Grapple --- 1 Lid or 2

[Xfaxman]

I know is seems like a grapple would be the perfect tool to "skim across the surface" and pick up loose stuff, but in my experience it doesn't work well for that unless you are talking about fairly bulky items like downed tree branches. Any small stuff that is laying flat on the ground is very difficult to scoop up with a grapple without digging into the soil/turf. From the operator's seat, you cannot easily judge exactly the height off the ground of the grapple lower tines and if you are too high you'll miss the object or if too low you'll plow into the ground. I find small debris collection with a grapple to be pretty inefficient myself and I've tried hard. Indeed, when I have a large area to clean up these days, I put a rake on the 3pt and use it to create piles. The grapple does a fine job of collecting the piles.
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For small debris collection my grapple not fast, but very efficient, picks up every thing it touches! :thumbsup:

 

[Hilbilly]

Xfaxman, based on your reply I'm guessing your vote is for a single grapple.:thumbsup:

 

[Xfaxman]

Xfaxman, based on your reply I'm guessing your vote is for a single grapple.:thumbsup:

No, two, one in each hand. :laughing:

 

[HCJtractor]

Wow. That's really high tech!!! Simple, cheap, effective!

As far as bending a grapple, I doubt the numbers of hydraulic thumbs would really matter. I think bending one would be more likely to occur with simple biting off more than it could chew, in terms of weight. Those big rocks look impressive, but I think it's pushing the limit and risking damage. Keeping the load centered certainly helps. And keeping the load low. Or not picking up a heavy 30 foot log that could apply torque. But the number of thumbs has little effect on that.

That being said, I abuse mine. My buddy who uses it thinks it's a bulldozer! But it's stout. Other than minor bends in the spacers, we've never done any significant damage. The lift capacity of the FEL limits the load. If it's too heavy, it just won't lift. What we have damaged with grapple use is the tractor grill, radiator or fan. And the hydraulic hoses are prone to snag, so protect them in sleeves and tie them up good. And I think having a grapple really shortens the tractor clutch life, especially if you uproot bigger trees. And I have also bent a FEL hydraulic cylinder when a big log slid in between it and the frame and wasn't noticed. You'll find that it's hard to see what you're doing when grappling big piles of debris. Your vision is limited and the limbs, logs etc can poke places you don't expect or see. I really don't worry about bending the grapple itself.

 

[IslandTractor]

Did you bend the lid, bottom tines or the frame? Now I'm back to thinking 2 clamps would be better.:duh:

Two lids does not stop an oversized asymmetric load from twisting a grapple. The twisting force acts on the bottom of the grapple as well as on the lid. We all have loaders that can lift tremendous loads compared to what even a gang of four healthy guys can lift. It is easy to ignore basic rules of physics regarding the amount of torque that a long heavy tree can exert when lifted off the ground and moved. Just the weight of the tree swinging about due to the tractor wheels hitting bumps or dips in a field can exert tremendous loads. When you lift a tree but leave branches still in contact with earth and then drive off, you will indeed move the tree but those dragging branches are at the far end of a lever arm and that resistance to your forward motion ends up creating a tremendous twisting force on the FEL/grapple.

 

[IslandTractor]

For small debris collection my grapple not fast, but very efficient, picks up every thing it touches! :thumbsup:

I like your system. It is more efficient than a hydraulic grapple for that purpose to be sure. How about adding a light duty rake to the front of the "dump truck" so you can drive around pushing stuff as you collect it and then lift the dump truck, pick up the collected bits and pieces, load them (from the seat of course!) and then lower the dump truck rake to continue.

I find that branches and other winter debris are typically scattered widely but there is no standard 3PT or FEL implement that really does an efficient job of collecting and moving the stuff. Your solution is about as good as I've seen.

 

[Xfaxman]

For small debris collection my grapple not fast, but very efficient, picks up every thing it touches! :thumbsup:

I like your system. It is more efficient than a hydraulic grapple for that purpose to be sure. How about adding a light duty rake to the front of the "dump truck" so you can drive around pushing stuff as you collect it and then lift the dump truck, pick up the collected bits and pieces, load them (from the seat of course!) and then lower the dump truck rake to continue.

I find that branches and other winter debris are typically scattered widely but there is no standard 3PT or FEL implement that really does an efficient job of collecting and moving the stuff. Your solution is about as good as I've seen.

Gee, I never thought about using both at the same time!

 

[Msamt]

Gee, I never thought about using both at the same time!
View attachment 410174

View attachment 410175

You make me want one of these, pretty cool tool.

 

[Xfaxman]

You make me want one of these, pretty cool tool.

Thanks, With the drive axle in front, fastened to the frame, it can lift more weight. It is not tipy, because the pivot is on the rear axle.

 

[IslandTractor]

Now we're talking. The typical landscape rake tines are too tough to collect debris without tearing up turf however. Maybe if they could be mounted to some sort of softer spring they could work without digging into the ground.

I also run my landscape rake on a 3PT adapter on the FEL. Love it. I use that more than I do the rear mounted 3PT with the rake. It is much easier to do precision work and much easier to maneuver and adjust too. Photos show it mounted in the "push" position but I generally use it in the "pull" orientation. Great for clearing weeds against buildings or fences/walls.