Rookie Grapple Mistake

WRX · Jan 22, 2022

I recently got a new NS with a grapple. It came from the dealer with the grapple installed. I'm using the rear aux remote hydraulic lines to run this grapple, rather than a real third function setup. I haven't taken the grapple off since I got the tractor. I was moving a bunch of downed tree limbs the other day, and noticed that I was pulling back on the lever to open the grapple and pushing to close it, which is opposite of the way it moves. It seemed counter intuitive, so I figured I would just swap the connections to effectively reverse the way the lever had been working. Problem was, I couldn't reconnect the fittings at all. After a few minutes online, I realized my mistake. I had failed to bleed off the pressure on the lines in the grapple and the balls on the fittings would not compress and allow reconnection. I finally had to get a couple of wrenches and open a line, making a mess of spilled hydraulic fluid, to allow reconnection. All is well now, and I'll try not to make that rookie mistake again. I see online that there are tools that allow this pressure release, but they are pricey. If I took the grapple on and off a lot, it might be worth it, but for now, I'll just pay attention. Apparently this happens also if your grapple sits in the sun before you connect it.

holeycow · Jan 22, 2022

You did it the hard way. Simply shut the tractor off. Wiggle the remote lever that you are hooked into a few times stop-to-stop. (Once back and forth probably does it)..anyway, just flop the lever back and forth a bit, voila! Pressure released/equalized. Hook-up as usual..then restart tractor.

ovrszd · Jan 22, 2022

You won't make that mistake again.

LilTractrThatCould · Jan 22, 2022

Mine has to have key on to release the pressure on 3rd function

oosik · Jan 22, 2022

I have a nylon rod - 6" long/1/2" in diameter. Put rod on the ball - gentle hit on rod with hammer. Wahlaa - pressure released. If you want to be really "up town" - cover the entire operation with a shop rag. Catch any oil spray.

ovrszd · Jan 22, 2022

oosik said:
I have a nylon rod - 6" long/1/2" in diameter. Put rod on the ball - gentle hit on rod with hammer. Wahlaa - pressure released. If you want to be really "up town" - cover the entire operation with a shop rag. Catch any oil spray.

Wrap a rag around it first.

Boss 302 · Jan 22, 2022

Lessons well learned, I have a whole book full of them.

Phantese · Jan 24, 2022

WRX said:
I recently got a new NS with a grapple. It came from the dealer with the grapple installed. I'm using the rear aux remote hydraulic lines to run this grapple, rather than a real third function setup. I haven't taken the grapple off since I got the tractor. I was moving a bunch of downed tree limbs the other day, and noticed that I was pulling back on the lever to open the grapple and pushing to close it, which is opposite of the way it moves. It seemed counter intuitive, so I figured I would just swap the connections to effectively reverse the way the lever had been working. Problem was, I couldn't reconnect the fittings at all. After a few minutes online, I realized my mistake. I had failed to bleed off the pressure on the lines in the grapple and the balls on the fittings would not compress and allow reconnection. I finally had to get a couple of wrenches and open a line, making a mess of spilled hydraulic fluid, to allow reconnection. All is well now, and I'll try not to make that rookie mistake again. I see online that there are tools that allow this pressure release, but they are pricey. If I took the grapple on and off a lot, it might be worth it, but for now, I'll just pay attention. Apparently this happens also if your grapple sits in the sun before you connect it.

Always wear gloves and eye protection when working around hydraulics, high pressure water/oil any fluid can be dangerous if it pierces your skin, now that I've scared the poop outta ya have fun with the Grapple!

Dave Canfield · Jan 25, 2022

Another situation where pressure can keep you from making the hydraulic connections is when picking up the grapple after having a different attachment on the loader.
My grapple does not have any features to hold it up when I remove it from the loader, so I open it up halfway and set it on the tips of the grapple. When I come to mount it back on later, I have to remember to make the hydraulic connections before I rotate the grapple upright. Otherwise, the weight of the front of the grapple will hang against the cylinder pistons and build up pressure in one of the hoses.
If I can rotate the grapple on the loader such that the front of the grapple hangs freely, the hoses can then be connected easily. If I can't do that, I prop up the front of the grapple with a stick.
At any rate, I try to remember to make the hydraulic connections before I pick up the grapple.

Dave

herm0016 · Jan 25, 2022

good lesson. one also gets very familiar with this situation when running hydraulic equipment at different elevations.

caver · Jan 25, 2022

I was using my grapple the other day in the 50's and sunny. I took it off to put my tree grabber on. I made the mistake of connecting the grapple lines together to keep out contamination. between the sun and fluctuating temps it was a bit of a fight to break that apart about two hours later. Then I had to tap the fittings to relive more pressure to reconnect the grapple to the tractor.

WRX · Jan 25, 2022

I definitely wear good gloves and eye protection when doing all tractor chores. I finally bought a good pair of clear eye protection glasses, no correction, for low light work.

rd_macgregor · Jan 31, 2022

OP's comment about pressure change from sitting in the sun is apt. If it is cold when I park my grapple, but warm when I want to reconnect, I have a problem. When I first hook up in spring (after the grapple has sat disconnected all winter) I sometimes rush out first thing in the morning to get it hooked up before pressure builds in the lines.

rd_macgregor · Jan 31, 2022

For those with hoses from the rear remotes to the FEL, if you change out your equipment with hydraulic connection...and only have one set of remotes...you might want to somehow label the hoses so you get them hooked up the same way each time. I have flat-face couplers on my grapple, so they are paired male/female, female/male, but the plugs for the remotes are both the same, so can be switched inadvertently; I hate it when the grapple (or snowblower chute) operation is reverse of what I expect.

ovrszd · Jan 31, 2022

rd_macgregor said:
For those with hoses from the rear remotes to the FEL, if you change out your equipment with hydraulic connection...and only have one set of remotes...you might want to somehow label the hoses so you get them hooked up the same way each time. I have flat-face couplers on my grapple, so they are paired male/female, female/male, but the plugs for the remotes are both the same, so can be switched inadvertently; I hate it when the grapple (or snowblower chute) operation is reverse of what I expect.

I use a black zip tie on the right side hose coupler.

WRX · Feb 2, 2022

rd_macgregor said:
For those with hoses from the rear remotes to the FEL, if you change out your equipment with hydraulic connection...and only have one set of remotes...you might want to somehow label the hoses so you get them hooked up the same way each time. I have flat-face couplers on my grapple, so they are paired male/female, female/male, but the plugs for the remotes are both the same, so can be switched inadvertently; I hate it when the grapple (or snowblower chute) operation is reverse of what I expect.

That's a good idea. I haven't had the grapple off my machine yet but I'm nearing the end of my tree work for this season.

MinnesotaEric · Feb 7, 2022

caver said:
I was using my grapple the other day in the 50's and sunny. I took it off to put my tree grabber on. I made the mistake of connecting the grapple lines together to keep out contamination. between the sun and fluctuating temps it was a bit of a fight to break that apart about two hours later. Then I had to tap the fittings to relive more pressure to reconnect the grapple to the tractor.

Observe the hammer and wrench technique I use to solve this very problem starting just before the two-minute mark.

shooterdon · Feb 7, 2022

I did the same thing the first time and had a heck of time re-attaching the grapple. Learned to always relieve the pressure. On mine, I have to have the key on but tractor not running.