PT425 Grapple Build Project

[bubenberg]

as long as you are not articulated, the capacity is more than 800 pounds. I still can load all my buckets including the grapple onto the trailer by hand. We must be around 100 for the grapple and less for all the others /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MossRoad]

I think it will lift close to that right at the quick attach plate and it diminishes the farther you get out due to leverage.

As Bubenberg says, the buckets aren't that heavy. I slide my small bucket into the large bucket by hand very often and I pick up the forks and toss them in on top of that. Come to think of it, sometimes I even slide the small bucket with the forks and a bunch of other stuff in it into the large bucket. They can't way much more than a hundred, at best.

So, it's experiment time folks!

Why don't one of you weigh one of your buckets, then weigh some patio blocks, then start stacking them in the bucket with it resting on the ground. When you get about 800 pounds in there, let us know if it lifts it. I'd do it myself, but... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[J_J]

If you have some 55 gal drums.

1 gal water weighs 8 lbs.

55 gal drum full of water weighs 440 lbs plus weight of drum

2 - 55 gal drums weigh 880 lbs plus weight of the drums

 

[Piedmont3]

When I was trying to decide about having mt PT shipped or going to pic it up, I asked Scott @ Power Trac what each of the implements weighs.
Here is the information I have:
Item # Description Weight
PT425 Tractor 1387
T3003 60" Mower Kit 300
T3026 48" Brush Cutter 410
T3061 5 Cu Bucket 111
??? Short Teeth for rock 20
T3062 10 Cu Light Bucket 145
T3219 Post Hole Digger(Pivot) 6" to 18" 81
T1107 6" X 48" Auger 36
T1108 12" X 48" Auger 50
T3319 Mini Hoe 9" Bucket 93
T3151 Forks - 30" Long, 800# Capacity 80
K092 48" Box Blade 135
Turf Tire Spare Tractor Tire & Wheel 32
T3218 48" Rotary Tiller 300
T3242 Potato Digger 34
T8 Custom Attach Plate 21
F063-1 Hydralic Oil Filter 1

The weights are in pounds.

When I was Loading my PT on the trailer I found out that with the forks on it I could barely pick up a pallet /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif that had 5 Cu Bucket, Short Teeth for rock, 10 Cu Light Bucket, Post Hole Digger(Pivot) 6" to 18", Mini Hoe 9" Bucket, 48" Box Blade, 6" X 48" Auger, 12" X 48" Auger, and 2 tires and wheels on it. But I guess thats because I had close to 900#'s on the PT without counting the oak pallett. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> I could barely pick up a pallet that had 5 Cu Bucket, Short Teeth for rock, 10 Cu Light Bucket, Post Hole Digger(Pivot) 6" to 18", Mini Hoe 9" Bucket, 48" Box Blade, 6" X 48" Auger, 12" X 48" Auger, and 2 tires and wheels on it. </font>

What? You didn't order the kitchen sink attachment, too? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[FOURTEEN]

The OEM Grapple Bucket for the PT-425 weighs 170# on my bathroom scale!

It was easy to weigh it! The hard part was getting it up to my bathroom!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif


/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Clarke]

I have lifted a full large bucket of 2a stone with my 425. Assuming there is 10 cu. ft. of stone in a heaping bucket full that amounts to 1000# of stone. Most of the time I use the small bucket with teeth a little easier on the machine and no PT pucker..

sg

 

[J_J]

Here is a picture that you might be interested in. The grapple is similar to what you have built.

 

[Piedmont3]

I ordered all the attachments I thought I would have a use for, and that I could talk the CFO(Mrs. CJ) into. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
She is expecting me and PT to do everything she wants on the outside of our new place. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

<font color="red"> She is expecting me and PT to do everything she wants on the outside of our new place. </font>

It will, but you'll need one or two more attachments for the ones she hasn't thought of yet. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[pequeajim]

J.J Who makes that grapple rake?

 

[stray]

Moss I sure am looking forward to you getting your grapple done. I really wouldn't suggest anyone building a grapple the way I did. Hind sight I think that there would be much less welding, less material and labor to build one the way Power-Trac does. Mine seems to work just fine it just took about twice as much everything than it should have.

 

[J_J]

I don't know right off hand. I saved that picture just to get some ideas. I have a bunch of grapple pictures. Some light duty, and some heavy duty

 

[pequeajim]

I want to put together a lighter duty grapple rake that I can use to do some sifting as well. When I say lighter duty, I mean something with an all up weight a little more than the 4 in 1 bucket, yet heavy duty enough to not bend or break very easily.

 

[J_J]

How about this grapple.

 

[J_J]

If you have a torch and welder, this one would not be too hard to fabricate. Thickness of the steel could range from 1/4 in up to 3/4 in. Spacing would depend on what you are sifting.

 

[pequeajim]

I don't have any welding equipment or experience. I have thought about getting the design and material together and paying a visit to a friend of mine who does weld. Then we could build it and I could learn a little about how to weld myself.

The grapple pics that you posted is something like what I am considering. May be a cross between the first one and second. The tines looking like the second, but extended to allow sifting of the soil away from the rock that you pick up.

 

[J_J]

How about this one. It is called a land planer. Just need to add a grapple.

 

[MossRoad]

Remember this project??? YIKES it's been a long time.

I have it built and working. Several attempts at geometry have proven futile. I should have stayed in math class more often.

I opted to put the hydraulic cylinder on top instead of on the side of the rear as PT does. First attempt proves that you need the rear cylinder attach point HIGHER than the side jaw attach points. Failure to do so makes the hydraulic cylinder want to pull the jaws shut instead of pull it open. With a 3" cylinder with 35,000 pounds of force, it didn't take long to fold the metal up on the front of the grapple jaws where the cylinder attaches.

So I moved it up higher than the side jaw attach points... too high. This resulted in a grapple that opens a whopping 4".

Two more tries and I got it to a reasonable opening width. However, it doesn't have much bite, yet. I'm convinced I need to study someone else's design and steal, ah, err, borrow the concept.

I will be playing with it this weekend and post some pictures when possible. After I get it juuusssst right, I'll paint it.

 

[J_J]

Remember this project??? YIKES it's been a long time.

I have it built and working. Several attempts at geometry have proven futile. I should have stayed in math class more often.

I opted to put the hydraulic cylinder on top instead of on the side of the rear as PT does. First attempt proves that you need the rear cylinder attach point HIGHER than the side jaw attach points. Failure to do so makes the hydraulic cylinder want to pull the jaws shut instead of pull it open. With a 3" cylinder with 35,000 pounds of force, it didn't take long to fold the metal up on the front of the grapple jaws where the cylinder attaches.

So I moved it up higher than the side jaw attach points... too high. This resulted in a grapple that opens a whopping 4".

Two more tries and I got it to a reasonable opening width. However, it doesn't have much bite, yet. I'm convinced I need to study someone else's design and steal, ah, err, borrow the concept.

I will be playing with it this weekend and post some pictures when possible. After I get it juuusssst right, I'll paint it.

David, Check these pictures out and see if they help'