right ones. I am waiting on the couplers to get here. I guess I could take some initial pics and post them. I will wait until the end of the week.

TomSeller · May 28, 2013

Dingo Man said:
Well, I got it and it looks great. I did find out that the quick couplers used by WR Long for my 3rd function valve are not very common. I was planning on just buying a male and female set for the grabble lines once I got it. After hitting three different hydraulic stores around town I was told the couplers are not a common design and I would be best to order them from WR Long to make sure I get the right ones. I am waiting on the couplers to get here. I guess I could take some initial pics and post them. I will wait until the end of the week.

Connectors are one of the most often forgot about things when ordering and selling attachments. You would think it would be something the manufacturers would make sure they nail down, because in many cases people have to hunt down correct fittings like you are doing rather than getting down to business and using the attachment. It just leaves the wrong first impression of the product. But no big deal, you will be off and running shortly.

Kryton619 · May 28, 2013

Well I now have my new grapple installed and functioning. It is the Versatech 66 inch model. I thought that if it was to big or heavy I could always cut it down. So far so good!

TomSeller · May 28, 2013

Kryton619 said:
Well I now have my new grapple installed and functioning. It is the Versatech 66 inch model. I thought that if it was to big or heavy I could always cut it down. So far so good!

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=319934"/>
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=319936"/>
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=319937"/>

Nice. That is a lot of curl to the lower tines. How is it working out?