Grapple became unattached.

[frj777]

New grapple became loose and fell off loader. Result is scraped up hose and grave concern. This is noticed when grapple is full open, against mechanical stops, and raking backwards.

Cam over levers are not as tight as on my other attachments. With levers completely closed this is a small gap at locking lug and grapple lower engagement.

Measuring the distance from the top engagement to bottom engagement shows about 5/16 longer on grapple than it is on Kubota bucket or Woods forks I have to compare. As well the flat plate portion of quick attach does not have much to engage on grapple, this may contribute to apparent loose figment as well.

Is there a standard for this type of mount?

Grapple is brand new, will be contacting manufacture this morning.

 

[sea2summit]

I’d say it’s likely you bent the mount not the grapple. Need more photos.

 

[Smokeydog]

There is some adjustment of the wedge pins on the tractor side.

I have seen differences in the ssqa mounting by manufacturers.

My 30 year old skidsteer grapple fit the bobtach yoke on my old tractor fine. On the newer M59 there was a lot of play like you are describing. I made and welded in 3/8” plates on lower grapple side mounts.

Others said they have fixed similar issues.

Hope with good communication with the manufacturer this issue can be resolved to your satisfaction.

 

[frj777]

Good morning.

I believe nothing is bent. Removed grapple and installed pallet forks and bucket. Both work like always.

When latching levers there is no resistance. Spring tension should hold levers there is none. That being said levers did not open when grapple comes loose.

Was back raking manure out of barn when this occurred.

 

[4570Man]

It’s fairly common for the Kubota SSQA mount to be undersized. You just need to add a shim at the top. It’s an easy fix.

 

[4570Man]

There is some adjustment of the wedge pins on the tractor side.

I have seen differences in the ssqa mounting by manufacturers.

My 30 year old skidsteer grapple fit the bobtach yoke on my old tractor fine. On the newer M59 there was a lot of play like you are describing. I made and welded in 3/8” plates on lower grapple side mounts.
View attachment 708930
View attachment 708932
Others said they have fixed similar issues.

Hope with good communication with the manufacturer this issue can be resolved to your satisfaction.

I guess it works but I think you’d be better off shimming the top so you can maintain maximum pin engagement.

 

[frj777]

4570Man,

Thanks for your reply, how would you go about shimming top?

Fred

 

[4570Man]

4570Man,

Thanks for your reply, how would you go about shimming top?

Fred

Take a piece of bar stock that’s as about an inch wide, as thick as the gap and as wide as the frame and weld or bolt it on the top edge.

 

[TMGT]

I guess it works but I think you’d be better off shimming the top so you can maintain maximum pin engagement.

When you shim the bottom you you run the shim past the pin to maintain pin engagement, also helps to reinforce the lower latch area, I prefer it over shimming the top.

 

[4570Man]

When you shim the bottom you you run the shim past the pin to maintain pin engagement, also helps to reinforce the lower latch area, I prefer it over shimming the top.

I guess as long as you did a tight fitting job it would be a good solution.

 

[oosik]

I wonder if you might need new tensioning springs on the latching levers. Mine are really quite hard to pull "open". My springs provide tremendous "closing" force.

 

[Xfaxman]

I agree with Smokeydogs fix at the bottom.
This is the gap that he shimmed:

 

[Xfaxman]

This is why Kubota QA has a problem with forks and grapples coming off if there is a gap at the bottom.

Compare Bobcat top of QA:

To Kubota top of QA:

frj777 you need to check the top of the QA plate on the grapple to see if it is bent out or still straight:

.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Adding to X-mans post you really need a close fit in the three places pointed to by the arrows in the pic. Make sure there is no gap between the face of the SSQA and grapple first. Then add shims as required to close any gaps at the bottom or/and pin.

gg

 

[Solitary Man]

I've had the same problem with my Kubota QA and my grapple. For some reason the Kubota arms are easy to be pushed open by brush, etc. If I'm doing a lot with the grapple I ratchet strap them closed. I don't seem to have an issue with anything else than the grapple.

 

[frj777]

Hey Solitary Man,

What Grapple do you have?

 

[dstig1]

There is another potential issue depending on the design of the top mount of your grapple and the Kubota SSQA plate. I dealt with this years ago. I shimmed the bottom, which was probably necessary in any case but the problem was not completely resolved until I added more back-up plate near the upper hooks to stop the hooks from being able to flex and pop out.

This thread covered it:

Gator Grapple fix for Kubota SSQA

Some of you will recall my previous posts last fall dealing with my grapple falling off. Here is some of it, if you are curious, but basically it turns out that the grapple as designed is not perfectly compatible with the SSQA on Kubotas as the Kubota plate is stepped back slightly at the tip...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[frj777]

Appreciate these comments and pictures. I did not understand what was at play, now I do...wish I could weld.

Manufacture will be getting back to me soon.

 

[Smokeydog]

As 4570Man said the quick and easy is to shim the top with some 1/4”-5/16” flat bar. Held in place with a couple of 1/4”bolts that don’t interfere with the tractor ssqa hitch. TSC or Lowe’s usually stock 4’ stuff. Weld or bottom shim an option. I like the bottom shim for more wedge pin strength but run larger equipment.

Welding is fun and always a good skill to have. One of the few hobbies I have that pays for itself. Vocational school evening class is a great way to learn hands-on to get started.

Be interesting what the manufacturer says. Sorry you are having troubles with a new attachment.

 

[TMGT]

I've had the same problem with my Kubota QA and my grapple. For some reason the Kubota arms are easy to be pushed open by brush, etc. If I'm doing a lot with the grapple I ratchet strap them closed. I don't seem to have an issue with anything else than the grapple.

Sounds like the levers are out of adjustment, mine are not easy to disengage, check the spring load on both the levers pivot and the wedge spring. They will wear and become looser with age.