Grapple EA Everything Attachments WICKED 55 Root Rake Grapple

[EverythingAttachments]

What's the height of the tine at the round tube?

I just went out to refresh my memory, and snapped a few pics while I was at it.

I also verified that it's the same for 250 pound Wicked 55, 400 pound Wicked 60, and 660 pound Wicked 66.

66 is best for an M59 TLB, and that's what I photographed..
Travis

Lid tines are every bit as Wicked nasty as the lower ones. Great for gripping and spreading/smoothing loose dirt and material.

 

[tradosaurus]

Haven't heard anything about it in a looong time, so old news, I suppose.

Yeah, that's from when the gov't was scaring the out of everyone.
Travis

Hopefully, with the election coming up, they don't release another scamdemic. The important part is that your company doesn't cave in to the pressure.

 

[aesanders]

Rich_Z, you have lesser known but very high quality grapple manufacturer not far from you called Rakemaster. Very high quality. Made in Perry Fl. The town got smashed from the hurricane from what I hear, but not the shop that makes them. Been building them for years here. Lynn Industrial Welding. Rakemaster.net is webpage.

I would suggest you give them a strong consideration, to a community that could use the support right now.

You can find some good youtube videos from a poster called cotontop3. He has one showing him pulling posts and small saplings with the way the rake grips. Love that feature.

Rakemaster has a very good reputation around FL.

 

[Rich_Z]

Been talking with Travis at EA and I decided to buy the Everything Attachments WICKED 60 Root Rake Grapple. Travis was real helpful and stayed in touch with me constantly. Originally decided on the 55 model, but after giving some thought changed my order for the 60. I felt the thicker metal on the 60 would be worthwhile having.

Only fly in the ointment is that ETA is something like "4ish" months out.

​

 

[tacticalturnip]

It's going to be a rough wait, but you'll love that grapple.

 

[Doug Vee]

Been talking with Travis at EA and I decided to buy the Everything Attachments WICKED 60 Root Rake Grapple. Travis was real helpful and stayed in touch with me constantly. Originally decided on the 55 model, but after giving some thought changed my order for the 60. I felt the thicker metal on the 60 would be worthwhile having.

Only fly in the ointment is that ETA is something like "4ish" months out.

​

I bought the 60 also. The ETA was brutal for mine also, but it was worth the wait. It seems to be a great piece of equipment.

The only thing that I could see that could be improved, and pretty easily improved, is the grease points on the lid/cylinder connection points. It looks to me like the pipe between the o-rings should be longer.

I reached out to Travis via email about this (who was great to work with during the decision making process, by the way). He wrote that the grease will get to where it needs to get, or something like that. As it is, the grease just makes a mess between the pipe section and the cylinder clevis. It looks greased, but is not. If the pipe was longer, tight to the o-rings on each end of the pipe, it still wouldn't be ideal, but I think grease would have a much better chance of getting to the friction points.

I would be interested to know if others have noted the same condition that I did.

Thank you,

Doug

 

[Doug Vee]

View attachment 821798I bought the 60 also. The ETA was brutal for mine also, but it was worth the wait. It seems to be a great piece of equipment.

The only thing that I could see that could be improved, and pretty easily improved, is the grease points on the lid/cylinder connection points. It looks to me like the pipe between the o-rings should be longer.

I reached out to Travis via email about this (who was great to work with during the decision making process, by the way). He wrote that the grease will get to where it needs to get, or something like that. As it is, the grease just makes a mess between the pipe section and the cylinder clevis. It looks greased, but is not. If the pipe was longer, tight to the o-rings on each end of the pipe, it still wouldn't be ideal, but I think grease would have a much better chance of getting to the friction points.

I would be interested to know if others have noted the same condition that I did.

Thank you,

Doug

The picture I added is slow to load for some reason. I think is because it is a screen shot from a video that I posted to Youtube. Here is that link:

 

[Seven Gables]

IMO you’re absolutely correct 99%of the grease is just taking the path of least resistance and not getting under the cylinder clevis where the wear is gonna be. If it were mine I’d drill a tiny hole in each clevis ear then a little bigger hole sized to tap for grease fitting. I use Molly grease on all pins and bushings at 10 a tube I’m not a fan of wasting it. Poor design

 

[Rich_Z]

View attachment 821798I bought the 60 also. The ETA was brutal for mine also, but it was worth the wait. It seems to be a great piece of equipment.

The only thing that I could see that could be improved, and pretty easily improved, is the grease points on the lid/cylinder connection points. It looks to me like the pipe between the o-rings should be longer.

I reached out to Travis via email about this (who was great to work with during the decision making process, by the way). He wrote that the grease will get to where it needs to get, or something like that. As it is, the grease just makes a mess between the pipe section and the cylinder clevis. It looks greased, but is not. If the pipe was longer, tight to the o-rings on each end of the pipe, it still wouldn't be ideal, but I think grease would have a much better chance of getting to the friction points.

I would be interested to know if others have noted the same condition that I did.

Thank you,

Doug

Hmm, I have to admit, that has me concerned about my choice, now. And I note that the video you posted on YouTube was made a year ago. So they haven't improved upon the design since that time? Grease would just squirt out of the sides of that collar with the grease fitting on it. Any grease that got to the actual friction areas would just be minimal, at best.

I believe that most of their stuff is likely manufactured via CNC machinery, so I would think it wouldn't be an insurmountable problem correcting this issue. The appearance is that the problem is just being ignored. Which really doesn't give me a real warm and fuzzy feeling about it.

Heck, now I am rethinking my purchase. Not that I expect to use the grapple excessively, but the reason I decided on this EA grapple is because I thought I would be getting the BEST.

Maybe I will ask Travis about this. Then based on his answer, decide whether or not I really want to buy this particular grapple.

Thank you for the heads-up.

 

[Doug Vee]

And I note that the video you posted on YouTube was made a year ago. So they haven't improved upon the design since that time?

I do not know if the design has improved since I bought mine. It would be great to hear that it has improved. If it has, I might be inclined to acquire the improved parts and retrofit mine.

Doug

 

[Rich_Z]

From what I heard back from Travis, the design has NOT been changed. Seems like there should be a much better design option available there.

 

[4570Man]

From what I heard back from Travis, the design has NOT been changed. Seems like there should be a much better design option available there.

I’m not sure why they wouldn’t just swap that cylinder for a cylinder with a solid end sleeve. It would save the trouble of having to make the spacer and the added hassle of assembling with o rings as well.

 

[tradosaurus]

From what I heard back from Travis, the design has NOT been changed. Seems like there should be a much better design option available there.

Might be a good idea for Travis to respond to this concern of a potential buyers.

Personally I haven't had an issue with my wicked grapple I bought 4 yrs ago from EA.

 

[D&D]

I’m not sure why they wouldn’t just swap that cylinder for a cylinder with a solid end sleeve. It would save the trouble of having to make the spacer and the added hassle of assembling with o rings as well.

 

[D&D]

I reached out to Travis via email about this (who was great to work with during the decision making process, by the way). He wrote that the grease will get to where it needs to get, or something like that. As it is, the grease just makes a mess between the pipe section and the cylinder clevis.

O-Rings and a rotating collar with a grease nipple

 

[EverythingAttachments]

The design in that area has been the same since the beginning, on the 60 and 66, and the first 66 we made, which has been totally abused by our 141hp Kubota, still lives on that tractor today(took this pic last week), with zero wear issues there. Actually, it went a few years with no grease there, and does not have 0 rings, which aren't really necessary, IMO. If something is gonna wear, it'll be the bolt, which is very easy to replace, even though, with thousands in the field, I've never heard of anyone needing to.

Bottom line: From the outside looking in, everything can be nit picked. If something needs to be changed, we have, and will change it. This Wickedness is Amazing, and thousands of reviews from very proud owners solidifies that claim. It is the absolute best, in numerous regards.
Travis

 

[Doug Vee]

If something is gonna wear, it'll be the bolt, which is very easy to replace

I was and am thinking the same thing.

The grapple works really well for me. I am not worried about it. As I said earlier, I will live with it and deal with it...if it ever needs dealt with in my lifetime.

Doug

 

[EverythingAttachments]

I was and am thinking the same thing.

The grapple works really well for me. I am not worried about it. As I said earlier, I will live with it and deal with it...if it ever needs dealt with in my lifetime.

Doug

Glad ya like it, man. Yeah, if Ted has taken out massive trees with that thing, which doesn't even have the Wickederrr improvements, with zero bends or signs of wear, I don't think anyone has anything to worry about!
Travis

Here's one of those fun(and kinda scary) moments..
Four years ago, btw..

 

[Rich_Z]

IMHO, the design, from a machining standpoint, just looks sloppy to me. I have done a little bit of machine work, and I would never have been satisfied with that handiwork had it been a product of my own hand. Why isn't that collar that has the grease fitting on it just made wider to completely fill the gap between those two arms? Heck, for that matter, why isn't it one piece from arm to arm? And certainly it could be made to closer tolerances on the bolt. At worst, put tight fitting field replaceable teflon spacers in there so grease would more easily flow horizontally to the sides to where it is needed.

Just my opinion, of course. I don't know what design compromises had to be made for the designers to choose this particular design. But obviously awkward compromises were made.

And being 73 years old, I doubt I will outlast the grapple, so for me it will likely be a non-issue, and I doubt I will cancel my order. And with the ETA being "4ish" months out, perhaps someone will take a harder look at that design and come up with a better solution before my number comes up for shipping. But honestly were I half my age, well, I have to say it would definitely be a mark against buying such a grapple knowing of this design issue. Having a bolt failure at that critical location could cascade into other damages taking place. I believe most people spend the kind of money being asked for these things with the expectation that they will likely last and be useful the rest of their lives without needing repairs or a replacement.

IMHO.

 

[D&D]

Just my opinion, of course. I don't know what design compromises had to be made for the designers to choose this particular design.

IMO, the design is simply “I couldn’t hold my beer while doing this” and “let’s see if we can break it”
As long as people are willing to hand over money for extended amounts of time.....they got a good thing going.