Grapple project

[Rustyiron]

That's a fine build Andy:thumbsup: I agree with your steel choices and paying for the plas work, it shows in the end. You'll never wear it out in the woods (regarding the regular A36 plate). Welcome to TBN and very nice job on your grapple!

 

[Andy1969]

Thanks guys! I like having projects to work on too. They never seem to be the same ones my wife has in mind:laughing: Stomper I see you have a 2017 Kubota 2501. Coincidentally that's the exact tractor my buddy has that we tested the grapple on. I don't know what it weighs but he said it felt like it was less than his power angle snow plow set up. At any rate his loader didn't have any problems with it. Really want to get my remote hooked up now so I can start really using it. I've got lots of tops and brush to deal with after logging.

 

[polemidis]

Hello Andy, I am designing in Freecad, and I was wondering if you mind sharing your CAD files, -or even selling them?? I am researching for a DIY grapple for the last 2 weeks and I was ready to start CADing when I saw your post. Perfect timing! Are your plans open source? I would like to give back to the community by leaving the plans open for anyone to copy-alter or improve!

Also any feedback, what you would do different, as any links on any materials that you bought it would be great! I was a developer at Open Source Ecology for a while, and my intent is to make a grapple with a Bill Of Materials, CAD and instructions, so everyone that can weld would be able to make its own grapple.

 

[Andy1969]

To me the whole point of a build it yourself project is coming up with a solid and unique design. A design that takes features from other designs and adds in your own ideas etc. you end up with something that is all yours and the only one like it in the world. I've already spelled out what materials I used and why I felt those materials worked for me. So that coupled with the photos would enable others to build something very similar if they wanted to. A person can look at mine and say that they like certain aspects of it but not others and come up with their own adaptation of it that used the features they like and not ones that they don't. That's how I came up with mine. I wouldn't want to deprive anybody the enjoyment that comes from designing their own.

 

[Andy1969]

Well I finally finished the hydraulics on the tractor and got to spend the day moving logs. Pretty happy overall with how it turned out. Have to touch up the paint where I welded the quick connect bracket to on the front of the loader. I attached a few pics showing my remote valve and plumbing setup as well as one with a good sized log clamped up.

 

[Andy1969]

Thanks. Overall I did save some money over buying factory made grapple and building my own remote setup compared to dealer installed. But money aside it was a good project and took longer than I’d have liked but that’s primarily because tractor is located 40 miles away and I only have weekends to work on it. Now it’s time to cut a bunch of firewood !

If anyone wants more info on the hydraulic hookup just let me know and I’ll be happy to share.