Another Homemade Root Grapple !!

[deerhunterf350]

Finally got around to building a Grapple for the TC55. I looked around at many different types, before deciding on which design to go with. Decided to go with a "CLAM SHELL" design.

Here are a Few pics of the project just getting started. The cross tube is 3.5 Diameter 1/4" wall thickness, the teeth are 1/2" thick. All other steel is 3/8" thick. All welds are made with 7018 5/32" rod DC 200 amp welder.

 

[deerhunterf350]

Few more pics further along.

 

[deerhunterf350]

And a few more.

 

[J_J]

Finally got around to building a Grapple for the TC55. I looked around at many different types, before deciding on which design to go with. Decided to go with a "CLAM SHELL" design.

Here are a Few pics of the project just getting started. The cross tube is 3.5 Diameter 1/4" wall thickness, the teeth are 1/2" thick. All other steel is 3/8" thick. All welds are made with 7018 5/16" rod DC 200 amp welder.

deerhunterf350,

Those welds look nice. Much better than I with my shaky hands and poor eyesight.

 

[deerhunterf350]

The bite at full open is 91". I still have cross tubes and bars to weld into the upper jaw. This was a trail fit to make sure the Cylinder placement was correct.

 

[SuperDuty335]

That thing is big...real big.

 

[deerhunterf350]

Cylinders are 3" Dia , 8" stroke , 1.5" Rod.

To keep weight down and lift capacity at max for the TC55, I decided to only make it 4 foot wide. Thoughts were that 4' would grab hold of a big bite of brush.

 

[J_J]

The bite at full open is 91". I still have cross tubes and bars to weld into the upper jaw. This was a trail fit to make sure the Cylinder placement was correct.

If it were mine, I would turn those cylinders around, so you aren't dragging those hoses across anything. On most grapples, the rods extend, pushing the grapple down, and hoses stay in place.

 

[deerhunterf350]

If it were mine, I would turn those cylinders around, so you aren't dragging those hoses across anything. On most grapples, the rods extend, pushing the grapple down, and hoses stay in place.

I wanted the wiper seal of the cylinder facing downward so when the Grapple is open and being stored the Seal is not subjected to weather or sunlight.

When the upper jaw is completed there will be a plate that runs along the upper edge of the jaw protecting the hoses , fittings, and ram.

 

[bx24]

Man that thing is a beast. You have got some serious "squeezing power" goin on!

I say you sharpen the grapple arms and just slice up the stuff!

Nice job ....