Project All-Klaw (root grapple)

[Trucker1]

I am building a root grapple from two halves of an old Prentice log loader "pulp bucket" that was owned by my Grandfather Allen--(the "All" in my project name).

Each one measures 20" wide.

 

[Trucker1]

With each piece being 20" wide, I welded a 19" spacer in between the two pieces.

This will give me my base for a 60" wide grapple.

 

[Corm]

That certainly looks like it will be real rugged! I'm anxious to see the rest of the build.

Corm

 

[Trucker1]

I have cut the two inner ears off by 4" so that I can weld in 4" square tubing across the top. This square tubing will give me a strong surface to weld my mounts, plus tie it all together.

 

[Trucker1]

I have cut off the large 1.5" round tie rods that you can see in top of the previous pic. I will be reusing these later for guards in the center.

I have welded in the 4" square tube, then welded in 4" C-channel for my JD quick attach mounts. I also plasma cut the mounts for the grapple from 1/2" steel and drilled out 1" holes for the pivots. I spaced them for a 30" wide grapple.

I was afraid that 30" would be too wide, but everyone started ordering Markham grapples that wide about that same time, so I figured I had made a good decision.

 

[Trucker1]

I hand drew the pattern for my grapple on cardboard, transferred to 1/8" hardboard for plasma cutting.
(Apologies to all who designed this first, if it ain't broke, why fix it?)

I then plasma cut my design from 1/2" steel.

 

[Mike058]

Are you going to add any tines to the bottom to dig under roots?

 

[Trucker1]

Mike058--Not really. There'll be a tine in the center where the spacer was added. The 1/2" plate at the ends of tines will be removed as marked on pic.

That will give me 7 tines altogether.

 

[3RRL]

Very nice work so far.
I'll say one thing, you will definitely have a heavy duty grapple there. Have you determined how much it will weigh yet? Not that it should be any problem for your JD though.
I like the beef! Keep the pictures coming.

 

[Mike058]

Mike058--Not really. There'll be a tine in the center where the spacer was added. The 1/2" plate at the ends of tines will be removed as marked on pic.

That will give me 7 tines altogether.

Gotcha. Didn't realize those plates on the ends were coming off. This is a great way to recycle old steel.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

keep us posted!

 

[mentat30]

I am building a root grapple from two halves of an old Prentice log loader "pulp bucket" that was owned by my Grandfather Allen--(the "All" in my project name).

Each one measures 20" wide.

That's cool, I grew up in the town that makes Prentice Loaders, "Prentice, WI", I have several friends and relatives that work there. Good Luck with your Project!

 

[Trucker1]

Thanks all for the interest.

Rob-- I'm guessing I'm somewhere in the 500-600lb range

In these pics I have cut out the plate from between the tines and welded on my QA brackets.

 

[Trucker1]

This is what the "thumb" of the grapple looks like.

I squared it all up, welded in 1.5" box tube across, then used 3/8" steel for gussets and reinforcement.

I used another piece of 4" C channel to protect my hydraulic cylinder.

Out at the tips, I used 3/8" x 1" steel for reinforcement. I would weld 1.5" then bend down with a crescent wrench, continue my bead, bend again, until I had worked my way out to the point. It gave me a nice curve.

I used 1" dom tubing for my pivots and 63/64" rod.

I recycled the 1/2" plate cut out from between the tines to make my mounts for the hydraulic cylinder.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

man, that turned out great!

i like how you saw something out of nothing......and then built it...

This is what the "thumb" of the grapple looks like.

I squared it all up, welded in 1.5" box tube across, then used 3/8" steel for gussets and reinforcement.

I used another piece of 4" C channel to protect my hydraulic cylinder.

Out at the tips, I used 3/8" x 1" steel for reinforcement. I would weld 1.5" then bend down with a crescent wrench, continue my bead, bend again, until I had worked my way out to the point. It gave me a nice curve.

I used 1" dom tubing for my pivots and 63/64" rod.

I recycled the 1/2" plate cut out from between the tines to make my mounts for the hydraulic cylinder.

 

[intel]

That is a great job, probably better then factory

 

[Trucker1]

To finish up, I welded angle iron across the back of the center spacer to give me a flat area to weld in the 1.5" rod recycled from the beginning of the thread. I also welded in the center tine.

I also welded dom tubing on the outside of the four pivot mounts for the clamshell. Before welding, I drilled a vertical hole, perpendicular to the tubing/pin to accept a lynch pin, one for each pivot. I also drilled and tapped both pivots for a zerk fitting.


Sanded, wire brushed, primed and painted!!!

 

[Trucker1]

Testing 1-2-3

Everything seems to be working good. I think that the clamshell does not open far enough, and gets in the way when nosing into brush.

 

[Trucker1]

I lowered the base hole for the hydraulic cylinder. This maximized the stroke of the cyl., allowing the clamshell to open further and allowing the gussets to rest on the tines in the closed position.
Previously there was about an inch gap in the closed position, now it will have a stop.

I also made my decals and put them on.

 

[EddieWalker]

Very Impressive.

How many hours did it take you? What are you using to cut your steel?

Eddie