Homemade root rake/grapple

[ocaj11]

I have been looking at root grapples for my DK55 FEL. So far, the cheapest I've found that looked heavy duty was around $1,500 on ebay. Since I really don't want to spend $1500, I have been thinking of building something myself. My one simple need is to pick up and move downed logs and brush to several central brush piles on 56 acres.

My theory is that I don't necessarily need hydraulic cylinders to clamp the grapple arms. I would like to build something that uses the normal curl of the bucket to open/close jaws which would hold the brush long enough to deposit onto the brush piles.

Hopefully this make sense. Open the jaws so I can use the FEL to rake up logs/brush into small piles. Drive into the small brush piles and use the curl to close the jaws and grab the brush. Open the jaws to drop the brush.

Does anyone have a picture of something homemade that would work?? Also, are there any companies that make somoething like this?? This should be cheaper than using hydraulics and would seem to be easier to operate using the standard 4 way loader controls. Thanks for your help....

If I can't figure this one out, I'll purchase a grapple, but would rather find something less complicated..... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[beenthere]

I do what you are talking about with a set of forks. Works almost perfect every time for moving brush, picking up and moving logs, packing and stirring up the burn pile, grubbing rocks and placing them in a wall, moving pallets, etc. etc. etc. I use mine more than I do the bucket.

Cheaper than $1500 and so many uses. Not trying to sell you on the forks vs. what you have in mind, but I wouldn't think twice about wanting something other than forks. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ocaj11]

How do you keep the logs/brush from rolling off the forks, especially when you hit a bump?? I have 56 acres to clean up and don't want 50 brush piles to burn. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Do the forks hold the logs/brush on well enough to transport a 150 yards without falling off??

 

[MicroPilot]

Beenthere is refering to bucket forks. Using these with the bucket rolled back puts the forks at a 45*or better angle to the ground. Taint nothing gonna roll off the end like that!

 

[beenthere]

Ever use a pitchfork for manure, leaves, twigs, hay, straw, etc? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif The forks work much the same. Just skewer the brush piles and get under logs to pick them up. Now I run brush about 400+yards to a pile and I may lose a branch or two when moving the tops of trees, but if I keep the speed down to a dull roar, it gets the job done quickly. I brought out about 25 10' oak logs on the forks, most two at a time, out of the woods and up the road and drive. Didn't lose a one of them.

Just thinking it would be nice sometimes to have a thumb or finger that would latch it all down, but forks works well enough for so many jobs, I think it is something for you to at least look into a bit. My forks actually quick change with my bucket, and even can be turned straight down to penetrate the ground and dig up rocks, roots, etc. which comes in real handy for me. I like 'em a lot. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[ocaj11]

OK, I think you have me talked into giving them a try before I dive into figuring out how to make the non-hydraulic grapple/clamps. I had a feeling that there was probably someone on this board with pictures of a grapple that opens and cloeses using the curl function of the bucket. If for some reason the forks don't suit my needs, I'll be building something and posting pics on here during the process....

One thing I know for sure. Using the FEL bucket to push piles of logs/brush does not work very well at all. Too much dirt and too much left behind. Thanks for all your suggestions.

 

[jmc]

One arguement in favor of a 4 in 1 or grapple is you can compact a large pile to fit the jaw opening. I've seen good operators (not me) "pre-treat" a big pile so they can pick it up all at once and fit more into a dump truck. They usually fully open the jaw, push the pile forward a short distance, tip the jaw down, and drag the pile back a short distance. This trick rolls up the pile into a tighter bundle so you can get a hold of it. Don't know it you could do it with forks.

 

[gabby]

Ocaj11,

With 56 acres to clean up you should go hydraulic. We had a bad ice storm in January and I had way over 56 acres of broken limbs to clean up. I had a homemade hydraulic thumb added to my front hay forks and it was a life saver. Cost me about $650 including 2-1/2" cylinder and hoses. Operates off the remote valve. Not as swift as a factory made grapple but the forks were nearly useless without it.

It's dismantled now and in storage or I would post a picture.

If you have the hydraulic circuit available you should use it for some kind of hydraulic grabber - you'll be glad you did!
gabby

 

[ocaj11]

I purchased a Kioti DK55 last week and have two sets of remotes on the rear. I can use those to operate the hydraulic clamps. I imagine I'll end up getting one, but I'm sometimes stubborn... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'll beat my head against the wall trying to figure out every other way, then I'll give up and shell out the dough. Has anyone purchased a root rake/grapple for around $1500 that they are impressed with?? It's impossible to tell the quality of an implement from pictures on a webpage. Markham Welding gets lots of kudos on this site and they have a grapple. I haven't called them yet to find out how much it is.

 

[ns_in_tex]

Forks are easy to build & you will use them for years to come. I have done a lot of brush work with them. I have built 4 or 5 different kinds of forks for different task. Some with grapple. Don't have one I don't like.

BUT

I recently built a root rake grapple to work on the order of the AnBo grapple. I believe there advertisment of "it may be the most useful implement for your loader" is going to prove to be true. Every time I use it I am amazed.

Tonight, I went to a friends to clean up a downed pecan limb. Trimmed & cut off a 16' section of the main limb & laid it in the center of a 16' trailer. I was able to pick up the remainder of all the limbs in one pass and lay them in the trailer. This load of small limbs filled the trailer from front to rear. I then mashed them down, as I drove up over them, while loading the tractor.

Came home & reversed the order. Two passes reaching over the side of the trailer & it was ready to sweep out the leaves.

I loaded 23 junk air conditioners on a 16' trailer in about an hour, without a persons hand touching them.

I have loaded & unloaded car engines, broken concrete, farm implements or just plow out heavy growth while clearing the ground.

Sorry, I have not taken pictures. I want to wait till all modifications or done, then paint it.

I already had the rear remotes plumbed to the front for a previous grapple, so I only bought 2 ea 3x8 cylinders and some hose & fittings. Most of the steel was given to me. Cost was barely over 300.00

Mine does not look like a AnBo, but works like I would think it would.

If you have lots of work to do and you want to enjoy doing it, I would highly recommend the AnBo or anything that works like it.

Its really nice to be able to pick up a log off center and it not matter, as long as you don't tip the tractor over sideways, or grab it from the end, to pull it out to an accessible area to get to the side.