Stump/digging Grapple bucket

[Tejas]

I did this last year, but figure a few of you may like the concept. Started with a used, albeit very very little, 24 backhoe bucket, bought at an auction for $85.

 

[Tejas]

Used 2 3/8 & 2 7/8" oilfield pipe for the hinge. Added two grease fittings to it along the way.

 

[Tejas]

I did buy 2, 90ｺ elbows, then modified them with the plasma cutter and sledge hammer I used a piece of 3/4 steel for the 澱lade? It has stayed waaaaaaaay sharper than I ever imagined it...especially with all the rock I have moved.

 

[Tejas]

I used lots of gussets. I know our extreme-duty root grapple has been through enormous stress.

 

[Tejas]

Trying to figure out the actual distance it needed to open and the length of the cylinder I was going to need to purchase.

 

[Tejas]

Bracing the rear mount. Wasn稚 strong enough and bent under ...well, not all that much pressure.:confused2: Fixed it

 

[Tejas]

Fully welded. Primed. Painted with Cat yellow. Looks a little like a pelican to me.

 

[Tejas]

Pretty large opening. Plenty of grapple power. I知 sure the boulder is over 1000lbs. Can be very selective pulling out trees.

 

[Tejas]

And yes, it digs


Have used it several times over the last year or so. I fully expected the 3/4 澱lade to be very dull...which wasn稚 a big deal as I never intended for it to be a cutter. I also expected the double/split toothed bucket teeth to break on these boulders...still holding strong. No signs of stress or fractured welds/cracks.

 

[kcender]

Nice job,very professional looking.It looks like it would be a very useful tool for land clearing.