PT-1430 Utility Grapple

[joshlee]

The PT made grapple bucket works very well. I just like having the right tool for the job and an open sided bucket or skeleton frame would work better, not sure how much, but better. The 4 in 1 is 66" wide and made for a much heavier tractor and tips the PT forward just by articulating.

Oh, I see now. I used to have a 4 in 1 bucket for the 425 I used to have, and it worked well. The PT mini hoe with the thumb works really well for grabbing ahold of things. You can dig a tree out then pick up with the mini hoe. So actually, it's I guess you could say that I have two grapples now.

 

[m5040]

My front hoe pops off the Chineese quick attach if I pull to hard. I think I will cut off the SSQA plate and weld a Power Trac blank plate, this will make the visibility better too. I wasn't sure I would like the front hoe, but it is very useful. It shows me how much better the PT quick attach is designed over SSQA. And I am glade the hoses were long enough for it to reach the ground:thumbdown:

 

[MossRoad]

My front hoe pops off the Chineese quick attach if I pull to hard. I think I will cut off the SSQA plate and weld a Power Trac blank plate, this will make the visibility better too. I wasn't sure I would like the front hoe, but it is very useful. It shows me how much better the PT quick attach is designed over SSQA. And I am glade the hoses were long enough for it to reach the ground:thumbdown:

Plus you'll save some significant weight if you remove the SSQA hardware from the hoe and the PT, and just use the PT QA, plus gain some visibility.

 

[joshlee]

Yeah, I can definitely see how the Chinese attachment plate would hinder your visibility. I think one of the reasons that the PT mini hoe can pick up so much weight is because it can make an exceptionally tight grab and the attachment doesn't weigh much. There are some interesting photos on this link.
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...ngth-thumb-pt-mini.html?highlight=#post846754

 

[m5040]

I kept it with the SSQA because I was concerned with resale value if I didn't like using it. Now I am just trying to figure out if it would be better to cut/weld the plate at 90 deg angle, which is what PT is doing, or at an angle to get more lift height (like most of the PT attachments). Also do I leave it full length or shorten? One reason I didn't by an original PT mini hoe is they are all the same hoe sold for a small PT422 up to the largest tractors with the only difference being the mounting plate. Keeping it longer doesn't seem to hurt the digging power because that comes from curling the bucket and reversing the tractor, it just reduces the lift capacity which even with the SSQA mount and the SSQA to PT adapter, was very acceptable. So it is on the list to dig out the plasma cutter and a new tip.
I am very disappointed with the adapter. The other day I moved an old stump with a fork lift attachment and went to roll the stump toward the tractor and bang, there was the forks, separated from the tractor.

 

[MossRoad]

I kept it with the SSQA because I was concerned with resale value if I didn't like using it. Now I am just trying to figure out if it would be better to cut/weld the plate at 90 deg angle, which is what PT is doing, or at an angle to get more lift height (like most of the PT attachments). Also do I leave it full length or shorten? One reason I didn't by an original PT mini hoe is they are all the same hoe sold for a small PT422 up to the largest tractors with the only difference being the mounting plate. Keeping it longer doesn't seem to hurt the digging power because that comes from curling the bucket and reversing the tractor, it just reduces the lift capacity which even with the SSQA mount and the SSQA to PT adapter, was very acceptable. So it is on the list to dig out the plasma cutter and a new tip.
I am very disappointed with the adapter. The other day I moved an old stump with a fork lift attachment and went to roll the stump toward the tractor and bang, there was the forks, separated from the tractor.

Are you sure about that?

Website lists:
T8 class
$1350
Thumb is $150

T12 class
$1500
Thumb is $150

T18 class
$2300
Thumb is $200

T24 class
$2400
Thumb is $200

I wouldn't think there'd be over $1000 price difference in just a QA plate.

 

[joshlee]

From pictures of the different size PT's, it's hard to tell by looking at the mini hoe if they are different sizes?

This is a link where Sedgewood is talking about the PT Mini Hoe
My Mini Hoe Thumb Attachment

 

[m5040]

When I was testing out the hoe on the 1430, I casually asked Terry if the hoes were the same except for the mounting plate and was told they were. It probably was an offhanded answer, I filed it away as fact.