Grapple Grapple install

[buck12]

Picked up my new 48"econo Wild Kat grapple yesterday. And my WR Long valve kit was also delivered yesterday. My install will be a bit different in that I have to have pin plates fabricated and welded on because my loader is not a quick attach. I will keep the thread updated but my install may take some time. I can't even unload the grapple today because my daughter has ball games all day.

 

[SSdoxie]

I have a set of pin plates I took off my bucket to convert to QA. Will accept loader frame width 2 & 1/4", and 7/8" pin diameter. If interested, send PM.

 

[Rockgod]

Have you given any thought to ATI's Tach-all? This is the route I went and couldn't be happier. It's plug and play you don't even have to get your hands dirty.

ATI Corporation - Tach-All(tm) Quick Attach

 

[Cantoo]

I agree, it's better to switch over to quick attach as soon as you can. It's just so handy to be able to change attachments quickly. I have maybe dozen or more buckets and blades for mine.

 

[buck12]

I would love to go quick attach but between the grapple and WR long kit I have exceed my toy budget for a while. By the way I got the grapple unloaded today.

 

[buck12]

I said I would keep this thread updated which I haven't done. Well I finally got my grapple installed and functing. I'm looking forward to giving it a workout this weekend.

 

[HCJtractor]

Looks awesome. You will love the grapple. For what it's worth, I have the ATI quick attach and it is pretty nice. It has a few shortcomings, but is adequate. My Kubota was not skid steer QA either.

And a bit of advice. Before you get too carried away pretending you are a bulldozer playing with you new toy and start knocking down trees and wading into house sized piles of debris, make sure your grill is protected with a good screen or guard of some kind. You will damage something eventually if you don't. Found this out the hard way!!

 

[buck12]

Looks awesome. You will love the grapple. For what it's worth, I have the ATI quick attach and it is pretty nice. It has a few shortcomings, but is adequate. My Kubota was not skid steer QA either.

And a bit of advice. Before you get too carried away pretending you are a bulldozer playing with you new toy and start knocking down trees and wading into house sized piles of debris, make sure your grill is protected with a good screen or guard of some kind. You will damage something eventually if you don't. Found this out the hard way!!

I still have to take care of protecting the grill and I am not happy with the way the hoses run from the grapple to the loader arm. I plan to address the hoses before using the grapple.

 

[HCJtractor]

Yeah, I had same issue with hoses and have damaged them before by having one hang up on a bolt and then ripping them when going up and down. I bought some good sheathing material from a local hydraulic shop to encase to hoses to especially protect wear points, and used lots of large zip ties and elastic bungees to hold it in place but to allow some movement. I would advise having a buddy stand by watching the hoses in all degrees of FEL movement to see how they react and to make sure they are tied off and don't hang up or bind anywhere. Then check these periodically for breakage, as I noticed just yesterday my zip ties have broken and the hose almost hungup when I moved the FEL. I also would recommend having some spare hoses made up as it is inevitable you are going to damge one and if you are like me, breaking a hose would cost me a lost weekend of work. Also make sure you have spare fuses for the electric grapple control (I think you have a electric control for the thumb, if not, ignore this advise)

 

[deezler]

Glad to see this thread, as I just bought my first tractor - a Cub Cadet 7305, equivalent to the Mahindra 3015. And I see you have this wildkat econo grapple on your Mahindra 2615. For FELs as small as ours, to me this econo-grapple really seems like the only option. At ~500 lbs, its already taking around half the lift capacity! Then again, how much does the loader bucket weigh itself?

I would simply love to see more pics - of how you did the hydraulics and electric control, the non-quick attachment mounting points, and the tractor itself with the grapple mounted! Thanks!

 

[Fastpitch]

I am thinking about purchasing the same grapple. My loader does not have the quick attach. I am debating on wether or not to change my FEL to a quick attach. How much did it cost you to have the pin plates fabricated and welded to your grapple? How hard was it to hook the grapple up to your FEL? Can you post some pictures of the mounting plates?

 

[buck12]

Here are a couple of photos of the brackets. The brackets didn't cost me anything as one friend laser cut the brackets and another friend did the welding. As to the weight of the grapple, the shipping form listed it at 4?? lbs. I went with the WR Long kit but it was not a direct bolt on kit as I had to have hose fittings changed. Apparently there are different joy stock setups for the ML 106 loader.

 

[buck12]

Yeah, I had same issue with hoses and have damaged them before by having one hang up on a bolt and then ripping them when going up and down. I bought some good sheathing material from a local hydraulic shop to encase to hoses to especially protect wear points, and used lots of large zip ties and elastic bungees to hold it in place but to allow some movement. I would advise having a buddy stand by watching the hoses in all degrees of FEL movement to see how they react and to make sure they are tied off and don't hang up or bind anywhere. Then check these periodically for breakage, as I noticed just yesterday my zip ties have broken and the hose almost hungup when I moved the FEL. I also would recommend having some spare hoses made up as it is inevitable you are going to damge one and if you are like me, breaking a hose would cost me a lost weekend of work. Also make sure you have spare fuses for the electric grapple control (I think you have a electric control for the thumb, if not, ignore this advise)

I changed how I had the hoses routed but I still am not sure they are out if harms way.

 

[Hilltop Hillbilly]

I am thinking about purchasing the same grapple. My loader does not have the quick attach. I am debating on wether or not to change my FEL to a quick attach. How much did it cost you to have the pin plates fabricated and welded to your grapple? How hard was it to hook the grapple up to your FEL? Can you post some pictures of the mounting plates?

I just bought one of these 48" mini econo grapples from Wildkat, as well a stump bucket grapple, shipped to me for less that what a small grapple alone costs elsewhere without shipping. I have high hopes for this attachment. (yes I know, post pictures or it didn't happen. I'll post pictures soon).

I also got the WR Long third function kit, and a NH (ATI?) Quick Attach adapter for my FEL. This was a no brainer, and I still can't figure out why these CUT's don't come with 'em right out of the gate. I would encourage you to think about the QA if you're going to be changing implements more than once or twice a month. They really are well worth the cost.

Personally, I get out and do a lot more projects because it takes me 30 minutes less to do them when I don't have to fuss around with changing attachments. So I'll get something done in those short windows I have, instead of thinking "Nah. I don't have enough time."


HH

 

[buck12]

I just bought one of these 48" mini econo grapples from Wildkat, as well a stump bucket grapple, shipped to me for less that what a small grapple alone costs elsewhere without shipping. I have high hopes for this attachment. (yes I know, post pictures or it didn't happen. I'll post pictures soon).

I also got the WR Long third function kit, and a NH (ATI?) Quick Attach adapter for my FEL. This was a no brainer, and I still can't figure out why these CUT's don't come with 'em right out of the gate. I would encourage you to think about the QA if you're going to be changing implements more than once or twice a month. They really are well worth the cost.

Personally, I get out and do a lot more projects because it takes me 30 minutes less to do them when I don't have to fuss around with changing attachments. So I'll get something done in those short windows I have, instead of thinking "Nah. I don't have enough time."

HH

I would like to have the quick attach but I figure the grapple will be on the tractor 90% of the time.

 

[buck12]

I got to put the grapple to use today. I wish I gotten it sooner.

 

[IslandTractor]

I would like to have the quick attach but I figure the grapple will be on the tractor 90% of the time.

My grapple is mounted 90% of the time but having a QA makes it easy to switch implements in 3 minutes or so versus maybe 15 minutes with pins. Really depends on how often you switch. I leave the grapple on as the default because I do a lot of land clearing but probably switch to bucket or forks or tree boom temporarily at least every other day of tractor use. So, even though switching pinned implements is possible it isn't so practical unless it is just the bucket and grapple.

 

[deezler]

I got to put the grapple to use today. I wish I gotten it sooner.

More pics! Or even better, get someone to film you while going beast-mode through a pile of brush.

 

[tbutman]

I made up my mind that I need a grapple on my 160 koyker loader. I need to be able to lift and move 10' logs around. I ordered a tie rod cylinder yesterday and started looking over my steel pile which is getting pretty thin. Anyone on this board know where I can buy a mountable bucket grapple (minus the cylinder) I have enough steel to reinforce my bucket. I hate to say this but moneys a little tight right now so billmelater or credit card payment would be real nice. Thanks
Tom

 

[IslandTractor]

I made up my mind that I need a grapple on my 160 koyker loader. I need to be able to lift and move 10' logs around. I ordered a tie rod cylinder yesterday and started looking over my steel pile which is getting pretty thin. Anyone on this board know where I can buy a mountable bucket grapple (minus the cylinder) I have enough steel to reinforce my bucket. I hate to say this but moneys a little tight right now so billmelater or credit card payment would be real nice. Thanks
Tom

Check out eBay for the bucket grapple kit. One is called The Thumb and I expect it is still sold via eBay. Sign up for an eBay credit card at time of purchase.