Grapple --- 1 Lid or 2

[TomSeller]

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.

I have never seen this setup. Nice. Do you use the float function on your FEL with the rake? Or guide it up and down?

 

[TomSeller]

I have multiple grapples, but if I only were to have one, it would be a narrow L bottom with a single lid. The lid would open in excess of 40" and the grapple would be reasonably light.

 

[Hilbilly]

I made my decision.............. going with a 50" wide single lid. The lid will be 36" wide and the opening will be 45". Had it mocked up and I think it looks ok. I figure that if I'm not happy with the width I can always add 2 more tines down the road, to make it 66".

Tomorrow I start construction. Being a novice at this, it will likely be a day or 2 before I get enough progress to post any pics but they will come.

 

[TomSeller]

I made my decision.............. going with a 50" wide single lid. The lid will be 36" wide and the opening will be 45". Had it mocked up and I think it looks ok. I figure that if I'm not happy with the width I can always add 2 more tines down the road, to make it 66".

Tomorrow I start construction. Being a novice at this, it will likely be a day or 2 before I get enough progress to post any pics but they will come.

Good decision. You likely will find you can pick up everything you need to at 50". The extra tines just add weight. But you'll be the judge of that. Looking forward to your pictures.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have never seen this setup. Nice. Do you use the float function on your FEL with the rake? Or guide it up and down?

I can pull with it in float mode but if I push in float mode it digs in. I have learned to mostly pull with it and use it both with float when just trying to skim or with down pressure when digging. I also sometimes set it just above the turf and back up to collect debris without risking damage to turf. Even with float mode the weight of the rake is enough to cause it to dig through turf. I use the float mode mostly when leveling dirt. I have also learned that by curling/dumping the rotation of the tines makes a difference but I cannot "curl" enough to get the tines past about vertical before the heel of the FEL attachment plate hits the ground. Instead, I raise the rake and then "dump" the position of the tines so they are just rubbing the ground on the bowed side without the tips even touching turf. That is the gentlest contact I can make and is useful for spreading or smoothing topsoil. With only the bowed part of the rake tines making contact with soil/turf, I can pull or push without damage to turf but float doesn't work too well as the weight of the whole contraption is enough that the rake "trips" over itself. Better to just set the height.

 

[rd_macgregor]

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

The bottom tines (rake) and frame are fine, I torqued the grapple itself a bit. I think I did it carrying a heavy load asymmetrically, but I could have been careless pushing over trees and allowed the grapple to do the pushing (a mistake to avoid). When sitting in the cab, I can see that the top of the grapple isn't quite parallel to the plane of the rake/frame...but it is just aesthetics; everything still works great.

 

[jimmysisson]

Hilbilly, you might be safer with a narrower lid, unless you make it good and stout. I'm thinking about how the lid might get torqued on a rock when one corner grabs first. 50" - 36" is only 7" of open grapple on either side of the lid.
One other aspect of the lid to remember is it blocks your view when it is open. View is at a premium when you're trying to grab an object (boulder, log, etc.)
No matter what, you'll get used to it and enjoy the heck out of it anyway.
Jim

 

[IslandTractor]

Hilbilly, you might be safer with a narrower lid, unless you make it good and stout. I'm thinking about how the lid might get torqued on a rock when one corner grabs first. 50" - 36" is only 7" of open grapple on either side of the lid.
One other aspect of the lid to remember is it blocks your view when it is open. View is at a premium when you're trying to grab an object (boulder, log, etc.)
No matter what, you'll get used to it and enjoy the heck out of it anyway.
Jim

Good point about visibility. That can also be addressed by using something other than a solid protective plate to protect the upper arm cylinder. If you can see through that area it helps alot. Two bars connecting the upper tines with a simple bridge of two or three inch wide piece of angle iron directly in line with the cylinder would protect the cylinder without blocking any more view than the cylinder itself does.

I think my upper jaw is only about 18" wide. If I were to custom build one now, I'd make it wider than that but would probably be happy at about 24". The width of the upper jaw is really not that critical to holding the load. Think of your hand where your thumb is the equivalent of the upper jaw. Your thumb works fine to hold loads in your hand even though it is only a fraction of the width of the whole hand.

 

[txdon]

I made my decision.............. going with a 50" wide single lid. The lid will be 36" wide and the opening will be 45". Had it mocked up and I think it looks ok. I figure that if I'm not happy with the width I can always add 2 more tines down the road, to make it 66".

Tomorrow I start construction. Being a novice at this, it will likely be a day or 2 before I get enough progress to post any pics but they will come.

I think the 50" is perfect. Mine is 54". Single lid is fine. Without the bottom cross bar you can dig deeper but with it you can back drag better and don't go too deep and have a better chance of cutting off instead of sliding through some roots. There is no perfect grapple for everyone just envision what you need to get the jobs done.

Side digging next to fence line:

 

[foreman Etexas]

I like my single lid but then again I haven't ever used a double. I waited way to long before I purchased mine last year,it's crazy handy. I make quick work cleaning up after the fence line cleaners.