Grapple rake for the 422/425?

[Charlie_Iliff]

Grapple

Anyone know anything about these. Lot cheaper than ANBO or Long, but no clue as to quality. (I'll cross post in attachments forum.)

 

[pequeajim]

Charlie:

it is a VersaTech brand grapple and it is 66" and weighs 500 lbs.

The guy's name is Dave and they buy them and resell out of a warehouse in upper NY state.

His number is (315) 247-3731.

I asked him about a 48" version, but we got cut off as his cell was not getting good reception.

If you look at the pic, the ends could virtually be cut off making the bucket approx. 52" wide. This would be better for us 425 users and would probably save a little weight too. Something in the 400 lb range would be good.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

<font color="red">VersaTech brand grapple and it is 66" and weighs 500 lbs. </font>

It's the size and weight I'm looking for. It clearly wouldn't be as strong as the W.R. Long or Anbo, but maybe can take all our hydraulics apply.
Tempting. I'll have to consult Bubenberg.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[pequeajim]

True, but I would think that it would be plenty strong enough for a 425??

 

[Rip]

JJ, I agree with you in pricipal, but Charlie and I have the same machine and there are no alternate holes in any of our linkage. I did look hard and long at an easier solution than cutting my fork lift apart and redoing it, but I ran into mechanical interference and/or motion loss in other positions that was not worth it for me.

The PT lift arm geometry is less than ideal, at least on the 1845, but is ok if most all attachments utilize a nominal 30 degree forward tilt of the QA plate. I have not noticed adjustable linkage on any of the current models, is yours an older one? If so, perhaps it is a feature they should have kept.

 

[J_J]

Yes, my Pt-1445 is a mid 90's model. You can take a piece of 3/4 thick, say 2 by 24 in, and put 3/4 holes where ever you choose.

To determine the length and holes, remove the pin from the tilt arm and raise the lift arms, if you want the forks to point straight down, measure the distance required for that setup. For max tilt up, lift the implement if you can, or support the implement to give a max tilt up, and measure. You may have to make two tilt arms for different implement, with different sets of holes.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Rip:
As I look at various root rakes, I've concluded that the first thing to do is make a PT to universal skid steer adapter, with a 20 or 30 degree tilt built in. I suspect it won't add too much more weight than welding and gusseting a PT plate to the rake itself. I'm leaning toward the Versa-Tech, which is light, but haven't yet ruled out W.R. Long or Anbo. As usual, the search process is probably the most fun I'll have with the implement. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[pequeajim]

I hear ya, searching is fun Charlie.

Making the skid steer attachment sound like a great idea. I wonder what the weight difference will be?

 

[J_J]

Someone on the forum has already welded up an attaching plate for the Quick-Attach. It was for a 1445.

 

[Rip]

JJ, The adjustable tilt link sounds like a good idea.... I gather yours came that way? Back in the 90's, wasn't the Quick Attach an option rather than standard?

I guess they opted for one compromise length when they made the QA standard to let you swap back and forth with any attachment without having to reset the link pin. The key word here is compromise. If you only use PT attachments it is no problem, and really is no big deal if you take their geometry into full consideration when setting up anything else.

When I said I could not find an easier solution, I was looking for a modification that would still work with anything else. In any case the deed is done and the forks work fine with the plate at about 30 degree tilt. Just does not look as pretty as it did the first time.

Charlie, If you have your eye on some other skid steer attachments in the future, making an adaptor now may make good sense. A year or more ago someone on this forum made a pretty simple adaptor but it did not have any tilt built in. It was basically two side wings welded to a PT plate. If you can find it (he even posted a diagram) it may not be hard to build in a 20 or 30 degree tilt with a similar design.

Most any of these manufacturers will mount a PT plate at any angle you request and paint it up at no extra cost. A dealer who sells already made up units would be a different story.

 

[pequeajim]

Hey guys... It looks like Steve is working on a grapple rake design right now which might be worth looking into. He's looking for comments.

Click here for link

Jim!


EDIT: Shortened long link.

 

[JohninCT]

Charlie

Another fabricator you might want to take a look at that has a rake very similar to the ANBO (in fact they call it the ANB grapple). Skid Steer Solutions. They offer a standard and light weight series for smaller/non skid steer machines. They also offer custom widths down to 36 inch for mini skid steers which may interest the PT 425 owners. Lots of pictures and lots of cool videos too for those looking for design/construction ideas.

John

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Thanks. I've sent Skidsteer Solutions and several others requests about weight, cost, etc.

 

[pequeajim]

Charlie:

Have you spoken with this guy Steve who is working on a grapple rake design? I know that he is focusing on the 425 sized PT right now, but the design might be applicable to the larger PT like yours?

Jim!

 

[J_J]

This is a picture of PT-1445 tilt arm with extra hole.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Jim:
I'm following Steve's thread with interest. As my "plans" now stand, I'm not looking to to undertake fabrication of the whole assembly. I hope Steve's designs will lead to an attachment that really fits the 422-425, however, since most of the ones I've seen specs on are too heavy. A few are within my target for the 1845.

 

[stray]

Guys if I thought I would need a grapple fork I would build one. But now that I have a grapple bucket built out of the small rock bucket I don't see the need of one. Kind of wish I did need one so I could get more interested in the project with you all. Good luck and I am very much looking forward as to what you all come up with.

 

[Rip]

Thanks for the pic JJ,.... definitely adds versitility to handle a wider range of attachments. PT is not doing this on current models however.

I had thought of cutting the top link and rewelding it a bit shorter, but on my 1845 it would have hit the cross pivot of the rocker arm if it came back another inch, so would have given me only another 5 to 8 degrees of tilt back which was less than I wanted to gain from any modification. I guess I could have bent it instead, which would have shortened it and cleared the pivot but also weakened it in push mode.

Do you have the QA plate system or just the Three Point that I believe was standard in those days? While it looks like PT uses a similar design across the model line, there are still differences in the geometry and motion range between models. Most do not appear to want vertical attachment points like skid steer equipment though.

 

[J_J]

I just switched my solid tilt arm with an adjustable top link for 3PH.
They are designed to take the weight of anything that is on the back side. Closed down, it is a little shorter than my tilt arm which is about 24 in. With the turnbuckle turned out about 3/4 of the threads, it gives me another 8 in of bucket travel . It just might work for you if you need adjustability.

 

[Rip]

Now that is something I never thought of JJ. I have a couple of top links around...I'll have to measure and see what they could do for me. May have been a real simple way of solving my forks problem. Oh well.... perhaps it will come in handy for something else or someone else here on the fourm. Good idea.