Rock Bucket Insert for Root Grapple

Huntshillhaus Farm · Apr 25, 2022

Has anyone made a removable insert to turn a wide-spaced tine root grapple into a rudimentary narrow-spaced tine rock bucket when needed?

This is sort of what's floating around in my mind... two tines of flat barstock (or round rod to shed dirt) between each main tine on the grapple, making the spacing between all tines about 2.5 inches. Expanded metal mesh on the rear riser. A 1" angle iron "lip" to hold the rock inside. Some heavy (angled) angle iron "teeth" welded at an angle off of the underside of the front flat bar stock to aid in lifting rock over the grapple bar, but are shorter than the actual grapple teeth, preventing them from snagging and bending.

Yes, I realize they make rock bucket grapples, but that's not what I have, and I don't want a rock bucket most of the time. This would just be for occasional use.

shooterdon · Apr 25, 2022

I have the same MTL grapple and have been thinking along the same lines. I was going to use chain-link fence sections and wire them or zip tie them in place. I know that is a Mickey Mouse way of attaching them but I do not move a lot of rocks so it may be sufficient for occasional use. I was thinking of using it to move splits of wood too.

JohnnyMX · Apr 26, 2022

Yes. I made one and have a post about it. It works. It comes on and off in seconds as I'm also not always sifting through piles, but my 8" spacing on the grapple didn't work to well when I did need to sort out material. I just used some stuff I had laying around. FWIW, I worried about the rebar, but it is still good to go. Companies should sell this as an add-on option for clam-shell style grapples. Mine was for a WR Long OB2. They sell the kit from the manufacturer to add more tines to weld yourself, but it is pricey and stays on adding weight the entire time.