Grappling fun - A Picture Thread....

[LouieJunior]

I also think the flat bottom grapples are prob more versatile than the short bottom "root" grapples.

I would disagree and recommend a concave shaped bottom. I'm sure it depends on what the use is, but I prefer a "claw" to a "thumb". For instance, grappling a single log out of a pile, one doesn't always approach horizontally - I like the ability to pick up from the top -- or any angle.

 

[tractorshopper]

Well, you do know they make a grapple built SPECIFICALLY for the BX series right?

Here's mine. Sure beats the heck out of doing this by hand. Surprised at what I've been able to do with it already and I'm still figuring it out.

 

[tractorshopper]

Couple more pics of it. One, I had just broke off the top 3rd of a downed oak tree and 2 snakes were nestled in the rotten part. I actually didn't notice one of them until I was tugging at that part with the grapple and had pinched it against the tree and it was trying to bite the grapple itself.

 

[IslandTractor]

Figure it costs 3k (grapple, 3rd function, etc), and you keep it 10 years: $300/yr is like 4 days rental around here.

But the reality is it's a force multiplier. If you take less time to do your work it's saving you effort or the expense of recovery from the labor. There was no waiting for me. Root grapple was as vital as diesel.

I agree though it is possible to get the grapple set up for less than 3K. If land clearing is anywhere on the top three tasks for an intended tractor purchase, it really really makes sense to make the grapple part of the original purchase decision. Adding a third function control is one way to control a grapple but rear remotes can be used just as efficiently and for a lot less money. I've used both. For a pro using a grapple hours every day I can see the slight advantage of third function (true third function not diverter) but for 90+% of the folks on TBN, rear remote controls would work perfectly well and save quite a bit of cash. It should be easy to get a new tractor set up with both grapple and rear remotes for under $2K which, for someone who is going to do land clearing, is a no brainer. The tractor in my avatar (Kioti CK20) had a single set of rear remotes and a $500 Millonzi 48" grapple. Grapple prices have gone up but that same grapple now works perfectly well on my 40hp tractor and has served me well for almost ten years. No reason to spend lots of dough on a high priced grapple.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Couple more pics of it. One, I had just broke off the top 3rd of a downed oak tree and 2 snakes were nestled in the rotten part. I actually didn't notice one of them until I was tugging at that part with the grapple and had pinched it against the tree and it was trying to bite the grapple itself.

View attachment 430301View attachment 430302

Can I have your barn/garage please? I'll PM you my shipping adress. I bet it's air-conditioned too!

 

[RiverRat77]

Ya I haven't heard any horror stories on the titan and being half the price of the EA makes me wonder. I still have some time to figure out a few things

 

[4570Man]

I was driving down a trail in the woods and I hit a small tree. It bent the left side of my grapple.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I was driving down a trail in the woods and I hit a small tree. It bent the left side of my grapple.

View attachment 430314

Stuff happens. Looks like an easy fix though.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Unless you're planning to fix it with that shotgun shell.

 

[4570Man]

I tried to straighten it with a bottle jack, but the jack wouldn't pump on its side. Someday I will straighten it out and weld some thicker plate on it and the other side. I'm not worried about it. The grapple still works fine.

 

[Jim Timber]

Bent one is made by?

 

[4570Man]

I don't remember, but it wasn't made to ram trees being pushed by a 8,500 pound tractor.

 

[IslandTractor]

Need heat to fix that.

Does it interfere with function? If not just consider it an honorable battle scar.

 

[tractorshopper]

Can I have your barn/garage please? I'll PM you my shipping adress. I bet it's air-conditioned too!

Luke, believe it or not, it's a detached Pole-garage. Looks nice with vinyl siding outside, but is pretty basic and is not insulated at all. It has soffit vents to help air flow, so is pretty cold in the winter and tolerable in the summer due to it's shade value only.

 

[Xfaxman]

I tried to straighten it with a bottle jack, but the jack wouldn't pump on its side.-----

A bottle jack will work on its side, if the pump (handle) is on the bottom, so the oil can run into the pump.

 

[Piston]

Luke,
That is one BEAST of a grapple! I would be looking for something like that if I had a 10k lb skid steer to mate it to!

Standard spacing on the OBG2 is 8". Optional spacing is 4", which can be accomplished by adding tines to the back and the bottom($270.00) OR to only the back($110.00) or only the bottom($160.00) if that makes sense.
Travis

I wish I had ordered the additional tines when I bought my OBG2 grapple years ago. I was a little concerned at the time, about the additional weight of the extra tines because of all the reading I've done on here about weight. I ended up kicking myself for not adding them when working with firewood and always losing splits between the tines. I finally welded some 2" flatbar between each tine to lessen the gap. I'm much happier now!

Here's mine. Sure beats the heck out of doing this by hand. Surprised at what I've been able to do with it already and I'm still figuring it out.

View attachment 430300

That must make the BX even more handy that it already is! I love seeing those little grapples on the little tractors. Keep em coming :thumbsup:

I should've bought a grapple two years ago... now my number of hours on it will not be close to what it would have been if I pulled the trigger then. I am afraid of running a ROI calculation but I still drool over one.

I can't imagine NOT being able to justify the ROI on a grapple, in my situation anyways. I'm sure yours is different, but with the brush/log handling that I do, and the amount of time I've saved using the grapple, I can certainly say that it wouldn't take long to recoup the costs in time savings alone. That doesn't factor in the savings on my lower back either :laughing::laughing:

 

[94BULLITT]

I tried to straighten it with a bottle jack, but the jack wouldn't pump on its side. Someday I will straighten it out and weld some thicker plate on it and the other side. I'm not worried about it. The grapple still works fine.

Try turning the jack, some only work one way.

Edit: Looks like faxman already said this.

 

[MXBX]

Getting the hang of using the grapple and with each mouthful thinking "I didn't have to touch one of those concrete pieces" Best tool ever!

 

[Greenland South]

Future cabin pieces.

 

[Piston]

Future cabin pieces. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/attachments/430626-grappling-fun-picture-thread-image-jpg"/>

Wish I could say the same! I'm "wasting" all these nice timbers on a retaining wall.

The grapple sure did make handling them
Nice and easy though, I couldn't pick up a single one of them by hand.