OP
The WICKED Root & Debris GRAPPLE!!!!!!!
- Thread starter EverythingAttachments
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OP
EverythingAttachments
Elite Member
We've installed these intermediate runners, which will serve as a depth gauge when desired and also serve as tine bracing.
Travis
Travis
IslandTractor
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Nice idea. How do they work?
OP
EverythingAttachments
Elite Member
OP
EverythingAttachments
Elite Member
Weight update:
208 Pounds
Cylinders installed
Intermediate runners installed
Without hoses/couplers
So, without the runners....at or under 200 pounds! :cool2:
Travis
IslandTractor
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Count me as impressed. Not sure I've ever seen a grapple that light.
What HP are you rating it for?
Sysop
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Update: Received my grapple today, issue free. Examined it fully, the build quality is superb.
The hose saver kit bolted right up on the tractor using the bolt already on the loader crossmember, but is a little too tall as it rests against the brush guard when the loader is lowered all the way. I will likely heat and bend it forward to make an inch of clearance.
Hooked up the grapple, greased the fittings, and checked that all the hoses would travel freely and nothing would be pinched. Everything looked good.
Started cleaning up some brush piles and various limbs that've fell over the winter. Whether I was after a big bite from a pile, or just picking up a small stick to add to the top of the pile, it'd grab whatever I'd point it at.
On the way back across the field, I was passing near one of the many rocks that've grown out of the field and are starting to cause cutter issues. I've been planning on taking the backhoe around and burying them all, but decided to see how well the grapple might do at a smaller one (basketball sized). I pulled up to it and bumped it to see if it would wiggle any, it did. I centered up on it and dug the lower tines in a few inches away, closed the lid on it, rolled it back and up popped a HUGE rock (about the size of a ball-bag with a dozen basketballs in it)... Carried the rock down out of the field and added it to my rock pile.
Feeling adventurous, I decided to go clean up the stones from my stone gate pillar out front where a drunk wiped it out a couple hours into the new year. Some of the stones were thrown about 40 feet away into a swamp. First two, the only two I originally knew about, were easy to pull down to the edge and nab with the grapple and pull up out of the mud. While down there, I saw a third that was a little farther out. I thought I could get it with just the front tires in the swamp a little bit, so I went back in for the attempt. I got in far enough to get the rock, but it couldn't back up the hill to get out. I tried putting old fenceposts across the muck and use the grapple against them to help lift and push me out. During this process, one of my hydraulic hoses was apparently pushed aside and got into a pinch-point and ended up severed. I got a second person to hold reverse while I tried dragging it up the hill with the backhoe. Hooked the truck up with a chain and pulled. Nothing worked.
By this time, my front tires are totally under mud. Mud over the front axle. Mud over the front weight bracket and partly up the lower grille panels. The steps on the sides were setting on firm ground.
Went to a couple of the neighbors houses and couldn't find anyone home, so went across the hill and got a guy with a big wrecker to come winch it out. Interesting day to say the least...
Tomorrow I'll need to get the hose replaced...
First day of grappling was fun overall.
The hose saver kit bolted right up on the tractor using the bolt already on the loader crossmember, but is a little too tall as it rests against the brush guard when the loader is lowered all the way. I will likely heat and bend it forward to make an inch of clearance.
Hooked up the grapple, greased the fittings, and checked that all the hoses would travel freely and nothing would be pinched. Everything looked good.
Started cleaning up some brush piles and various limbs that've fell over the winter. Whether I was after a big bite from a pile, or just picking up a small stick to add to the top of the pile, it'd grab whatever I'd point it at.
On the way back across the field, I was passing near one of the many rocks that've grown out of the field and are starting to cause cutter issues. I've been planning on taking the backhoe around and burying them all, but decided to see how well the grapple might do at a smaller one (basketball sized). I pulled up to it and bumped it to see if it would wiggle any, it did. I centered up on it and dug the lower tines in a few inches away, closed the lid on it, rolled it back and up popped a HUGE rock (about the size of a ball-bag with a dozen basketballs in it)... Carried the rock down out of the field and added it to my rock pile.
Feeling adventurous, I decided to go clean up the stones from my stone gate pillar out front where a drunk wiped it out a couple hours into the new year. Some of the stones were thrown about 40 feet away into a swamp. First two, the only two I originally knew about, were easy to pull down to the edge and nab with the grapple and pull up out of the mud. While down there, I saw a third that was a little farther out. I thought I could get it with just the front tires in the swamp a little bit, so I went back in for the attempt. I got in far enough to get the rock, but it couldn't back up the hill to get out. I tried putting old fenceposts across the muck and use the grapple against them to help lift and push me out. During this process, one of my hydraulic hoses was apparently pushed aside and got into a pinch-point and ended up severed. I got a second person to hold reverse while I tried dragging it up the hill with the backhoe. Hooked the truck up with a chain and pulled. Nothing worked.
By this time, my front tires are totally under mud. Mud over the front axle. Mud over the front weight bracket and partly up the lower grille panels. The steps on the sides were setting on firm ground.
Went to a couple of the neighbors houses and couldn't find anyone home, so went across the hill and got a guy with a big wrecker to come winch it out. Interesting day to say the least...
Tomorrow I'll need to get the hose replaced...
First day of grappling was fun overall.
IslandTractor
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Sysop that is WAY to much fun for the first day of grappling! :laughing: Still, it sounds like the grapple certainly lived up to expectations so I'd count it as a memorable win. Been there and done all that myself but not all on the first day. And I managed to autoextract from a muddy pond using the grapple and BH. In my case the pond was sandier rather than pure mud so it was easier.
I cannot quite understand how the hoses got pinched but that requires some rethinking of length or routing else it will surely happen again.
I cannot quite understand how the hoses got pinched but that requires some rethinking of length or routing else it will surely happen again.
Sysop
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Well, buried in the mud, the hoses were not able to return to their "slack position" (for lack of a better term). Basically the mud pushed them into a pinch point on the loader curl. I don't think it would happen again without being stuck again, but I will be examining what I can do with the routing to ensure it doesn't happen again.
Yes, overall the grapple was a huge success. I did 90% of the hardest work it will ever see today and it came through it all, mostly without a scratch (literally). The tips of the tines where the lid meets no longer have paint. Otherwise all the paint is intact and scratch free. The only other thing that shows use is there is one tiny bend in one of the "protection bars" they are now putting across the back. With the brush piles littered with various sized limbs I moved today, I'm sure they saved the front of my tractor some unwanted cosmetic changes.
I put about 4 hours of seat time on the tractor running the grapple today, not counting the time trying to get unstuck...
Yes, overall the grapple was a huge success. I did 90% of the hardest work it will ever see today and it came through it all, mostly without a scratch (literally). The tips of the tines where the lid meets no longer have paint. Otherwise all the paint is intact and scratch free. The only other thing that shows use is there is one tiny bend in one of the "protection bars" they are now putting across the back. With the brush piles littered with various sized limbs I moved today, I'm sure they saved the front of my tractor some unwanted cosmetic changes.
I put about 4 hours of seat time on the tractor running the grapple today, not counting the time trying to get unstuck...
Sysop
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2013
- Messages
- 3,301
- Location
- Fairmont, WV
- Tractor
- Mahindra 4035HST purchased 2013 - Husqvarna TS348-D purchased 2019 - Craftsman 42" HST purchased 2003
Here's my stuck pic...
