The WICKED Root & Debris GRAPPLE!!!!!!!

[TomSeller]

I agree with preferring no teeth. In the 4 years that I have had the Monster Grapple with teeth I have never used it for pulling roots or anything that needed the teeth. But almost every time I dump a load of brush, some small stuff hangs on the teeth and I have to shake it or drag it on the ground, to get it off.
.

Exactly. But then I grub roots with the backhoe. No teeth for me

 

[TomSeller]

sometimes they interfere with a quick dump on a burning pile.

I don't dump brush on a burning pile, too afraid of stalling over it which is astonishingly hot.

I dump brush next to the burning pile, back up, close the grapple and push the brush past the edge of the fire. I try to pile all my logs and stumps into the base of the fire but if I need to add a log or stump, I drop beside the fire and push with the lower teeth trying not to push anything heavy with the lid itself.

 

[Snowback]

In addition to the pics Travis posted above, I have found the "teeth" enable me to grub out and remove stumps that are WAY bigger than I should be able to remove without a backhoe. So I am in IT's and Cat's camp here regarding grabbing roots.

I simply work in from the edges and push in and under the peripheral roots, then lift a bit with the loader to lock on and then reverse a foot or two. The creeper roots simply snap as the teeth slice through them, and then I go back for another "bite". I was amazed how strong just a handful of connected 1 - 2" roots really are. After circling a time or two and slicing the roots, I can usually get in the middle and gently rock the stump out, especially if I there is any trunk to amplify the leverage. To each his own though right?

This shot also shows how centering force in the middle is made really simple with a single lid and aids in the final push/pull effort. (Although I do acknowledge many applications were dual lids are better as well...)

 

[lostcreekranch]

You are sorta right; if you are simply trying to dump, at times stuff will hang on the teeth.

I've personally found that setting the grapple down on the pile at nearly the same angle as above and dragging back, will drag most small stuff free of the teeth. Setting it down on the pile tends to push the small stuff up out of the teeth, so when backing up, ya back right out of whatever tangled mess ya got up front. Takes no time to master.

The tine design is one of the big reasons to go with EA, they are masterfully done. Aggressive enough to shred small roots, gusseting is done in a way that works with the tool rather than against it, and they're not bad about packing full of unwanted crap and carrying it around.

Yep, a "real" grapple operator would know that move Sysop. Thanks for pointing this out!

 

[EverythingAttachments]

The tine design is one of the big reasons to go with EA, they are masterfully done. Aggressive enough to shred small roots, gusseting is done in a way that works with the tool rather than against it, and they're not bad about packing full of unwanted crap and carrying it around.

Thanks, Sysop. It's great to hear first hand impressions from Wicked Owners like yourself! :thumbsup:

As shown below, there are definitely cheaper and easier ways to make grapple tines, but cheap & easy is far from making it to our list of priorities!
Travis

 

[EverythingAttachments]

In addition to the pics Travis posted above, I have found the "teeth" enable me to grub out and remove stumps that are WAY bigger than I should be able to remove without a backhoe. So I am in IT's and Cat's camp here regarding grabbing roots.

I simply work in from the edges and push in and under the peripheral roots, then lift a bit with the loader to lock on and then reverse a foot or two. The creeper roots simply snap as the teeth slice through them, and then I go back for another "bite". I was amazed how strong just a handful of connected 1 - 2" roots really are. After circling a time or two and slicing the roots, I can usually get in the middle and gently rock the stump out, especially if I there is any trunk to amplify the leverage. To each his own though right?

This shot also shows how centering force in the middle is made really simple with a single lid and aids in the final push/pull effort. (Although I do acknowledge many applications were dual lids are better as well...)

View attachment 516023

Very nice assessment! :thumbsup: The concept is catching on already. This doesn't even scratch the surface(pun, pun! :laughing of my awesome pic collection showing off Wicked tine advantages.
You guys truly BLESS us with so many and we are forever grateful for it! :applause:
Travis

Mahindra 3550 with a 60" single lid.

John Deere 3046R with a 60" single lid.

Kioti NX5510 with a 66" single lid :shocked: Double Stuff :shocked:

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks, Sysop. It's great to hear first hand impressions from Wicked Owners like yourself! :thumbsup:

As shown below, there are definitely cheaper and easier ways to make grapple tines, but cheap & easy is far from making it to our list of priorities!
Travis

View attachment 516046

QUOTE]

As the owner of a grapple with the "cheaper and easier" grapple tines like in the comparison photo Travis posted, I have to point out some advantages. The backwards curving and very sharp teeth on the EA grapple are great for grabbing but as others have pointed out are problematic when it comes time to dump material like brush. I don't have an issue with snagging when dumping brush. No doubt the EA tines would grab and cut roots more easily but I do fine.

I don't find the traditional style gusseted tines to be limiting. I don't use the grapple to plow through turf so a wider disturbed area isn't an issue to me.

I'm also not so sure about the traditional construction being cheaper. Every tine tip in the traditional grapple has gussets welded on four sides, top and bottom. Lots of tacking and welding time. EA doesn't have any welded gussets and uses laminated tines for strength. Good design but cheaper to build IMO.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

I'm also not so sure about the traditional construction being cheaper. Every tine tip in the traditional grapple has gussets welded on four sides, top and bottom. Lots of tacking and welding time. EA doesn't have any welded gussets and uses laminated tines for strength. Good design but cheaper to build IMO.

Think about the nesting and laser time required to cut these Wicked weldments. Once cut, a trip to the press brake, yes, to bend 16 of them for a 66" or 72" grapple.
Cheaper? :confused3: Not in any remote sense of the word.
Travis

 

[EverythingAttachments]

The backwards curving and very sharp teeth on the EA grapple are great for grabbing but as others have pointed out are problematic when it comes time to dump material like brush. I don't have an issue with snagging when dumping brush. No doubt the EA tines would grab and cut roots more easily but I do fine.

I don't find the traditional style gusseted tines to be limiting. I don't use the grapple to plow through turf so a wider disturbed area isn't an issue to me.

The Wicked serrated tines exist because people love them and have loved them for years. The advantage in usefulness and functionality far outweighs a slight adjustment to dumping technique for certain materials.

If someone wants smooth tines, we can make smooth or someone can take a grinder and tone them down if desired. The phones are manned, but I doubt they'll be ringing for the smooth option! :laughing:

Travis

 

[IslandTractor]

The Wicked serrated tines exist because people love them and have loved them for years. The advantage in usefulness and functionality far outweighs a slight adjustment to dumping technique for certain materials.

If someone wants smooth tines, we can make smooth or someone can take a grinder and tone them down if desired. The phones are manned, but I doubt they'll be ringing for the smooth option! :laughing:

Now, on to the next gripe! :banghead:
Travis

No gripes, just balanced discussion of pros and cons. When was the last time you discussed a problem with EA products? You treat the forum as an extended marketing piece. Nice for keeping up sales but hardly consistent with 99% of threads on TBN.

You know perfectly well that I like the EA grapple but that doesn't mean slavish adherence to the party line. There are pros and cons to most everything and someone with a superior product to sell should benefit from frank discussion and criticism. The ooh and aah posts over photos of kittens and new grapples don't add nearly as much as debates and discussion to help TBN members make appropriate decisions regarding grapple purchase or use.

And, getting back to cost of producing different style tines, just how many man hours does it take to cut out 100 tine teeth from a sheet of steel with a CAD driven laser cutter? If it isn't way more efficient than the traditional approach I would be very surprised. Indeed, you should be able to offer a less aggressive tooth pattern as an option that would have nearly zero impact on production costs. Clearly there are at least some of your customers who are not thrilled with the one size fits all tooth pattern.