Grapple Grapple Add On or Grapple Bucket

[gcrabb]

I have been looking at a lot posts for adding a grapple to a bucket. Does anyone have any experience with a grapple bucket. Not sure which way to go. I have an old barn with a mix of old hay, bails and loose. Also attached to those barns are small out buildings that are falling down and need to be torn down. Then there are always rocks. After spending a couple days and 6 6X13 trailer loads of old fence posts, I need to find a quicker way.

Looks like you can purchase a bucket for $1495.00.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3847334101&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Or you can pruchase an add on grapple for between $400 or $500.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3846929395&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3847447605&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

JD4600 with 460FEL with homemade palet fork and 7'6" Meyers Snow Plow, JD LX279, 84" KK finishing mower, 84" KK Landscape Box, 84" KK Landscape Rake, 84" KK Blade, and 72" KK Bush Hog, 1956 GMC 10 Yard Dump Truck

Greg

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Greg,

I'm one of the posters asking about 4n1 buckets and have to admit that adding the grapple portion to my existing bucket for $1,000 less sure sounds interesting. I'm definitely going to look into it.

For what it's worth, here are some things that hit me right away. If I go with the grapple the odds are it's on my bucket permanently (I doubt even if I bolted it on I'd ever remove it). I'm not sure I like that idea.

With the separate bucket I can switch back and forth with relative ease and only have the 4n1 on when I need it.

I don't see any particular advantage to the 4n1 over the grapple in terms of using it for what I need. I can't envision using the 'dozer' function with my little tractor and think I'd pretty much the be able to perform the 'other 3' with the cheaper set up.

There's no answer here. Just some considerations I'm evaluating I thought you might want to look at as well.

 

[BarryinMN]

I was talked out of adding a grapple to the dirt bucket by dealer & glad. I bought a 66" rock bucket 2.5" between tines allow dirt to drop thru + dual hyd grapples. Single hyd tend to bend when grabbing something on one end only. Spacing between tines is going to define how much cleanup is left behind. Buy locally if you can as quality construction varies widely. These things can get abused & bent up easily. Loader lift is one thing but you will also be breaking out & rolling items too heavy to lift, pushing & dragging on slopes etc.

 

[Boiler74]

Greg,

I have the bolt on ebay grapple from Andy in Illinois. It's a big help, and would recommend it, with reservations. I'm going to try to attach a picture, so you can see what I'm talking about. First, I have manure tines on my bucket. They stick out about 13" from the bottom of the bucket, and help a lot. I don't know how well the grapple would work without them. So you may want to consider something like that as well. I do a lot of tree and brush work, but have also pulled a lot of fence. No demolition, but I can't imagine it couldn't do it. Second, I also have a heavy duty bucket. And yet I have managed to bend up the top of my bucket from the rocking back and forth this grapple will do as you work with it. When I get a chance, I'm going to take it to my brothers and weld some steel on the top and then weld the grapple to that. Bolting it, if your doing heavy work, is not the best option. Third, I had to weld a brace closer to the end of the grapple tips to keep them from bending, which I did a few times. Don't know if I have a close up of this, but I'll see. Finally, I have bent the hydraulic piston a little. Still works, but will have to be replaced at some point in the future.

So, it will work, but will take some abuse. IF I were doing a lot of dirt work, and grapple work, I'd have two dedicated buckets. But this is pretty decent for the money. I couldn't imagine doing the work I have done without it.

J.

 

[Boiler74]

Another pic.

 

[gcrabb]

Does the grapple get in the way when working with dirt and sand or do you take it off?

Greg

 

[Boiler74]

The manure tines are the biggest obstacle to dirt and gravel. I have them off right now because of that. The grapple doesn't really get in the way for that kind of work, except for visibility. I put some quick disconnects up front, so taking it off is very easy.

 

[penokee]

Greg

Based on my limited experience, I believe a seperate dirt bucket and grapple would be preferred (except for cost). I have a bolt-on grapple. Attaching a picture where I was backfilling around my old camp and would have liked to dump closer then the grapple would allow.

penokee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[penokee]

Greg

two more photos - loading out crushed gravel. Grapple not a real problem, but would remove if doing a large quantity of dirt loading.

penokee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[penokee]

Greg

Bucket filled (never tried loading with grapple in closed position, but would probably hinder getting into the pile deep enough)

penokee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif