Grapple Help me choose a grapple
- Thread starter MOTractor
- Start date
- Views: 12046
kingrace78
Bronze Member
I have a LS xr4046 and bought the 60" grapple and forks from palletforks.com. I can remove cedar trees under 5" trunk with just the grapple. Push the tree back and forth to loosen up the roots and then pull out with the grapple. On the larger trees, I use the forks and dig under the tree to loosen and break roots then I am able to pull the tree and stumps out. Do not cut the tree down before trying to remove the sumps, use the tree for leverage to loosen the stump. I was amazed at how large of a stump I could remove. I like having the oversized grapple and the 2 lids work good for removing and moving brush. The welding on the titan is not real pretty, but I have not broke any yet.
Attachments
Poopdeck Pappy
Elite Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2013
- Messages
- 2,628
- Location
- Dallas, Texas
- Tractor
- Kioti DK50SE Cab, Kubota BX23, Kubota BX2660, Grasshopper 729BT
Cedar trees are bulky but not very heavy (relative to hardwoods), especially after they've been dead a while. I've removed a few hundred so far with my stump grapple, which is only a single lid and is very narrow. For just moving downed cedars, any grapple will do the job, which is a pretty easy job. So don't overthink it.
Are you sure you want to cut them off and leave the stumps? The stumps are a nuisance, IMO. I'm removing mine by either pushing them over and ripping them out of the ground with the grapple, or by wrapping a chain around the trunk and pulling them out of ground. For the larger ones I can't push over with my DK50SE, I dig up the lateral roots with the BX23 backhoe and then push them over or jerk them out with a chain.
Are you sure you want to cut them off and leave the stumps? The stumps are a nuisance, IMO. I'm removing mine by either pushing them over and ripping them out of the ground with the grapple, or by wrapping a chain around the trunk and pulling them out of ground. For the larger ones I can't push over with my DK50SE, I dig up the lateral roots with the BX23 backhoe and then push them over or jerk them out with a chain.
Poopdeck Pappy
Elite Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2013
- Messages
- 2,628
- Location
- Dallas, Texas
- Tractor
- Kioti DK50SE Cab, Kubota BX23, Kubota BX2660, Grasshopper 729BT
Cedar trees are bulky but not very heavy (relative to hardwoods), especially after they've been dead a while. I've removed a few hundred so far with my stump grapple, which is only a single lid and is very narrow. For just moving downed cedars, any grapple will do the job, which is a pretty easy job. So don't overthink it.
Are you sure you want to cut them off and leave the stumps? The stumps are a nuisance, IMO. I'm removing mine by either pushing them over and ripping them out of the ground with the grapple, or by wrapping a chain around the trunk and pulling them out of ground. For the larger ones I can't push over with my DK50SE, I dig up the lateral roots with the BX23 backhoe and then push them over or jerk them out with a chain.
Are you sure you want to cut them off and leave the stumps? The stumps are a nuisance, IMO. I'm removing mine by either pushing them over and ripping them out of the ground with the grapple, or by wrapping a chain around the trunk and pulling them out of ground. For the larger ones I can't push over with my DK50SE, I dig up the lateral roots with the BX23 backhoe and then push them over or jerk them out with a chain.
Coyote machine
Super Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2009
- Messages
- 7,663
- Location
- Southern VT
- Tractor
- 22 SANY SY 50U, '10 Kioti DK 40se/hst KL-401 FEL, loaded tires, KB-2485 bhoe, Tuffline TB160 BB, Woods QA forks, MIE Hydraulic bhoe thumb & ripper tooth, Igland 4001 winch, & GR-20 Log Grapple. Woods BBX72" Brush Mower. Diamondplate aluminum canopy
Hey Pappy,
Curious why not upgrade yourself to a Kioti KB-2485 backhoe for the DK-50, then you can rip out the trees with the hoe on the same machine as the grapple? Especially if you get a hydraulic thumb like I have?!
Not implying the BX23 isn't enough, I don't know a thing about it's capabilities, but I do know the KB-2485 is a dynamite hoe....
Just saying'.....
Curious why not upgrade yourself to a Kioti KB-2485 backhoe for the DK-50, then you can rip out the trees with the hoe on the same machine as the grapple? Especially if you get a hydraulic thumb like I have?!
Not implying the BX23 isn't enough, I don't know a thing about it's capabilities, but I do know the KB-2485 is a dynamite hoe....
Just saying'.....
KenB2920
Veteran Member
Yes. The lids open to whichever has less resistance first. This is same when closing. If there is not no resistance on one lid, then is closed first before the other cosmos down. On occasion they open or close together. This does not bother me at all.
TomSeller
Super Member
Mysfyt
Platinum Member
Yes, they do. But it happens fast enough to where it is not an issue. The double lids seem to earn their keep with handling brush where the loads are uneven. I wish I could try a single lid just to see what the difference would be.
The short answer is "I have always done it that way"
Once I get the grapple I will try taking down the whole tree. My new LS outweighs my old tractor by over 1000 lbs and has 10 more HP. The FEL on the LS will lift over twice what the one on my 1920 would - so shoving and ripping might work better. I will give it a try. It would be nice to be able to skip my grinding step on all except the bigger trees.About overthinking: I am cursed - I will analyze something to death, even when it does not need it! :laughing:
lostcreekranch
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2012
- Messages
- 8,078
- Location
- Austin County, Texas
- Tractor
- NH TL-100A with Bush Hog 5045 FEL, WR Long 3rd function, LS XR4155HC w/FEL, WR Long 3rd Function.
I have an 84" dual lid Blue Diamond grapple and WR Long 3rd Function installed on my New Holland TL100A (96 HP) tractor. After offsetting weight of the grapple (900lb.+), I can still lift over 4000 lbs. net. I regularly push over dead trees with goal of breaking out roots and all so I have a hole to fill and no stump to have to deal with.
My one and only complaint, on this grapple, is the jaw opening is only 34" which somewhat limits it in picking up piles of brush or limbs from tree trimming. I am looking seriously at Everything Attachments new Wicked Grapples for Utility Tractors. They already have a 72" model with jaw opening of 42-43" and should soon have same in a 55" model which is where my interest is to install on my LS XR4046HC. I already have the WR Long 3rd function installed on this tractor as well.
Using one of your rear remotes, to operate your grapple is certainly doable but, once you use one with a true 3rd function you will never go back. You control lift and curl with your hand and grapple with your thumb on toggles switch.
Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet
My one and only complaint, on this grapple, is the jaw opening is only 34" which somewhat limits it in picking up piles of brush or limbs from tree trimming. I am looking seriously at Everything Attachments new Wicked Grapples for Utility Tractors. They already have a 72" model with jaw opening of 42-43" and should soon have same in a 55" model which is where my interest is to install on my LS XR4046HC. I already have the WR Long 3rd function installed on this tractor as well.
Using one of your rear remotes, to operate your grapple is certainly doable but, once you use one with a true 3rd function you will never go back. You control lift and curl with your hand and grapple with your thumb on toggles switch.
Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet
EverythingAttachments
Elite Member
Luke'sScreenName
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2015
- Messages
- 3,710
- Location
- Lakes Region, NH
- Tractor
- Kubota MX4800 with BH-90X hoe; Hustler FastTrack 48; B3300SU (sold); 1969 Case 680B CK (sold)
Luke'sScreenName
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2015
- Messages
- 3,710
- Location
- Lakes Region, NH
- Tractor
- Kubota MX4800 with BH-90X hoe; Hustler FastTrack 48; B3300SU (sold); 1969 Case 680B CK (sold)
Poopdeck Pappy
Elite Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2013
- Messages
- 2,628
- Location
- Dallas, Texas
- Tractor
- Kioti DK50SE Cab, Kubota BX23, Kubota BX2660, Grasshopper 729BT
For cedar trees, I raise the stump grapple up so that it contacts the trunk of the tree about 3 - 4' feet off the ground (depending on the size of the tree). That seems to me to do two things. First, it keeps me from having any part of the FEL structure fully extended, which might put undue stress on it. And, secondly, it gives me a little leverage to put more pressure on the roots
If I start too high up the tree trunk, it will usually just crack and splinter without busting the roots out of the ground. You'll be able to judge how high to start after you've done a few of them (and busted a few trunks up by positioning the grapple too high up on the trunk.)
I try to keep the grapple just rolled down just slightly below level.
Last edited:
Poopdeck Pappy
Elite Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2013
- Messages
- 2,628
- Location
- Dallas, Texas
- Tractor
- Kioti DK50SE Cab, Kubota BX23, Kubota BX2660, Grasshopper 729BT
That's a fair question. Clearly, the KB-2385 backhoe would work circles around the little BX23. But there are two reasons I didn't go that direction.
First, my stumping work is a 3 part process: (1) busting loose the lateral roots, (2) pushing the tree over or pulling it out with a chain, and (3) using the box blade to level out the mess I made when removing the tree. I use the BX23 for Step 1, and the grapple and my big Gannon box blade on the Kioti for Steps 2 and 3. I'd rather use two tractors than swap a box blade and backhoe on and off of one tractor.
Secondly, when I'm done clearing my property, I won't have much more use for a backhoe. If I want to, I can sell the BX23 for almost what I paid for it. I'm not sure a Kioti backhoe would be as easy to sell or would return the same percentage of my investment. (If the truth is told, I'm not sure I'll ever sell my BX23. I just love the little thing.)
TripleR
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2009
- Messages
- 18,538
- Location
- Missouri
- Tractor
- Kubota M8540HDC, L5740HSTC, BX2200, BX2660, John Deere 425&1025R, Case, Massey Ferguson, Ford
TomSeller
Super Member
Wow ! Impressive.
Poopdeck Pappy and Everything Attachments: Thank you for the tree pushing instructions and video. 94BULLITT, thanks for making that video!
