Grapple project

[Andy1969]

New member here. Thought you all might be interested in seeing some pics of a grapple project I've been working on for a month or so. Bought a new Mahindra 1538 Shuttle in July to replace my tired Ford 3000. So it seemed like I needed something else to put on the loader and a grapple looked like something I could really use.

 

[Andy1969]

 

[davedj1]

Andy that looks awesome! How did you cut all of your teeth? Looks like a fun and nicely done project. And watch the Ford 3000 cracks! I just bought a '65 gasser with a loader, nice tight machine.

 

[Andy1969]

Have a friend who has a CNC plasma machine. So I designed the pieces that needed burned out and sent him the CAD files. No disrespect meant on the Ford. Mine was still reliable as a stone but was high hours and needing some love that I didn't have time for. Plus I wanted FEL and 4x4 so sent the 3000 and a 63 Case 310 diesel dozer to a new home and upgraded.

 

[Msamt]

Very nice, pretty stout looking as well. I find the round bottom of mine to be indespensible for back dragging and smoothing dirt out. Your gonna love having the ability to pick stuff up, whole new world.

 

[Andy1969]

Yes looking forward to getting it done. The top part is just tacked together. Hopefully will have time this weekend to take the top section off and fully weld it. Then I just have to put the hoses and quick connects on. Had place logged last winter so I think this will save my back with tops and brush cleanup.

 

[TractorGuy]

Nice looking grapple.

I could sure use one. Had some land clear cut a couple years ago and still cleaning it up. I did buy a big cabbed backhoe to dig the stumps out with but having another machine with a grapple would be a big help. Hired a guy to do some grapple work and will probably get him back soon.

If I ever get back to it I have a loader I plan to adapt to my 855. For starters on it I am going to torch slots in the ragged out bucket and see if it is any help for picking up some debris. Other than that I have had to spread it out with the loader on the backhoe and rake it with the landscape rake. Very slow process.

 

[CenCalLS]

Nice job Andy. Great design and welds. I love my grapple but I wish I had the talent to have designed and made it.

 

[Andy1969]

Yes anxious to get it done and try it out. Has been a good project. Tried to take what I felt were good features from several of the factory made ones. It will be fun learning how to use it. I think it's going to be handy for holding logs at a good working height to buck it up.

 

[ProjectKing]

Looks awesome! If you don't mind me asking how much money you have in it? I'm in the grapple market and have considered making one.

 

[bspeedy]

Looks awesome! If you don't mind me asking how much money you have in it? I'm in the grapple market and have considered making one.

I'd be interested, as well. Around here, a similar grapple can be had for around a grand.

 

[Andy1969]

ProjectKing, glad you like it. I'm happy with how it looks but the proof is in the pudding! I would say that for everything I had to buy including the plasma cutting I'm right at $500. If I had done the cutting myself with my torches I would have saved some money but I'd probably still be grinding and the pieces never would have been as consistent. So paying for having the components burned out was well worth it from a labor standpoint and ease of assembly. This $500 includes the cylinder (which I scored for $50 on line) and thehoses and quick connections. It's been a really fun project and I would do it again. Hope this helps with your decision. Andy

 

[ProjectKing]

ProjectKing, glad you like it. I'm happy with how it looks but the proof is in the pudding! I would say that for everything I had to buy including the plasma cutting I'm right at $500. If I had done the cutting myself with my torches I would have saved some money but I'd probably still be grinding and the pieces never would have been as consistent. So paying for having the components burned out was well worth it from a labor standpoint and ease of assembly. This $500 includes the cylinder (which I scored for $50 on line) and thehoses and quick connections. It's been a really fun project and I would do it again. Hope this helps with your decision. Andy

Great info!! Thank you! What steel did you use? Yes using a CNC plasma, water jet or laser is the way to go!

 

[Andy1969]

ProjectKing, I used just plain old A36 plate for the upper and lower tines, hinge brackets, and gusset plates. Lower tines are 1/2" thick and uppers are 3/8's". Gussets are 5/16's". The frame is 2 1/2" square 1/4 wall and the pipe stiffeners are 1" schedule 80 structural. I though about using A572 grade 50 for the tines but honestly I don't think the extra cost is worth it. I know I could make things lighter by going to a higher grade steel but no one around here stocks it and I don't plan on beating the thing to death. To me it seems unlikely that I will be able to fill the thing enough in practice to have a lifting capacity issue. And there is actually a benefit of using regular A36 in that if you push it too far it will bend a good bit before it breaks. Some of the other higher strength steels are not as forgiving. As far as wear properties, again for what I intend to use it for which is mostly brush and log clean-up etc, I won't be doing a ton of ground engagement with it so I'm not worried about actually wearing it out. Hope this helps. Might not be what is right for everyone but I think it makes sense for what I was looking for.

 

[Andy1969]

Well it's done and loaded in my truck. My front remote is not done yet so taking it to a friends place to test it out. Hopefully next photo will be with something clamped up in it!

 

[davedj1]

Looks really well done, great job! I need to find a friend with a plasma table

 

[Andy1969]

Davidj1 thanks. I should clarify that the plasma cutting was done at a friend's shop. Not for free since he is in business doing both fabrication and machining. I'm sure I got the friends and family discount �� But regardless on a project like this where you have to make several pieces more or less the same, I would highly recommend having them either plasma cut or water jet cut. It makes the fit up and assembly so much easier. Plus once you create the drawings it would be easier to make another one if you ever wanted one. After I try it out I'll clean it up and paint it. I'd also like to get a weight on it so I'll run it over the scale at the gravel pit. Wish me luck on the shakedown��

 

[Andy1969]

Well I finally got to test it! Worked well picking up logs and firewood chunks. I don't have the hydraulics done on my tractor yet so I hooked it to my buddy's Kubota. I'm working on getting my remote hooked up. Attached pic of the bracket I fabbed up and the valve placement. Now I just have to plumb everything up. Need to stop at the dealer to make sure I have the connections properly identified on the tractor.

 

[ProjectKing]

Looks great!!

 

[Stomper]

That thing is a beast. looks awesome and great craftsmanship. I am hoping to builds one this winter when/if things slow down. I can't wait. I love all the DIY builds.