Grapple Question

[woodlandfarms]

We are growing closer to the purchase of the tractor, a question came up from a friend I have no answer for. If we add a grapple to a bucket, do we have to plumb in controls for the grapple, or is that allready on a PT?

Carl

 

[BobRip]

It is already there. You disconnect the quick attach hydraulics cyclinder after the attachment is attached and locked, and connect the bucket cylinder to the same fittings. It takes about a minute or maybe two. This does not apply to the 418. It has manaul quick attach.

 

[MossRoad]

It is already there. You disconnect the quick attach hydraulics cyclinder after the attachment is attached and locked, and connect the bucket cylinder to the same fittings. It takes about a minute or maybe two. This does not apply to the 418. It has manaul quick attach.

It adds 15 seconds to the 15 second implement change... want proof? just watch this video!

 

[woodlandfarms]

It adds 15 seconds to the 15 second implement change... want proof? just watch this video!

So now I am confused... On the dash of the tractor you have up down on the arm, and when you move it left right it dumps the bucket... So where is the switch to control the grapple? I saw it as a thumb switch on one guys rig... Put on the control handle of the bucket control...

NOPE Wait, I just read the thing about the thumb.. I see it is an alternate lever, but it is cool to add a switch to the main bucket control... Now I got it!!

 

[BobRip]

It is already there. You disconnect the quick attach hydraulics cyclinder after the attachment is attached and locked, and connect the bucket cylinder to the same fittings. It takes about a minute or maybe two. This does not apply to the 418. It has manaul quick attach.

I made a mistake in the above. The PT180 does not have the hydraulic quick attach. The 418 does. Sorry for my error. I think of them as the same machine, but there are many differences.

 

[MossRoad]

NOPE Wait, I just read the thing about the thumb.. I see it is an alternate lever, but it is cool to add a switch to the main bucket control... Now I got it!!

Yes!!! The Auxillary PTO lever is in front of your right knee on the 400 series tractors. You use that lever to open and close the quick attach locking mechanism. For power implements like a power angle snow plow, the grapple on a grapple bucket, the jaws on a 4-in-1 bucket, or curl/dump the bucket on the mini hoe, you do what I showed in that video... you connect the implement and lock it in with the AUX PTO lever. Then you shut off the tractor, set the brake, go out front and pull the two hose connectors from the quick attach circuit and connect the power implement hoses. Then you get back on the tractor, start it up, take off the brakes and away you go. You use the AUX PTO lever by your knee to swing the plow left and right, open and close the grapple, open and close the jaws on the 4-in-one bucket, or curl/dump the bucket on the mini hoe.

Here's where the joystick push button modification comes in... some folks don't like to reach down by their knee. It requires a small reach, and it requires you to take your hand off the joystick. If you add on an electric diverter valve and locate the push button on the joystick, you don't ahve to reach down and you don't have to remove your hand from the joystick. When the push button is not selected, the joystick operates as normal. When you select the push button, the joystick left/right movement no longer controls the dump/curl of the bucket, it controls the AUX PTO circuit. So you push the button move teh joystick left or right and that motion now swings the plow left and right, or the grapple open and close, etc.... When you release the push button, the joystick retuns to normal operation. It is a good modification, but costs a few hundred bucks for the parts.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Here's where the joystick push button modification comes in... some folks don't like to reach down by their knee. It requires a small reach, and it requires you to take your hand off the joystick. If you add on an electric diverter valve and locate the push button on the joystick, you don't ahve to reach down and you don't have to remove your hand from the joystick. When the push button is not selected, the joystick operates as normal. When you select the push button, the joystick left/right movement no longer controls the dump/curl of the bucket, it controls the AUX PTO circuit. So you push the button move teh joystick left or right and that motion now swings the plow left and right, or the grapple open and close, etc.... When you release the push button, the joystick retuns to normal operation. It is a good modification, but costs a few hundred bucks for the parts.

Thanks for the info. I saw a handle somewhere that had a toggle switch (3wszy on-off-on) on the head of the control. Would love to find that handle again.. But maybe this could be wired in, with the elecric diverter, to control the grapple....

If anyone sees these nobs, would love a link. Oh, not sure if this matters, but we are looking at the 1430/45 series...

Carl