Bucket grapple with actuator

[ssrider]

I built this bucket grapple a while back and have been meaning to share it with you guys. Originally I wanted to use a hydraulic cylinder but couldn't justify the cost for the amount I use it. Found this electric actuator on sale for $160. I believe it has 2000 pounds of pushing force, but the static holding force is much higher. Cycle time is around 5 seconds, which isn't setting any records but works for me. The rest I built from steel I had laying around. It's very nice not having to jump on and off the tractor to hook a chain around things.

 

[KYErik]

Excellent work! Without the pics of it in action, naysayers would have not thought it would have worked out very well. Did you have to do any minor adjustments after using it the first few times?

 

[ssrider]

Excellent work! Without the pics of it in action, naysayers would have not thought it would have worked out very well. Did you have to do any minor adjustments after using it the first few times?

Thanks! I haven't had to make any adjustments to it yet. I had made a few different mounting holes for the actuator that would give me less range of motion, but provide more clamping power. But my initial mounting worked good for that boulder, and I won't be picking up anything heavier then that.