Making a grapple bucket wider

[MikeS_in_GA]

Has anyone done this?

So I traded in my 317g for a 325g. The new ctl is wider than the old one. Can I weld on parts to make my old grapple bucket ~10” wider so it covers the track?

The times are ~5” spacing, so I would add one to each side.

I have a friend with a plasma cutter on a cnc, so making the tines would be pretty easy. It’s just a lot of welding.

 

[Rustyiron]

The corners take a beating. Keep this in mind when designing, building and welding.
It looks like the ends of your tines are welded to a cutting edge. You might think about burning it off and getting a full (new) length for strength.

 

[5030]

Looks like the left lid is wonky as well...

 

[MikeS_in_GA]

Looks like the left lid is wonky as well...

It’s taken a beating, that’s for sure. Previous owner abuse. Lol

 

[Jrasband]

If you work in trees you might appreciate the narrower grapple.

 

[2manyrocks]

Trees will stick out of either end anyway. Why bother?

 

[MikeS_in_GA]

The point was so the bucket covered the tracks. If the bucket is as wide as the tracks, then stumps will hit the bucket and not the edge of the tracks. I’m cleaning up from logging last fall. There are small stumps all over the place.


Legit concern for the tracks or is that mostly from fort work?

 

[mikester]

Yes you can modify it to make it wider.

I would probably use it as-is or sell this one and buy/make a new wider one.

 

[MikeS_in_GA]

If you work in trees you might appreciate the narrower grapple.

After getting 4 tree out of the thick hardwood bottom, this comment is

I’ll leave it as is and worry about the stumps when I’m in that area.

Next up… try to trade my 72” tooth bucket for a 78”

Thanks