Root Rake/ Grapple combo

[J_J]

This is similar to what I started with. A hitch assembly, and 9 box blade ripper shanks.

 

[J_J]

Fiinished product.

 

[J_J]

This all took a bit of welding, and fitting the hydraulics cyl to work properly . Cost , hitch $40.00, Shanks $15.00 each, 4 inch 1/2 inch steel, free. Used a Lincoln 175 mig. About 20 hours rounding up the parts and welding.

Hardest part was drilling out the end hole in 4 of the shanks for 3/4 grade 8 bolts. That is some some hard steel. Wore out 4, 3/4 bits. I had to torch out the holes, and ream with 3/4 carbide reamer.

Every thing turned out according to plan.

It will not grab a large bite, but the 3/4 steel shanks will handle all my tough stuff.

 

[J_J]

Grapple closed.

 

[pajoube]

J.J.
Very impressive. Your work is on the scale of a professional manafactory plant.
Thanks for sharing your talents.
PJ

 

[Phils]

Good job, JJ!! I need some kind of grapple arrangement for moving cut brush to the bonfire, that looks like it might just do the trick. Got a MIG welder for Christmas but haven't had anything to weld yet... this'd be a good project. AND I already have the hitch, so I'm $40 ahead already.

Thanks for the idea and photos.

Phil

 

[pequeajim]

I'm curious J.J., why did you use a hitch instead of some square tube? Was it because of availability?

 

[Rip]

Real nice looking grapple JJ .... looks like it will work well for a lot of stuff and the price was right.

 

[J_J]

I had several of these laying around, and the price of steel seems to go up every day. Steel tubing would have worked.
It just worked out well for a small sturdy grapple/root rake.

 

[MossRoad]

Very nice! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Highridge]

Nice!
Looks aggressive!

 

[pequeajim]

J.J. you keep tickling my grapple bone /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

It looks great! A very simple design, nice work /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Where did you buy the shanks?

I was looking around on the net last night to find them with no luck.

 

[J_J]

I purchased some of the shanks at a tractor place that sells new and used tractors of many brands. They sell lot of implements also. I was looking at their grapple rakes, and they seem high with the price of steel. As I walked by the box blades, I took one look at the shanks and came up with the idea of my grapple/root rake. These shanks are 3/4 thick and very hard steel. I purchased some of them at the tractor place, and some of them at TSC. The ones I got from the tractor place were three hole shanks at $15.00 each. The top shanks have four holes and are a little longer. TSC had them for $29.00. so I asked them if they would match the price of the other tractor place, and they did.

Anybody that sells box blades, should have them in stock, or can order them. One of the tractor places wanted $50.00 for one, and I just thanked him and kept on looking

Another option, I drew up a design of a grapple fork on one of my Cad progams, and had a steel fabricator cut it out on their cnc machine. A single 1/2 inch shank cost me $30.00.

I would try and get the shanks locally, because the shipping would be rather steep.

 

[pequeajim]

I will look around. There are several fabricators around here that make landscaping and farm implements. (New Holland, the land of tractors...)

I'll also check with TSC too. There are three stores within driving distance.

Looks like I'm going to have to load Autocad back on my computer again!

 

[stray]

Fine Job JJ. Its looks like it would be better that the PT grapple bucket for moving several logs at once or piles of brush.

 

[pequeajim]

THanks for the ideas J.J. Someone posted a mess to me with a link to Agri Supply Online

They have some 4 hold under $10.00! 9" Shank

I will have to check this place out!

 

[J_J]

That is a very good price if the shipping is reasonable. I would suggest looking at one before you order on line to see if the curve is what you want. Those shanks are heat treated, and that makes them hard to drill out the holes, which are only 5/8 in. I cut mine out to 3/4 in and used grade 8 bolts and lock nuts. Good Luck.

 

[J_J]

Did you mean to write 18 in shanks?

 

[pequeajim]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Did you mean to write 18 in shanks? )</font>

Busted.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Yes, 18" shanks.... dang you!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[J_J]

Here is another example for the ripper shanks. This guy hauls logs with his.