I just recently bought a Greatbear grapple at an equipment auction for half the list price. It was new still on the pallet. I had been wanting a grapple and was holding out for a "Wicked" from Everything Attachments. It seems very heavy duty and I couldn't pass up the deal. My question is, has anybody out there had an experience with a Greatbear grapple? I am almost positive it is Chinese made, but like I said it seems very well made.
Greatbear grapple
- Thread starter JimmyJ321
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I have it hooked up and it works great. It had some kind of “British thread” couplings on the hoses and I had to change them out. It was made originally for a skid steer and weighs 741 pounds. It is probably 100 lbs. heavier than the everything attachment unit. I have tried a couple times to move tree limbs/ trunks that were too heavy for my hydraulics so I just used it like a blade and pushed them where I wanted them to go. My tractor is a Kubota M7060. I gotta be like Clint Eastwood and “know my limitations “ I have two big pine trees in my yard close to the road that the county crews are going to cut down for me. I will find out what it’s made out of moving that pile once I get them cut up.[
oosik
Epic Contributor
A pic of my Land Pride 1560 grapple. It's built HD in the extreme. It's 820 pounds of A400 steel. Look at your FEL owners manual. You have two setting for the FEL. High lift and heavy lift. I have mine set in the heavy lift position. Basic physics - the higher the lift - the less that can be lifted.
I move heavy chunks of pine tree trunk and heavy rocks. I only lift the load high enough to keep the grapple from dragging the ground. I can lift 3000 pounds this way. My normal lift - for safety sake - 2500 pounds
I move heavy chunks of pine tree trunk and heavy rocks. I only lift the load high enough to keep the grapple from dragging the ground. I can lift 3000 pounds this way. My normal lift - for safety sake - 2500 pounds
oosik
Epic Contributor
Jimmy - on the internet you can find "log weight charts". They will give the weight of about any species of green tree. I use these charts to know how much a pine tree trunk will weigh. You select the tree species - the overall average diameter of the trunk - the length - it will tell you the total weight.
I also have a weight chart for large rocks.
It keeps me away from hit and miss. I know if the trunk should be cut to a 5 foot length or a 10 foot length. I know if I can lift the rock with the grapple or will have to chain it up and drag it.
The hydraulics on your 7060 are the same as on my 6040. Just be sure you have sufficient ballast. I have a 1000 pound rear blade on the 3-point and 1550 pounds of RimGuard in the rear tires.
Even with all that ballast - a few times I've been "light in the loafers". Not a good feeling.........
I also have a weight chart for large rocks.
It keeps me away from hit and miss. I know if the trunk should be cut to a 5 foot length or a 10 foot length. I know if I can lift the rock with the grapple or will have to chain it up and drag it.
The hydraulics on your 7060 are the same as on my 6040. Just be sure you have sufficient ballast. I have a 1000 pound rear blade on the 3-point and 1550 pounds of RimGuard in the rear tires.
Even with all that ballast - a few times I've been "light in the loafers". Not a good feeling.........
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I have been using the “Great Bear” grapple now for a couple months. It has far exceeded my expectations. I have used it on a couple of big clean up jobs and I am pleased. I have not been able to bend or gillflurt it yet. I’m glad I got it now. It seems Everything Attachments has been going thru some growing pains.
oosik
Epic Contributor
Hey - I found a web site that sells GreatBear grapples. You did get a good deal on that grapple - Jimmy. That is one mean looking, heavy duty unit. Looks like the teeth on the lower lid are replaceable.
By the time you ever wear out those yellow teeth - you'll be an old man.
By the time you ever wear out those yellow teeth - you'll be an old man.
