Grapple How do you control your hydraulic grapple?

[Rolando]

I have auxiliary hydraulic control for the grapple on a rocker switch on my joystick, but I wonder about how the controls are set. I got the grapple just recently and have only been able to use it for a few days so far.

As is the convention, I curl the bucket by moving the joystick to the left and dump to the right. But the auxiliary controls are set to close the grapple by moving the switch to the right and opening by moving the switch to the left. I reflexively tend to want to close the grapple by moving the switch to left (like grabbing dirt by moving joystick to the left) instead of to the right.

This switch setting is easy enough to change, since it's just an electrical connection, but I don't know if I'm thinking wrong about this.

You can learn anything with enough repetitions. Should I leave the controls the way they are and get used to it, or should I have the dealer reverse the way the rocker switch works?

I would appreciate any comments.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Get the switch switched. If you think about it, the switch is in backwards. Movement to the left is to hold a load and movement to the right releases or dumps the load. The switch should work in the same motion as the lever IMO.

Brian

 

[neverenough]

That is the way it is supposed to be, and really should be gotten used to. If you move the joystick to the left, the bucket cylinders RETRACT, causing the bucket to curl UP and hold a load. Move the aux switch to the left, and the grapple cylinder RETRACTS, causing the grapple to pull UP, away from the bucket. Going right is extend, or down for both.

 

[Willl]

Supposed to be or not, it's your tractor, change it.

Personally, mine will be to the left closes grapple.

 

[ovrszd]

Anytime something about a piece of equipment seems backwards, and it's changeable, change it right away. Rather than go thru the learning process to teach yourself to do something that seems backwards.

 

[dsgsr]

I've got thousands of hrs. in machinery, the one thing that is most common is if you pull a lever toward you, you bring the load toward you or pick it up. Like wise, you push a lever away you move the load away from you or dump it. Left to grab, right to dump assuming the loader lever is on the right

David

 

[JoeL4330]

my switch is mounted on the side so the rocker is fore and aft ...and, I can set it either way by connecting the hoses differently ...in fact, neither way seems natural all the time ...mine is a WR Long root rake and opens wayyyyyy wide and, depending how wide it is open and how high up it is, my instinctive motion changes ...but, you should arrange your so your instinctive moves are the right ones ...I agree, why go through a learning process that is counter intuitive ...even though you can learn, why?

 

[schmism]

so if your gonna mount a grapple on your existing bucket (weather you go home built or prefab) would go you electric diverter valve, or rear remote (if you had one)

 

[MadReferee]

so if your gonna mount a grapple on your existing bucket (weather you go home built or prefab) would go you electric diverter valve, or rear remote (if you had one)

I would go with the electric/hydraulic valve (aka third function). It's a little more expensive that the diverter setup but is more flexible.

I would always opt for the diverter over the rear remote simply for ease of use. You can operate the grapple and the loader with just the joystick instead of two handed with the remote lever and joystick.

 

[Willl]

would go you electric diverter valve, or rear remote (if you had one)

I'm about a 1/3 of the way done w/ my home made grapple and have been pondering the same question myself.
I have a 'power beyond' line for the BH so I could go either way.

I find myself leaning towards a diverter mostly for ease of installation and usage.

With a diverter, I end up with a 'small' push button switch on my FEL handle.

With a rear remote (like a LONG valve or standard hand operated valve), I've got either a god-awful huge knob on the FEL handle or a totally separate handle to try and find while operating the thing. (cause there is no way to mount another handle close to the joy stick)