Another Grapple

fcamillieri · Aug 5, 2008

I've made a grapple for my CK20. I made it light so it wouldn't affect the lifting ability much. The cylinder is only 1.5" bore and is not strong enough to bend anything. I've managed to bend it slightly by using it to pull out a 4" maple but nothing a few hammer blows couldn't fix. I made delrin bushings for the pivots and put grease fittings on the pins. The material I used was what I had in the shop.
BTW I have finally cracked my loader but it took me 180 hours to do it and I've used it pretty hard digging out rocks and roots. All the things my farmer friend says I shouldn't do with a loader. He keeps telling me the digger is on the back.

RedRocker · Aug 8, 2008

Good job, handiest thing I've got is my grapple.

3RRL · Aug 11, 2008

Yeah, really good job.
If you use your grapples for picking up brush, logs and a few rocks, a lightweight one works just fine. The bracing between the jaws is a key on light weight ones. From your photos, yours looks right the right tool for you.

mocassincreekranch · Aug 11, 2008

Good job on the grapple. I would really like to build me one. Did you use 1/2 plate to make the teeth?

fcamillieri · Aug 12, 2008

mocassincreekranch said:
Good job on the grapple. I would really like to build me one. Did you use 1/2 plate to make the teeth?

I made them from 1/2 x 3-1/2 HRS that I had. I was going to gusset the joint where they are welded together but decided to wait and see if the welds break. The cross bar is 2x2x1/4 wall tube.