The WICKED Root & Debris GRAPPLE!!!!!!!

[IslandTractor]

As said don't worry about air getting into the system.. That will be eliminated in short order by operation of the grapple. Grease is another matter. Mine was not greased. It took a lot a grease. After a while you can check the fluid level on the tractor, but It won't be down too much.

Funny as my grapple has never seen grease in the 12 years I've owned and abused it. No zerks. The only greasable joints would be the two pins holding the hydraulic cylinder and the two pins holding the jaw to the frame. On mine the jaw to frame "pins" are just 3/4" bolts. Nothing to grease. After all these years the threads at contact points are worn off but the meat of the bolt/pin is solid. I joke that I'll change them at 50 years whether needed or not.

If you think about it, there is no chance for friction to cause heat build up in a grapple as everything happens so slowly and intermittently. In a busy day I may open and close the grapple jaws 200 times over 5-6 hours and that just isn't enough movement to cause any heat build up or damage. Unlike in a backhoe, there is rarely a lot of force on the grapple jaw pins either. It doesn't take much force to crush brush and almost no force to restrain logs etc. Occasionally I clamp on to a big rock with max pressure with the jaw but that is just once and I guess it just doesn't generate the sort of friction that you see in an actively digging BH.

 

[Milo]

Thanks James. It'll put my new Lock-in-load grease gun to use first thing. I picked up a few tubes of Kubota grease for the tractor and plan on using only that grease on the tractor and implements. So I'll get it home and greased up but the bummer is we're leaving Thursday for 5 days. :-(

 

[k0ua]

Funny as my grapple has never seen grease in the 12 years I've owned and abused it. No zerks. The only greasable joints would be the two pins holding the hydraulic cylinder and the two pins holding the jaw to the frame. On mine the jaw to frame "pins" are just 3/4" bolts. Nothing to grease. After all these years the threads at contact points are worn off but the meat of the bolt/pin is solid. I joke that I'll change them at 50 years whether needed or not.

If you think about it, there is no chance for friction to cause heat build up in a grapple as everything happens so slowly and intermittently. In a busy day I may open and close the grapple jaws 200 times over 5-6 hours and that just isn't enough movement to cause any heat build up or damage. Unlike in a backhoe, there is rarely a lot of force on the grapple jaw pins either. It doesn't take much force to crush brush and almost no force to restrain logs etc. Occasionally I clamp on to a big rock with max pressure with the jaw but that is just once and I guess it just doesn't generate the sort of friction that you see in an actively digging BH.

It had grease zerk so I greased it.

 

[IslandTractor]

It had grease zerk so I greased it.

If mine had zerks I'd have greased it too (with the locknlube and Lincoln lever gun you talked me into :thumbsup. However it is rather remarkable that the grapple does just fine with no grease at all.

 

[blin]

Funny as my grapple has never seen grease in the 12 years I've owned and abused it. No zerks. The only greasable joints would be the two pins holding the hydraulic cylinder and the two pins holding the jaw to the frame. On mine the jaw to frame "pins" are just 3/4" bolts. Nothing to grease. After all these years the threads at contact points are worn off but the meat of the bolt/pin is solid. I joke that I'll change them at 50 years whether needed or not.

If you think about it, there is no chance for friction to cause heat build up in a grapple as everything happens so slowly and intermittently. In a busy day I may open and close the grapple jaws 200 times over 5-6 hours and that just isn't enough movement to cause any heat build up or damage. Unlike in a backhoe, there is rarely a lot of force on the grapple jaw pins either. It doesn't take much force to crush brush and almost no force to restrain logs etc. Occasionally I clamp on to a big rock with max pressure with the jaw but that is just once and I guess it just doesn't generate the sort of friction that you see in an actively digging BH.

Metal on metal, fast or slow, I say grease it or listen to it squeal.
My FEL has a bunch of grease fittings, I'm not at all surprised that the grapple does as well. I would expect them.

 

[94BULLITT]

My new EA 50" grapple is at the freight terminal I'll pick it up tomorrow. A question about connecting it to my front hydraulics for the first time. Presently the front hoses are capped, in removing the caps and installing the quick couplers I'm sure a bit of hydraulic fluid will come out and maybe air in. Any tips? Also does the grapple come dry or filled with fluid? If dry about how much hydraulic fluid will I need to add? TIA

It probably takes a couple quarts of fluid to fill the grapple. Cylce the grapple till all the air is out. Then check the hydraulic fluid (with the lids on the grapple closed).

 

[IslandTractor]

Metal on metal, fast or slow, I say grease it or listen to it squeal.
My FEL has a bunch of grease fittings, I'm not at all surprised that the grapple does as well. I would expect them.

Yep that is the party line and I grease my FEL and BH and flail mower religiously. But, the grapple has never seen grease and works without squeaks, squeals or wobbles. As I noted earlier, the other implement pins move a lot more than grapple jaws do and they almost always have significant weight on the pins (even just the weight of the FEL itself). The grapple jaw doesn't weigh much and seems just fine without grease.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

You guys are awesome. I'm grateful for such knowledge in this ongoing journey of a grapple thread!
Travis

I'm also grateful for the wonderful feedback our customers provide!
These words are from a new grapple owner from NH. He has the 66" dual lid Wicked Grapple on his Mahindra 4540.
"I received my new grapple a few days earlier than expected, and second purchase from EA went just as smoothly as the first. I know I need to look no further for my tractor attachment needs.

As for the grapple itself, it has has far exceeded my expectations. It is incredibly sturdy, and I can tell that this thing will hold up to whatever I can dish out. I greased it up and put it right to work clearing new pasture. It has made life with my portable sawmill much easier as well. It sure beats using the pallet forks for handling logs.

Buy with confidence... You won't be disappointed."

 

[Milo]

It probably takes a couple quarts of fluid to fill the grapple. Cylce the grapple till all the air is out. Then check the hydraulic fluid (with the lids on the grapple closed).

Thanks Bullitt, would this be UDT2 or conventional hydraulic fluid?

 

[94BULLITT]

Thanks Bullitt, would this be UDT2 or conventional hydraulic fluid?

Use what ever you use in your tractor. Just cycle the grapple to get the air out and then check the tractors hydraulic oil.

 

[Milo]

Use what ever you use in your tractor.

The tractor's new and it, along with the manual, is at a different location. I'm sure it comes with SUDT2 for the hydro and front axle but didn't know if the same runs through the hydraulics? I'll be there tomorrow and check the manual.

 

[Sysop]

All of the hydraulics use the same reservoir of hydraulic fluid as the HST.

 

[Milo]

All of the hydraulics use the same reservoir of hydraulic fluid as the HST.

Got it thanks, I *thought* that was the case but wanted to be sure.

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks Bullitt, would this be UDT2 or conventional hydraulic fluid?

Just to be clear, the hydraulic fluid that goes to the grapple comes from exactly the same reservoir as what drives your HST, 3Pt and power steering. All the same system. For most uses, conventional hydraulic fluid is perfectly fine. Kubota dealers like to sell UDT2 because they make more money on it. Kubota and other CUT hydraulic systems are very reliable and no "super duper special fluids" are really needed to keep them healthy. If you like to take baths in milk and rinse with champagne, you might want to splurge on UDT2 or purple oils.

 

[94BULLITT]

Your best sticking with the fluid the manufacturer recommends, espicially while it is under warranty.

 

[94BULLITT]

We need to see pics of the new tractor and grapple when you get it Milo.

 

[IslandTractor]

We need to see pics of the new tractor and grapple when you get it Milo.

That's right. Otherwise it is just a rumor or worse from an unidentified source.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

We need to see pics of the new tractor and grapple when you get it Milo.

That's right. Otherwise it is just a rumor or worse from an unidentified source.

X3 X3 X3 :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Travis

 

[EverythingAttachments]

How cool is this?
Kubota L3800 with a 66" Wicked Grapple & L4600 with EA Pallet Forks!
Travis

 

[Milo]

Just to be clear, the hydraulic fluid that goes to the grapple comes from exactly the same reservoir as what drives your HST, 3Pt and power steering. All the same system.......

Thanks Island, I love this site!

We need to see pics of the new tractor and grapple when you get it Milo.

That's right. Otherwise it is just a rumor or worse from an unidentified source.

I picked the grapple and sub soiler up this afternoon at the FedEx terminal but wasn't able to get it to the property where the tractor is today. So my new toy, I mean implement, is sitting in my garage while I'm out of town the next 5 days Action pics will be coming though!